Chapter Twelve
She looked gorgeous.
Chase saw Ella the moment he walked into the big converted barn where the reception was being held. She stood beside one of the tables laden with food and she was laughing at something Nate Kershaw said. Of course it was Nate. Who might be a nice guy but right now Chase really, really wanted to punch him.
Her dress was pretty. A long dress of navy blue with big white flowers. The top fitted, a V-neck that showed off cleavage that made his mouth water. That was stunning enough but then she moved and the damn dress split up to above her knees, one leg unconsciously bent to show off an expanse of smooth creamy flesh. Not obscene by any stretch, just damn sexy. And she wore some kind of high-heeled skimpy sandal that he’d have bet she wouldn’t be caught dead in. Her hair was down, flowing around her shoulders, a hundred shades of blonde. Her eyes sparkled and her generous lips had been painted a fire engine red.
She looked completely different from the way she usually did. Yet it was unmistakably Ella.
He almost had a heart attack. As if she sensed him, she looked across the room and met his gaze. He was afraid he was looking at her like a starving man and she was a feast. But she must not have noticed because she smiled, sweet and welcoming. His feet, with a mind of their own, started walking straight toward her.
“How was the ceremony?” Ella asked when he reached her.
“Nice. And short,” he added with a grin. “Hello, Nate.”
“Chase,” he said as they shook. “No more sling, I see. Are you getting back to it soon?”
“God willing and the creek don’t rise.” It was one of his grandpa’s favorite sayings that Chase had appropriated.
Nate laughed. “Good luck. I’m going to give my congrats to Gabe and Chantel. Want to come with me, Ella?”
“You go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Did you come with him?” Chase asked as soon as Nate left.
“No. Why?”
“Just wondered.” And he was ridiculously happy that she hadn’t.
“Tell me about the ceremony.”
“They looked goo-goo eyes at each other and said I do.”
“That’s as good as you can do?”
“Well,” he added, “Chantel looked really pretty but you can see that for yourself.”
She rolled her eyes and laughed. “What I can see is that I’ll need to talk to a woman.”
“Probably a good idea.” He grinned. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks. I clean up okay.”
“More than okay.”
Somehow Gabe and Chantel had managed to get a live band. Gabe had probably bribed them with one of his pieces of art. Or he’d called in a favor. Or hell, Chantel had offered a free lingerie set for band members and/or their significant others. At any rate, the two of them had scored a well-known band from the Austin area. The band started playing Eric Clapton’s ‘Beautiful Tonight’ for the first dance.
“Oh, they look so happy,” Ella said.
They did. Once again Chase wondered what it would be like to have that kind of relationship with a woman. “Who knew Gabe could dance?” Chase commented.
The couple soon waved for other people to join them. “Want to dance?” Yes, he knew it was a mistake, but at this point he didn’t care.
Her eyes were green. Not hazel. True green. They met his and he saw the memories in them. “That’s probably not a good idea. Is it?”
“No. But I want to anyway.”
She sucked in a breath, then dazzled him with a smile. “Lead on, cowboy.”
