Chapter One
“As far as weddings go, this one isn’t too bad.” Hunter Westbrook adjusted his black Stetson as he looked around the lavender field and at the white decorations.
“Right—two for one is the way to go.” Blake, Hunter’s youngest brother, grinned as he lifted his fork. A bottomless pit and eighteen years old, Blake was bound to outgrow his ability to eat anything and everything in sight at some time.
Hunter fought the urge to adjust his hat again. It sat funny against his forehead, and if he took it off, he’d have a mark there. Special occasion hats didn't get broken in quickly.
“Have you tried the chicken and biscuit sliders?” asked Blake. He crammed another bite into his mouth. “I’m on my second plate.”
Hunter brushed Blake’s crumbs off his shirt. “It’s a wonder Maggie put up with you as long as she did.”
Blake’s face fell and his shoulders slumped at the mention of his high school sweetheart who’d dumped him. “Too soon, man.”
“Sorry.” Hunter was quick to apologize. Blake was working at the family ranch and taking classes online. He hadn’t dated anyone since the breakup, and Hunter suspected there was more to his feelings for Maggie than the high school crush everyone claimed they shared.
Although … who was he to judge? It wasn’t like he knew what love felt like.
“Come on, let’s go congratulate the happy couplea.” Hunter slapped Blake on the shoulder, and they made their way across the field to where Allie and Brandon and Jo and Cash greeted guests. Somewhere on this property were a bunch of beehives Allie and her twin sister Jo used for their business, Sticky and Sweet.
Growing up, Allie and Jo had been the neighbors closest to Hunter’s family’s land. Through a weird twist of fate, Brandon had bought their house and then fallen in love with Allie. Jo had fallen in love with one of their other childhood friends, Cash. Hunter couldn’t be happier for the whole crew, and even though Brandon wasn’t from Harvest Ranch, he was a welcome addition.
There was a point, growing up, when Hunter had a crush on Allie. It lasted about ten minutes. But that was common in a small town—wasn’t it? When you grew up playing night games together and running through the Harvest Festival corn maze, you had to question if your best friends were meant to play a bigger role in your life.
“I’m going for cake.” Blake peeled off and was replaced by Maverik, Hunter’s other younger brother. He also had an older brother, but Wyatt was off with his wife, dancing the night away.
“You want to hit the dance floor? Show these ladies a good time?” Maverik swiveled his hips like Elvis, making Hunter burst into laughter.
“Hold on there, twinkle toes—I don’t think the women are ready for us quite yet.” He ran his eyes over the crowd, looking for their usual group who met up at Cotton Eye Mo’s every now and again for a night out.
His gaze careened to a stop and his mouth went dry as he caught a glimpse of Zoey Carroll, Brandon’s little sister, in the crowd. Dang, she was even more stunning than the picture he’d seen on Brandon’s phone. She had black hair in long braids that cascaded down her back over her bright yellow dress, and her brown eyes danced with mischief and a zest for life that called to him. She hadn’t been to Harvest Ranch yet, which meant they’d not been introduced. There were some family issues, what with Brandon and Zoey’s parents passing away not long ago that had brought Brandon into town, but Hunter had hoped she’d come to Brandon’s wedding and he’d get a chance to meet her.
His feet were as immobilized as his tongue, and several people bumped into him as he continued to stare at the striking woman. “Sorry,” mumbled a woman in a business skirt and jacket. She went around him, casting a funny look over her shoulder when he didn’t respond.
Maverik elbowed him. “What are you staring at?”
Only the threat of his whole family teasing him for eternity made him turn away from the goddess. “Nothing.”
Maverik glanced beyond him. His eyes lit up with recognition. “Brandon’s sister?! Stop drooling, man.”
“Knock it off.” Hunter shoved him.
“If you’re going to ogle her, we might as well introduce ourselves.”
“No!” Hunter grabbed Maverik’s arm. “It’s traditional to greet the bride and groom—or brides and grooms—first.”
Maverik scowled. “Sometimes I think you’re adopted. You think way too hard about things.”
Hunter shrugged. He couldn’t argue that. Thankfully, Maverik wasn’t of a mindset to argue too long about visiting with Zoey versus standing in line, and Hunter was given a reprieve from having to figure out what to say to the beautiful woman who took his breath away.
Just as they entered the queue waiting to talk to the happy couples, Zoey stepped up to join the people standing a few groups ahead of him, and his palms grew slick. Darn it all, would he ever feel normal around this woman, or was a shortness of breath going to accompany every sighting of Brandon’s sister?
Brandon was quickly becoming one of the Westbrooks, joining them for family ropings and Sunday night dinners on a regular basis. His sister was sure to pop up several times a year, and it would be nice if Hunter didn’t feel like an idiot.
Zoey spent a few minutes talking with Brandon and Allie. Looked like the women had an instant bond—which explained why Brandon was able to handle the redhead and her antics. It wasn’t that Allie looked for trouble; she just had a way of tumbling into it and taking everyone around her into the mess as well.
He should know. He’d come home covered in mud from more than one of Allie’s escapades.
Soon enough, it was Hunter and Maverik’s turn. “Congratulations,” Maverik said.
