Ride Rough - Tessa Layne Page 0,33

seeing him. Catalina leaned in. "They're all standing at the back, in case you were wondering." Cecilia held in a laugh. Of course Catalina would know where everyone was. She never missed a thing.

The wedding, of course, was beautiful, albeit punctuated with Catalina's quiet commentary. The groom was the brother of the wife of Brodie Sinclaire, who the bride, Dottie's daughter Lexi, had worked with on the east coast, and they had both run for Mayor, but somehow Dottie had won. Cecilia could barely keep up with the details, and there was no way she'd remember half of what Catalina told her, but she loved it just the same.

As soon as the wedding finished, Cecilia excused herself and hurried to the banquet table where she pulled all the coverings from the food. It took her ten minutes to return to the kitchen thanks to so many friends and acquaintances welcoming her home and inquiring about her mother and grandmother's big adventure. "Yes, they're having a lovely time. Yes, it's good to be back, too. No, I haven't made any plans yet. Yes, I'm considering a career shift." Euphemism for I got sacked and I'm figuring shit out. The downside of Prairie - she couldn't make a move without everyone knowing about it. By the time she made it back to the quiet haven of the kitchen, her face hurt from smiling. She reached for the pink apron and set to work piling the cooled biscuits onto empty trays, and spooning jars of strawberry preserves and whipped cream into chilled bowls. Back and forth to the table she went, bringing new food, clearing empty serving platters, and setting up a wash station at the sink. Outside, the music started, and at intervals, cheers went up, she assumed from tossing the bouquet and garter.

She paused only once, to pour herself a second glass of bubbly, helping herself to the bottle in the fridge. The bubbles sparkled against her tongue as she let out a tired sigh, pushing the shooting pain from her feet out of her mind. She'd soak them in Epsom salts when she returned home. "So this is where you've been hiding?" Trace called from the doorway. Without looking backward, she raised her glass.

"Just taking a little break," she said brusquely, suddenly feeling shy. Big events like this exhausted her.

"Come out and dance," he cajoled.

"Too many dishes." She finished her glass and set it on the counter, returning to the sink. "I don't want Dottie to have to take care of clean-up today."

"But you don't have to do this by yourself."

"Oh, I don't mind." She didn't. Truly. "It gives me time to think. You go have fun with the guys."

He made a noise in his throat and muttered something under his breath that sounded a whole lot like damn stubborn woman, and crossed the kitchen, appearing beside her tying the blue checked apron behind him.

"I'm fine, really," she protested, pulse jumping at his proximity.

"That pile of dishes is a tall as you are," he growled, taking a towel.

"I don't need rescuing. Go enjoy yourself."

"Nobody said anything about rescuing." He took the soapy plate from her hand, rinsed it, dried it, and walked it to the table. "But I will make comments about women who are too stubborn to ask for help." He took another plate from her.

"I don't need help."

"How long have you been on your feet?" he demanded.

Too long. "Awhile," she hedged, handing him another plate.

He made a disapproving sound as he took it, and when he returned from the table braced his arms on either side of her, caging her in. His breath fell warm against her temple and a delicious shiver rolled through her. "Hmm. I'm guessing your feet are on fire right about now."

He wasn't far off.

"So, here's how we're going to play this... Cecilia." The way he said her name turned her knees to jelly. It was dirty and seductive, and promised to fulfill every filthy fantasy she'd indulged in since they'd first kissed. She bit back a groan when his mouth found the sensitive spot below her ear further sensitized by the scraping of his beard. "You're going to put your feet up and enjoy another glass of bubbly. You can boss me all you like while I finish the dishes." She whimpered as a spike of heat arrowed right to her core, dampening her panties as her sex heated. The ache grew so intense, she squeezed her legs together. She gripped the edge