“Coming, Buster.”
Her eyes found Brad Gelderman again, and then she looked away as his eyes locked on hers.
Do not look at him again, Macy Reynolds,she told herself as she hurried over to the wedding party.It’s just that he’s new in town, nothing more than that. Plus, he’s Ethan’s long-lost brother, and that’s it, end of discussion.
The photographer moved the wedding party into position.
“I'm hoping you can work miracles,” Buster said. “The others in the group are butt ugly, but with some added tweaks you may be able to get a decent shot.”
“Son,” Ethan drawled, “we all know who the lookers in this posse are, and you are not one of them.”
“He gets the pity vote though, you got to have one butt ugly person in every group,” Jake added.
“And here's me staying up all night icing your cake, Gelderman. Ungrateful is what you are.”
Macy listened to her friends annoy each other. This was the way they communicated, and had for as long as she'd known them. She posed, smiled, and did as she was told while everyone bickered, teased, and generally annoyed each other.
“Your brother’s a seriously good-looking man, Ethan. Do you think he’d let us all spend some time alone together? You, me, and him?”
“Willow, honey, what have I told you about saying stuff like that in public.”
Macy laughed at Buster’s pained expression. Willow Harper was an artist and was constantly asking people to pose for her.
“What did I say?”
Her long caramel-colored hair hung down her back and she wore a wide-brimmed apricot hat with matching sundress. Nude sandals finished the outfit. She looked beautiful, and a lot of that was from the fact that her face lit when she looked at her man.
“You just propositioned me and my brother,” Ethan said, smiling, “and the answer is yes, if I can get him to stay long enough to sit for you.”
“Oh goodie!” Willow clapped her hands.
“Goodie? Who the hell says goodie?”
“I do, now be quiet and smile, lover boy.”
Everyone hooted with laughter as Buster blushed, but the smile on his face told Macy he wasn’t unhappy with his lady’s words.
She’d like to see that drawing, Macy thought, looking for Brad again. He and Ethan together would be pretty special. She found him away from the other guests, watching. He wasn't with his brother and sister, but a little to one side. He stood still, nothing moving, no flick of fingers or twitch. He appeared isolated, even surrounded by all the smiling, talking guests. Lonely, she realized, just like she often was.
Just looking at him made her feel edgy.
As if sensing her, he turned his head, and even though he wore sunglasses, she was sure he was looking directly at her. She had the foolish urge to poke out her tongue for no other reason than to get a reaction, but of course she didn't. She was a mother, a member of this community; besides, if Billy saw he'd think it was okay to do the same.
There was also the small sizzle of heat in the pit of her belly that she hadn't felt for many years. Actually, she didn't think she'd ever felt it before, not even when she'd thought her ex was a good man.
Go out and have fun, Macy.
Her psychiatrist had said those words at their last appointment. A bit of harmless flirting, Jillian had said. Just take small steps, and then you’ll feel safe.
She hadn’t, but looking at Brad Gelderman she wondered what it would be like to flirt with him.
Macy had been single for four years now, and Jillian told her it was okay to start feeling attracted to men again, and if the right man appeared, consider having a relationship with him. Macy had shaken her head, vowing that she was in no way ready and may never be, but Jillian had given her that steady look and disagreed.
“That's a wrap, team, fall out.”
“He's one of Ethan's old army buddies,” Annabelle whispered as the photographer called a halt to the photo shoot.
Deciding she needed to put some distance between Brad Gelderman and herself—and the crazy thoughts inside her head—Macy said she was going to check on Billy and headed to where the reception was being held.
