LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter 1

      Chandler Laureltree

      "So. You admit that you lied."

      I exhaled heavily out of my mouth, wisps of my shoulder length, razor cut blonde hair flying around in front of my face before settling over my eyes and cheeks again. The rain continued to pour outside of the large window I stood facing, making everything in a normally serene landscape seem gray and grim.

      Just like the moment.

      "I admit nothing," I finally sighed, tired of what I could only call harping by my insanely masculine, sexy boyfriend. I mean, truly, I didn't believe in beating dead horses.

      An exasperated sigh blew out behind me, followed by the sound of big boots pacing on a hardwood floor. I dug my bare toes into the softness and warmth of the pin striped area rug as I waited for him to relax. He was a man who needed a patient woman. I could be patient for this handsome, brilliant cowboy because I also didn't believe in looking a gift horse in the mouth.

      Basically, any horse proverb applied to my situation.

      "I seem to remember a little tow-headed angel telling me that she didn't have time to get married because she worked too hard helping other people get married."

      Ah, and the argument continues. True, I'd said as much. And true, I didn't have a spare moment, especially during a particularly warm Wyoming summer. Perfect. Wedding. Season. My pupils had practically transformed into dollar signs.

      But, marriage? For me? It was so final. So permanent. I'd watched it run my father off and turn my mother into a worthless drunk. I'd seen it turn highly educated, sweet-as-pie women into monsters, dependable men into absolute disasters, and worst of all? I'd been on the receiving end of what it did to a couple's bank account. Well, best of all from my wedding-planner-point-of-view.

      "You foolin' around on me, cowboy?" I asked, looking over my shoulder with a smile. I knew that I was the little tow-headed angel to which he was referring, but I couldn't help but try to lighten the moment. What could I say? Half of my duties as a wedding planner involved diffusing insanely intense situations. The smile quickly faded when I found Drake staring down at me, brown hair pointing in a hundred different directions as he ran his hands through it, a hurt look in his dark eyes.

      Oh shit. When he'd asked if I wanted to talk about long term arrangements like moving in and commitment and ring shopping, well, my head just went to that place—that panic place. I'd been casually chatting with him while we sipped on a beer and watched the storm roll over the plains. Blake and West came up, perfectly normal since they lived in the house full time with Drake and with me on my off days between weddings, and I'd mentioned, casually, that they looked so in love and that it made me a little curious.

      Drake had said that he thought I was going to say happy, or jealous, but when he asked about curious, I told him I knew what had happened after the July fourth incident. Fireworks, a small brush fire, nothing to bring out the entire volunteer fire department, but enough to get cute Blake into big trouble with West. However, unlike that last time—when I'd been involved—he didn't do or say anything demeaning to her around me.

      I'd heard them. Accidentally, but I heard them as I was frantically running around on the dark lawn outside with my phone held high above my head, trying to get a signal so I wouldn't be disconnected from my flower guy in Rapid Springs.

       "You scared me so much, sweetheart. God, you could have hurt someone…or yourself. What would I do without you?"

       "I'm so sorry, West. I didn't think about the dead brush. I didn't want—"

       "I know, Blake. I'm just glad you're okay."

       Kissing sounds. Solicitous moaning.

       "Thank you for not yelling at me in front of everyone. And I'm sorry I caused a brush fire."

       "Hey. Hey, sweetheart, you know I don't want to hurt you."

       "You don't wanna embarrass me, but I think you do want to hurt me."

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