“Between your life on the ranch and my business, it was a miracle we met when we did.” Becky leaned closer and gently kissed him. “I am far from perfect but, if you’re willing to take what’s happening between us slowly, I would be pleased to spend more time with you.”
“We’ll go as slow as you need.” And he kissed Becky again, deepening the kiss until they were both breathless.
He had no control of the future, but he knew what he felt for Becky would last a lifetime.
Chapter10
Sean opened the door to Emily’s Boutique and looked over his shoulder. If anyone saw him, they’d wonder why he was coming into a woman’s clothing store. That could lead to a lot of other questions he didn’t want to answer.
Ashley had surprised everyone by arriving home yesterday. With some quick thinking and a few white lies, Matthew told her he was driving to Livingston today to pick up some important ranch supplies. He’d invited her along for the ride and, unsurprisingly, she’d gone with him.
Instead of coming straight back, he was taking Ashley to a café Sally had recommended. The idea was to keep her out of Bozeman for at least two hours. That would give Sean enough time to collect her wedding dress and finalize a few other details before she arrived home.
He only hoped his brother didn’t say anything about the wedding.
“Hi. You’re on time,” Emily said when she came downstairs.
“I didn’t want to be late. Matthew’s keeping Ashley occupied and I need to get the dress back to the ranch before they get back.”
“In that case, I’ll go and get it.”
While Emily was gone, he looked around the boutique. He could see why his sister liked shopping here. With the deep red walls and large gilt-framed mirrors, it looked nothing like the other stores in Bozeman. Not that he’d been into many women’s clothing stores.
Apart from the colorful racks of clothes, he was impressed with the building. He never thought anyone would be able to transform it into something so special. After starting its life as a public library, it fell into disrepair and had sat empty for years. When it caught fire, there was talk about knocking it down but, when Emily saw the building, she’d bought it straightaway.
He wasn’t the only person who’d thought she was crazy, but what she’d done to it was incredible. According to Sally, not only was the building a good investment, but Emily’s business was one of the reasons women came from far and wide to visit Bozeman.
“Found it! After you get home, leave the dress in this white bag. It will protect the fabric and keep any dust and dirt off it.”
Sean lifted the enormous bag out of Emily’s arms. It felt as soft as a parachute and just as awkward to carry.
“Don’t worry about crushing the dress. As long as you hang it up, it should be fine. When I spoke to Matthew on the phone, I told him to give Ashley the dress at least four hours before the wedding. That way, I can make any adjustments she needs before they get married.”
“Thanks. We really appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“It was no problem. I’m thankful Ashley came into the boutique. Without knowing what style of dress she likes, it would have been impossible to find something for her.”
“I’m glad she saw you, too. Has the money gone into your bank account for the dress?”
“It was there this morning.” Emily looked at him with an amused gleam in her eyes. “Becky was great to work with. You’re lucky she’s helping you.”
“I realized that from the moment I stepped into Happy Petals. She’s one of the most organized people I’ve met.”
“And one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
Sean’s eyebrows rose. “You wouldn’t be matchmaking, would you?”
Emily laughed. “You’re standing in the middle of a fashion boutique holding a bride’s wedding dress. It’s the best time to be a matchmaker.” She glanced at the large grandfather clock on the opposite side of the room. “Where did you park your truck?”
With a groan, Sean realized he should have left his truck around the back of the building. Anyone walking along the sidewalk would see him holding the bag. “It’s directly outside the front door.”
She hurried toward the front window. “Is it the blue truck?”
“That’s the one.”
Emily stood in the entrance and looked both ways. “Can you unlock it from here?”
Using one hand, he found his keys and pushed the button. “Done.”
