Page 8 of One-of-a-Kind Bride (Home to Texas #1)

Which he did because, basically, he was good guy. She climbed into his truck for the second time in two days, and sat quietly as he gave her a look, sighed deeply then started the engine again.

They were back at Julie’s in less than three minutes. He parked the truck and turned to her. “You gonna tell me why you were running down the middle of the street?”

“You gonna call me a fool again?”

“No.”

“You gonna think it?”

He half smiled and his grim face lightened up. “Maybe.”

“You!” She wanted to swat at him, give him a punch in the arm or something like she used to, but she wasn’t a kid anymore.

So, she held back and then the words started spilling out, because this was Coop and he’d always been a good listener.

“I wasn’t thinking about traffic at this hour.

I was feeling unburdened and the road under my feet felt freeing.

It’s not as if I can run like this in New York.

It’s all so different. My frustrations lessened with every step and I guess I got lost in all that, until I faced down your big red hulk of a truck. ”

“At least you weren’t wearing a wedding dress this time.” He didn’t need to point out the obvious and rub it in. “Good thing I had a double espresso this morning. Kept me on my toes.”

“And off mine.”

He grinned. “What are you doing today?”

“I’ll be working on Julie’s gown. And once she’s home from school, we’re going cake tasting. Nothing that can get me flattened.”

“Then I approve.”

“Good. I was worried. Wouldn’t want you coming to my rescue a third time.”

“Just promise me if you continue jogging, you’ll be more careful. Not everyone has quick reactions.”

She titled her head and regarded him, taking him seriously now. He wasn’t being glib. He seemed truly concerned and that put a smile around her heart. “I promise.”

*

“I love it.” Julie gazed at her reflection in the mirror, a big smile on her face.

She’d had parent-teacher conferences today, which meant no glue or crayons or paint, so as soon as she arrived home, she asked to try on her dress.

“It’s absolutely perfect. Just what I wanted, Taylor.

You promised me a gorgeous gown and you delivered. ”

“I’m glad you like it, hon.” And she was doubly glad she was able to give the dress a good cleaning. The stains were only on the surface and they’d come out without a problem.

Julie moved from side to side, twirled around in her mother’s master bedroom, which was now her own, never once taking her eyes off the gown.

The sign of a satisfied bride.

“Mom would’ve loved it.” Then Julie’s face fell, the hurt behind her eyes clearly evident.

Taylor understood that look, the pain and loss that Julie was feeling as she touched the side of the veil, fingering the fine lace.

Taylor came up beside her and squeezed her shoulders, looking at her through her reflection in the mirror. “She’s here with you, Jules. Always. As long as you keep her memory close to your heart.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Here I am going on, when you lost your mother too. Auntie Sable was a great woman.”

“She was. And I miss her every day. But you know what?” She perked up her voice deliberately to change the mood. “This is a fun day and we’re going to keep it that way. Now where are Aunt Suzie’s pearls you wanted to wear with the dress?”

“I have them right here.” Julie rummaged through a five-tiered jewelry box, coming up with a crushed velvet necklace box. She opened it and weaved her hands through the pearls. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

“They are.”

Julie roped the long strand around her neck and faced the mirror. “Oh, no. Gosh,” she said quietly, frowning at her reflection, tears touching her eyes. “What do you think?”

The pearls were clearly not a match to the dress and Julie’s expression said it all. She’d had her heart set on wearing them. It was important for her to feel close to her mother on her wedding day. It was always in the plan.

But now, seeing the pearls lying over the bodice of the gown, Taylor hated to admit they were an eyesore. “I think…we’ll work around it.”

Julie’s shoulders slumped, her mouth turned downward. “How?”

Taylor shifted her mind into design mode.

The gown she’d fashioned for Julie was an off-one-shoulder angular design that was held together by a thin strap overlaid with lace from front to back.

Perhaps a choker or a shorter strand of pearls might’ve worked around her neck but this long strand clearly didn’t. Unless…

“Julie, take off the pearls. I have an idea.”

And once she had the pearls in hand, she doubled them up and set them over Julie’s shoulder.

“What if we use them as your strap? They’re delicate enough not to look obtrusive.

