“You buy the old Pilcher place, Number Five?”
“Yeah, just got the papers through yesterday,” Ethan said in answer to Buster’s question.
“You’re not going all condo, with gleaming chrome and sparse, ultra-modern décor, are you, because I know how you Texans can be,” Buster said.
“No, you don’t,” Ethan said. “You don’t know any Texans besides me, and I hardly think a man who wears an apron all day has anything to say worth hearing when it comes to my décor.”
“Just let Annabelle do it. She’s got a thing for color,” Buster said.
Ethan had bought a cabin and he and Annabelle had plans to extend it, but they wouldn’t move in until Cooper was ready. He would stay in the family home.
“You know you’re next, don’t you, baker boy?”
“Next for what?” Buster looked up at Ethan.
“To find a woman. Isn’t that right, Jake?”
“I’m thinking its past time,” Jake said with his eyes still on the entrance to the red carpet.
“No, I’m staying single. You two are pathetic with your women. I’m retaining control of me,” Buster said.
“There must be a woman somewhere in this world you want to share your muffin trays with, Buster,” Ethan said.
“Nope, not going to happen.”
“Well, hell.” Jake whistled softly. “Militant is wearing a dress and a hat.”
Ethan and Buster found Millie Lawrence stomping down the aisle. She was dressed in black, and her clothes were better suited to a funeral than a wedding, but she’d made an effort just the same. Behind her came Cooper and Macy’s little boy Billy.
Cooper Smith was still pale and his eyes were haunted, but he had improved vastly from the man Ethan and Annabelle had rescued from Vegas.
“He’s put on some weight, and looks stronger,” Buster said as he followed Millie and Cooper with his eyes too.
“I gave him my laptop to fix the other day and he spent ages working with it. Now it runs like a dream,” Jake said.
Ethan and Cooper had slowly become friends, but Ethan didn’t push too hard. He usually left that to Annabelle.
The first strains of music started and Ethan heard the breath hiss out of Jake’s mouth.
“Showtime,” Buster said softly.
Macy came first, looking sweet and happy, but Ethan had eyes only for Annabelle. In her favorite color of hot pink, the dress was fitted with little sleeves and simple lines that ran to a hem with a little flirty frill that sat several inches above her beautiful knees. She was wearing high pink sandals, her hair was loose around her face and she was so gorgeous his mouth went dry.
“Your girl has good legs, Tex,” Buster said out the side of his mouth.
“Lift those eyes, boy. Those legs are taken,” Ethan said as Annabelle saw him and smiled. It was soft and knowing and just for him.
“You and Jake’ve got that sappy look going, and I sure as hell don’t want a woman making me look that pathetic,” Buster said.
“We’ll see,” Ethan and Jake said together.
Branna looked beautiful in her elegant cream dress with a halter top heavily worked in lace and a long skirt. Her dark hair was up on top of her head and she was carrying a small circle of flowers.
“Your girl looks good, Jake,” Buster said with his usual flair for words.
Declan O’Donnell was wearing the same suit as Ethan, Jake, and Buster, and the pride he had on his face as he handed his girl over to Jake was fierce.
The service wasn’t long, and the guests all sighed as Jake kissed his new wife. Ethan took Annabelle’s hand and they were soon walking back down the carpet.
