Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11)(66)

Tucker stood. “Come on, let’s go ogle Dad’s new hot rod and pretend it isn’t some midlife crisis he’s having.”

Barrett laughed. “Sure.”





Twenty-Eight





Harmony quickly discovered that dinner at the Cassidys’ was a lot like dinner at Mama’s house. Noisy, crowded, everyone talking over each other, and absolutely awesome.

She’d made fast friends with Mia, Aubry and Katrina, so the three of them sat together and talked about everything from business to medicine to fashion and design while they ate. She almost forgot about Barrett, who sat at the other end of the table with his brothers and Drake.

Almost. But not quite, since she couldn’t help but occasionally drag her attention away from the girl talk and catch a glimpse of the hot man at the other end of the table. Every now and then he’d look up at the same time, their gazes would collide and there’d be a quick smile between them. Careful not to call attention to each other, she’d look away.

But those butterflies in her stomach? Still there.

Her mother, on the other hand, was sitting next to Easton’s brother, Elijah. Not that she could blame Mama. Elijah was a fine-looking man, a few years older than her mother, ruggedly built and, according to her mother, divorced for many years now. He lived on the ranch and from the way he looked at her mother, who was also a very attractive woman, the two of them shared some serious chemistry. Elijah sure was being solicitous to Mama right now.

It made her wonder what went down between the two of them the last time Mama visited the ranch.

She made a mental note to ask Drake about that.

“Lydia, tell me about the blues club,” her mother asked.

“It’s actually one that closed about a year ago. Easton and I loved driving up there and listening to all the bands. We hated that it closed, so we found a few other investors, and we’re reopening it.”

Easton laid his fork down and took a sip of tea. “Yeah, we liked that old place. It had been in business a lot of years. Many famous folks played there along with some young acts getting their start. Hated seeing it shut down.”

Lydia nodded. “So, we’re hoping to breathe some new life into it.”

“I’m so excited,” Harmony’s mother said. “Blues is my favorite music.”

“Mine, too,” Elijah said, giving Harmony’s mother a smile.

Harmony looked down the table at Drake, who just shook his head and smiled.

Well. This weekend should be interesting.

After dinner, which had consisted of barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, green beans, potato salad, fresh bread and sweet carrots, everyone piled into the kitchen. Leftovers were put away and dishes were done in record time. That was always the advantage of having a big crowd, especially when all hands were there to pitch in and help.

After, everyone dispersed. The women congregated in the living room, so Harmony followed along.

The discussion was on weddings, and she was eager to sit and listen to Katrina and Aubry talk wedding plans.

“The church in Austin is booked, and the reception venue is as well,” Katrina said. “I have the guest list in order. It doesn’t appear to be shaping up to be small.”

Lydia laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Between family and our friends and yours and Grant’s friends, plus all the media attention the wedding will have, it’s bound to be quite the event.”

Katrina wrinkled her nose. “I’m hoping to keep media to a minimum, or not at all. This is a family-and-friends-only event, not something I want on the cover of the tabloids.”

Lydia nodded and jotted something down in her notebook. “We’ll talk about security, make sure it’s beefed up for both the church and the reception.”

“Thank you, Lydia.”

“How about you, Aubry?” Lydia asked.

“We have the church and the reception. That’s about it. Oh, and I’ve picked out my dress.”

Katrina’s eyes widened. “You have? We haven’t gone dress shopping yet.”

“Well, I haven’t tried it on, but I have something in mind. I saw it online and fell in love with it.”

“Now you know we all want to see it,” Lydia said.

She shook her head. “I’ll wait until we hit the store. It’s going to be a surprise.”

“Tease,” Mia said.

“I know. I can’t help it. But I think you’re all going to love it. I hope you all love it.”

Lydia smiled. “I’m sure we will. Have you booked an appointment for the dress yet?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. But I’ll be sure to let you all know so you’re available.”

What fun it must be to plan a wedding. It wasn’t something Harmony had thought much about, mainly because she’d never been deeply enough in love to think about marriage. At least specifically.

Sure, she’d always thought she might get married someday. And she occasionally pondered the thought someday she’d fall in love and live happily ever after, but she didn’t read bridal magazines or keep a pin board with wedding venues or favorite cakes or anything like that.

Whenever it happened, then she’d design the hell out of her wedding. Until then, she was mostly a live day by day kind of woman.