Cole nodded. “Yup. This is why we didn’t even tell Daniel. But she’s gonna love this one. Promise.” He let go of her fingers, after a soft squeeze. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
She tried not to watch as he jogged down toward the stable in his tux, looking as unfairly adorable as ever, only dressed up this time.
“Have you thought about what kind of cake you want me to make for your wedding?” Jenny appeared at her elbow, watching Cole as well.
“Huh?” Jess turned. “What?”
“Well, maybe it’s just me being all wedding mush or whatever, but it sure seems to me there might be another Whisper Creek wedding in the works.”
“No. Definitely not.”
“So you’re just appreciating the scenery? Generally?” Jenny’s eyebrows forged a path toward her hairline.
“No. Maybe. Yes. No.”
Jenny laughed, patting Jess’s shoulder as she headed toward the lodge. “I recommend the vanilla with raspberry filling. And peanut butter cookies, but I’ll throw those in for free.”
Jess shook her head, closing her eyes as Cole disappeared into the stable. How transparent could she be, anyway? Even relative strangers were picking up on the fact that she found the man downright magnetic.
She headed for the lodge, trying not to bury her heels in the grass as she went. Kyla and Hayley were probably already a glass of champagne into the festivities, and catching up to them suddenly felt like a really good idea.
Then again, last time she’d imbibed anything other than water, she’d ended up wrapped in Cole’s arms. And as much as she couldn’t think of anywhere she’d rather be, she really needed to keep her senses tonight.
Then again…
—
“Where do Whisper Creek men learn to do speeches like this?” Kyla picked up her napkin an hour later to wipe her eyes, then fanned her face with her hand. “I mean, I know Cole’s a smooth talker, but jeez.”
Jess nodded, watching Daniel shake Cole’s hand, then pull him into a man-hug. “That was a really nice best man toast.”
“I’m thinking maybe Decker should bring him along for more of his meetings. I’m pretty sure Cole could sweet-talk just about anybody into anything around here.”
Jess gulped. Yes. Yes, oh yes, he could.
Kyla leaned toward her, bumping elbows. “So. His list of datable qualities just keeps growing, doesn’t it?”
“The sweet-talking, you mean?” Jess raised her eyebrows. “Because that could go either way, really.”
“He doesn’t use it for evil, so I’m putting it on the list.” Kyla folded her napkin again as the deejay started playing after-dinner music. “And also I’d have to add the part about looking ridiculously hot in a tux.”
Jess bit her lip as she nodded slowly, eyes firmly on Cole. “I’ll give you that one.”
“And just think! He’s your date tonight. The rest of the single ladies here will just have to drool in jealousy.”
“I look forward to it.” Jess laughed, then clapped her hand over her mouth. “That sounded terrible. I didn’t mean that.”
“Sure you did. It’s okay. You’ve waited a long time for this date.” Kyla’s head snapped to the left. “Oh, boy. Let the drooling commence.”
“Wha—?”
Jess craned her head to see what Kyla was looking at, then put a hand to her mouth. The groomsmen had gathered on the dance floor, and the deejay called for attention. Then, in one smooth move, they all slid on dark sunglasses and struck a pose that made her laugh.
“Our men are completely nuts.” Kyla giggled beside her.
Jess heard the words our men come out of Kyla’s mouth and they sounded so natural, so normal. As the music started and the guys did a series of funny dance steps, she couldn’t take her eyes off from Cole. He moved around the floor like he owned it, like he had all the confidence in the world, and she loved watching how his body moved, how he worked the room without even looking like he was trying.
As she watched, he turned toward her, then lifted his sunglasses and winked. Her mouth opened in surprise, and he grinned and flipped the shades back down, resuming the dance.
“Uh-oh.” Kyla shook her head, smiling. “The women of Carefree, Montana just fell into an unbearable state of depression.”
“Because he winked at me?” Jess rolled her eyes.
“That was more than a wink, missy. That was a pretty clear back off message for the rest of the guys here.”
“Oh, please.” Jess fought the jump of excitement that Kyla’s words elicited.
Kyla shrugged. “It’s true. Believe me or don’t. I know you all think I’m a romantic