I can sew them on from front to back with a bit of lace underneath and then add some pearl details to the bodice, to make it all look cohesive?

See, it would go from here to here.” Taylor demonstrated her idea.

“I promise you, I won’t damage the pearls in any way, and it’ll look as if it was the original plan. ”

“I was going to wear a pair of pearl and diamond earrings.” There was hope in Julie’s voice.

“That’s perfect,” Taylor said. “With the decorative pearl strap and earrings, you won’t need a necklace at all. The only thing prettier than the gown itself will be the bride wearing it.”

“That’s sweet, coz.” Julie’s expression softened. “And I love the idea. Mom will be with me, just like I wanted. You sure solved the problem in a quick hurry. Must mean only one thing. You’re a genius, Taylor.”

“I’m not, but go on, keep talking.” She motioned with her hand to keep the compliments coming.

Julie giggled and wrapped her up in a big warm hug. “You are the best, Taylor. Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet, I still have to hem the dress and make the bustle and then do a final fitting.”

“I have no doubt you’ll crush it.”

Crush it? She almost was crushed today, but she wasn’t going to bring that up to her cousin. She’d rather forget about what happened during her jog this morning, forget about the panic in Coop’s eyes when he’d thought he might’ve injured her.

“You have so much faith in me,” she told Julie.

“I do. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have asked you to help pick out my wedding cake.”

Taylor smiled. “I have to admit, it sounds like fun, but I’m feeling a little guilty. Shouldn’t Miguel be in on this?”

“If he can get away from work, he’ll join us. Techy problems never end. I guess that’s a good thing or my soon-to-be-husband wouldn’t have a job.”

“Computers, can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”

They looked at each other and giggled, Julie taking her hand and squeezing. “I’m so glad you’re here, Taye. And it’s not just because you made me the most beautiful gown in the world or the help you’re giving me. I’ve missed you. I used to love all those summers we spent together.”

“I’ve missed you too. I have the best memories of Last Stand. Seeing each other once in a while doesn’t seem like quite enough, does it?” She smiled at her cousin.

Julie was like a sister to her, and it was never more evident than right now as they worked on the wedding together.

“No, it doesn’t. Wish we could fix that,” Julie said with a bit of whimsy. “I mean, you really don’t have to go back to New York.” She raised her brows expectantly.

“Not for a few weeks.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Julie stared at her and Taylor was immediately put on guard.

She loved it here, but Last Stand wasn’t her home.

She didn’t fit in here, not where it counted.

She’d grown up in the big city with traffic and skyscrapers and white Christmases.

She’d studied in New York. She’d landed her first job in New York.

She had an apartment and friends. Her entire adult life had been filled with big city dreams.

“I love you, but there’s no future for me here in Last Stand. As soon as I get back, I’m going to have to do a full-court press to get a job.” She shrugged, hearing the discouragement in her own voice.

She wasn’t looking forward to going home and trying to find work. She wasn’t good with résumés and talking herself up. In a perfect world, her designs would sell themselves. Like that would ever happen.

For now, she just wanted to pretend she was on a month-long vacation. She wanted to focus on Julie’s wedding and forget her problems.

“I have no doubt you’ll find work, Taylor. You’re too talented not to be noticed. But, can’t a bride-to-be do some wishful thinking?”

“Not fair, you’re using the bride card.”

“Is so fair. I only have a few more weeks with that title.”

“Yeah, then you’ll be a married woman.”

“Hard to believe. It’s surreal, you know? Remember all those summers we talked about what our weddings would be like?”

“Of course I remember,” she said quietly. They were two young girls with lofty dreams, collecting magazine photos of brides and flowers and wedding venues. “And now, your dreams are coming true. You’re getting married to a great guy in a beautiful church in grand fashion.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to…to—”

“It’s okay, Julie. I figure when the time comes, I’ll be ready. I’m not now. So, you don’t have to feel even a teensy bit guilty that you found your once-in-a-lifetime guy.”

“I don’t feel guilty. I just want you to have what I have. I know there’s someone wonderful out there for you.”

“And when I find love, you’ll be the first one I tell.”

“Promise?”

“I promise, Jules.”