have something for the two of you.” She twisted but didn’t try to turn in the dress. She’d probably fall down with a train that long and bushy. “Kara? Did you have those little boxes?”
“I have them,” another woman said, and she too belonged to Molly. This sister had never been to the ranch, so she must be Lyra. She’d been living in Utah and going to school, and she’d gotten married this past spring.
She handed a pair of dark blue jewelry boxes to Molly, who extended them toward Matt and Gloria, her smile on double-high now. “Open them.”
“You didn’t have to get me a gift,” Gloria said, removing her hand from Matt’s arm and reaching for the box. “In fact, I’m pretty sure people bring the bride and groom gifts.” She met Molly’s eye and smiled.
“I want you to wear these during the wedding,” she said.
Gloria looked down at her box, and then at Matt. He gestured for her to go first, so she cracked the lid. A pair of gorgeous, dazzling diamond earrings sat nestled among black silk, and Gloria sucked in a breath. “Molly.” She looked up at the woman. “I can’t accept these.”
“Yes, you can.” Molly reached for the box and took it back. “You didn’t even wear earrings, and I knew you wouldn’t. You need these.” She took them out and handed them to Gloria. “There’s a mirror right over there if you need one.” She turned expectantly to Matt.
“Here goes nothing,” he said. “But my ears aren’t even pierced.” He grinned at Molly, who giggled, and opened his box.
Gloria caught sight of the shock on his face first and looked down into his jewelry box second. Cufflinks.
“These are amazing,” he said, taking them out of the box. He stepped into Molly and hugged her tight, and Gloria wished she’d done that. She wasn’t particularly touchy-feely, though she did feel things deeply. She just didn’t know how to express them. Once, her grandmother had said she was stoic and strong-willed, because she’d been raised by a single father who knew how to communicate with horses and cattle better than humans.
Gloria had often found herself doing that too. She could murmur the secrets of her heart to a horse, and it would simply close its eyes halfway as if in bliss and listen.
Matt turned to Gloria. “Help me put these on?” He wore hope and delight in his eyes, and Gloria nearly dropped her earrings at the sight of the boyish smile on his face. Her heart thumped in her chest as she handed her earrings to Molly to hold and reached to help Matt with his cufflinks.
He extended the first toward her, and her fingers touched his to take it from him. Sparks shot up her arm, and she steadfastly refused to look at him again. If she did, she had no idea what might happen. She’d probably spontaneously combust or something.
“I’m not sure….” She threaded the link through and popped out the back. “Oh. Got it.” She smiled at him, her stomach swooping. At least she hadn’t burst into flames. He didn’t smile though, and she’d seen that look in his eyes before. Desire swam in those half-blue, half-gray depths, and she felt it move through he too.
She shifted her feet, which hurt in the heels, and she took the second cufflink. With that one in place, the cute little horse sparkling just like her earrings, she stepped back. She needed a lungful of air that wasn’t scented like Matt’s cologne and the woodsy, clean smell of his skin.
Her fingers twitched when she looked up and saw he had a lock of hair that had fallen onto his forehead. Before, when they’d dated, she’d swoop that back into place, lean into him, and kiss him.
Before, when Gloria had confidence and the whole world in front of her.
Now, she took another step back and bumped into Ingrid. “Sorry,” she murmured. Molly handed her the earrings, and Gloria walked over to the mirror. It had been a long time since she’d dressed up with jewelry. She’d sold anything of any value before leaving Montana, and she certainly didn’t need diamonds to teach a horse how to stay close to the rail.
With the gems in her ears, Gloria let her hands fall back to her sides. A distinct feeling cascaded over her, and she could only stare at her reflection. She felt beautiful, and Gloria never felt like that.
“They’re lovely,” Molly’s mother said, and Gloria turned toward