Macey
“Do you take this man to be your husband?” Daddy says with no preamble. “In sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
I’m holding my breath.
“I do,” I say in a rush.
Logan’s eyes widen. I’ve surprised him somehow.
“What is it?” I whisper.
“Nothing.” He turns to Daddy, who asks him the same question.
“I do,” Logan says immediately as his gaze returns to me.
His eyes are so earnest. And wistful. Heat prickles my body.
Suddenly, this altar feels too small. I tug at the skirt of my dress, desperate for something solid to hang onto. For a girl who’s sworn her entire life that she’ll never say the words “I do,” this moment is more than a little surreal.
But what’s scaring me is how completely natural it feels. To be up here with Logan and exchanging vows with him…it’s not hard like I thought it would be. It’s actually far too easy.
I step back from him as Daddy pronounces us husband and wife.
Logan scoops me into his arms and plants a quick kiss on my lips.
The audience cheers as Logan takes my hand, and we make quick time down the aisle and into the saloon next door.
And then, we get ripped apart by all the patrons following us into the bar area.
“Macey!” Mama calls to me. “Can you help me find your father? I’ve lost him in the crowd.”
I turn to Logan. “I’ll meet you at our table shortly. It’s the one in the front.”
Logan
Within a half-hour, all the tables in the saloon are filled with Derby riders and their dates. The only empty table is the one at the front of the room, just to the left of the bar.
Why is it still empty? I only need to scan a few feet to the right to find Macey in a heated argument with her father. She’s standing with her back to the bar flap, clearly not giving him permission to enter.
No surprise there. My heart aches for Macey as she stands toe to toe with her daddy, hands on her hips.
But another part of my body is reacting, too. Because seeing Macey in that corset is my undoing. The thin blue fabric squeezes her breasts so tightly they’re nearly popping out of the dress. As hot as it looks, I can’t imagine it’s very comfortable to wear, and the thought of taking it off of her later?—
I adjust my pants, hoping to ease the ache in my groin. This suit jacket isn’t long enough to cover up anything going on below the belt.
Maybe I can go sit down. But before I move?—
Macey turns in my direction.
Our eyes lock, and hers light up.
“Mr. Darcy,” she says as she walks up to me and hands me my favorite drink of grape juice and whiskey, the one she’s dubbed a Loganiskey on The Cowherd menu. “Welcome to my family bar. That green tie brings out the flecks in your eyes.”
I take the drink from her, and then I grin and bring her hand to my mouth. “Mrs. Darcy.” I give her hand a quick kiss and rub my thumb over the top of her hand gently. I take special care to trace her ruby ring. “That blue dress really shows you off. Makes me want to disappear with you into the back room right now.”
Macey visibly shivers.
Her father beckons to me. “Come sit up here at the table of honor, Logan. Baby, you sit down, too. You’re not working tonight. Your meal will be ready shortly.”
