“I’ve been told. I was assigned water transport.”
Together, they returned to the kitchen and he hefted a couple of cases while she grabbed another food tray. At the covered areawhere the tables and dance floor had been set up, Ryan looked to his Aunt Eileen, fussing over some flower arrangement with his Aunt Anne. And again, to his surprise, his mother was doing the same only a few feet away. “I still can’t believe it.”
“What?” Nicole set the food down on the table and turned to face Ryan.
“My mother making nice with people she worked so hard to keep us away from.”
“I guess near tragedy works well to bring people together.”
Looping his arm around her waist, he spun her about to face him, lifting her chin with one finger. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?”
“Not today.” She smiled up at him.
“I do. Love you.”
“And I,” she eased up on her tippy toes and kissed his lips again, “love you.”
“And that’s the whole problem!” his mother’s voice carried across the reception area.
“Uh oh.” Ryan looked up. Pretty much anyone within shouting distance stopped to look at Mariah Farraday, standing with hands on her hips, looking ready to breathe fire at his aunts. He slid his hand down to snatch up Nicole’s. “We’d better get over there and cool her off before the whole day is ruined.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Aunt Anne, who always had the sweetest disposition, seemed to be ready to come to blows with his mother.
Stomping like a mad bull, Aunt Eileen crossed the small space. “Now is not the time.”
“She started it,” the two women echoed as they pointed to each other.
Anne blew out a sigh. “All I did was mention how many lovely weddings have been held here at the ranch, always so romantic, makes everyone want to be close to the ones they love.”
Biting down hard on her back teeth, her gaze narrowed with a deadly stare directed at Anne, his mother repeated, “And that’s the problem. You can’t keep your hands off my husband.”
Eyebrows climbed to the hairlines of just about every person within earshot.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Anne shouted back. Uncle Brian came to stand behind his wife, his hands gently caressing her arms. No doubt in an effort to bring calm to the currently insane moment.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. It was the Brady wedding.”
Anne blinked, sheer confusion taking over her face.
“The bride and groom were cutting the cake, the band played a soft version of ‘When Somebody Loves You’ as background music. I looked over and saw you pulling my Patrick in for a long slow kiss.”
“I never.” Anne’s expression shifted from confusion to indignation.
“Mariah,” Ryan’s dad sidled up beside his wife, “you promised you wouldn’t start anything. This is Quinn’s big day.”
Her hands fisting at her side, his mom was almost vibrating with anger. “I know. I tried. I really tried. Everyone was so…kind to me when Ryan was trapped. So supportive. But when she started talking about all the weddings and I remembered that day you kissed her…”
“Iwhat?” Now it was his dad’s face covered in confusion. “I’ve never even looked at another woman since I found you.”
Mariah blinked at him, her expression softening, her lower lip almost quivering. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.” Tumbled over, “He’s not.”
“Which wedding are we talking about?” Uncle Brian looked at his sister-in-law.
“The Brady wedding. Paul or Peter, I forget which one.”
Uncle Brian continued to stare at her, his mind clearly running through every Brady wedding they’d ever been to here at the ranch.
