“Yes, with those pearls Chase gave you and that rock of an engagement ring,” Rachel began, “you’ll be as cute as a button!”
Smiling and nodding, Rachel hid her eyes without even being asked. Jade took her headwear out of one box while Chloe removed her footwear out of another. Taking off her beloved red boots, she stepped into white leather boots with glittery inlays, studded with tiny pearls. Chloe handed her a white cowboy-like hat with a small brim. The top front of the hat was open with a sheer, pearl-studded veil flowing just from the rear half. Jade put on the hat, and the veil fell upon her shoulders, showcasing her slender back.
“You can look,” Jade said.
“Oh, my goodness,” Rachel whispered, tears brimming in her eyes as she admired the veiled hat and white boots. “Chase will love this.”
“I truly hope so,” Jade said.
“He will,” Chloe said and then turned to Rachel. “On the day of the wedding, we’re going to curl Jade’s hair and bring it through the top of the hat, letting it shimmer over the tulle and pearls.”
They began enthusiastically discussing other details of the wedding. Chloe was going to be her bridesmaid, and Cash would be Chase’s best man. The guest list would combine the Triple C Ranch hands with the Sons of Steel and include friends and neighbors of the Cooper family, as well as Jade’s friends Katy and Finn and her former neighbors, Bill and Carol.
“I’m going to ask Katy if Finn might want to be the ring bearer,” Jade said. “Rachel, would you be in charge of the guest book?”
“Love to. Leave that to me,” Rachel said. “Who will walk you down the aisle?”
“I’d like to ask Coop,” Jade said to them. “What do you think?”
“Yes!” Chloe said as Rachel echoed her approval.
“Coop will be honored,” Rachel added.
“I would be honored too,” Jade said. With that, she removed her veiled hat and white boots. They left the bedroom, and Jade shut the door. “Chase isn’t home yet, but this sign the wedding boutique gave me won’t hurt.” The sign stated for the groom to keep out, and she hung it over the doorknob. They all laughed and went downstairs. Jade walked them out to the portico, and after hugs, Chloe and Rachel piled into the Jeep.
“Come to the bed-and-breakfast tomorrow so we can work on more wedding plans,” Chloe said out of the driver’s window.
“I will. Thank you, both,” Jade called and waved. “Bye.”
With a honk and waves, Chloe and Rachel headed home to the bed-and-breakfast.
Back inside the house, Jade leaned against the double front doors and gazed across the great room. In her mind’s eye, she saw her cowboy. No man anywhere could grin like Chase Cooper. She blushed, thinking how many times she had unbuckled his belt when all he did was smile at her. No man had his swagger. Just walking toward her, Chase made her heart pound a hundred miles a minute. When he kissed her, she prayed he never stopped wanting his lips on hers. Making love had solidified their mental and physical connection. She knew their bond was the key to breaking through the hypnosis hoax and never once had the pain or negative images returned. Thinking how much she loved Chase—mind, heart, body, and soul—she yearned for him.
And the icing on the cake? She glanced at the cozy nursery next to the master bedroom. Someday, she prayed, they would make a baby for that room.
The grandfather clock chimed two. Chase had said he’d be home at three. This was the longest she’d been away from him since being kidnapped. She had one more hour before she could run to Chase and cover him in kisses. Later, a barbecue at Cash’s ranch would take place for his dude ranchers and Chase’s ranch hands, who were putting on the roping show for them at the start of their week on Triple C Ranch-East. Jade was nudged out of her daydream by a timid knock. Opening her eyes and then the door, she smiled in surprise.
“Hi, Finn,” Jade said to the boy standing next to her grandpa’s trunk.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
“Hey, Cash!” Chase called, riding Valor away from the corral.
“Thanks for wowing my guests, Chase,” Cash said with a big smile, riding Captain Jack toward him. “You and your guys never fail to impress. That might have been the best roping and racing display to date.”
“You’re welcome.” Chase returned the compliment, “Nothing you can’t do.” As soon as the finale was over, he had called Jade to see if she might be home early. “I’m heading home.”
“Okay. But you’ll be back with Jade later, right?” Cash asked, reining in his horse next to Valor. “The catered barbecue will be delivered around six. Sam and Kellie are overseeing it,” he said, referring to his ranch’s counterparts to Bob and Teresa. Kellie and Teresa were sisters and best friends. Referring to Sam and Kellie’s son, he said, “Jeff will help, so we can relax.”
“We plan on being here,” Chase said with a nod at Bob, Red, Reno, and Faro, who were still inside the corral. Mean Pete rode out of the corral on Bud, alongside Martyman on Doc Holliday. “I’ll probably see you later.”
“Is something wrong?” Bob asked, reining in his horse, Otis, next to Chase and Cash.
“I just called Jade and she didn’t answer,” Chase explained with a frown.
“Any alarms set off?” Cash asked.
“No,” Chase said and shook his head.
