LITMIR.BIZ

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the most part it was working.

      Except she was exhausted.

      Not being affected by Jace took all of her energy. Not letting the man crawl under her skin and set up camp was hard work. Not yelling at him for the way he’d left was, too.

      Not caring about any of it like she’d hoped? Utterly impossible.

      “You want me to beat him up for you?”

      A laugh escaped. “Kinda, yeah. I’d like to see that.”

      “Hey, I can be tough when I need to be.”

      “I have no doubt about that, sister. So...what’s going on with you?” Mackenzie motioned to Emma, desperate to change the subject. “I heard you come home late last night. I don’t know how you’re functioning on so little sleep, heading over to Gage’s whenever you can.”

      “Nice conversation turn.” Emma raised an eyebrow.

      Mackenzie waited her out. Emma wouldn’t push too much on Jace. She was too sympathetic and patient and understanding—qualities Mackenzie only possessed in small amounts.

      “All right. I give. But I’m here if you need to talk to someone. Or vent. Okay?”

      “Okay. Thanks.” She might take Emma up on that offer if she had any idea how to deal with the jumbled, frustrating emotions Jace created in her.

      “In answer to your question about me...I’m tired. I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know how this summer is going to work. I miss Gage and Hudson so much already and this is only our first week. And on top of that, Hudson is sick.”

      Gratefulness at the turn in topic swelled, but then concern for Hudson took its place. “What kind of sick? Is he okay?” Emma’s fiancé had become a guardian to the one-year-old boy recently, and Emma already loved the tyke as if he were her own.

      “Nothing serious. At least I don’t think so. Just a nasty cold. He’s congested and has a runny nose. He’s miserable and I didn’t want to leave him or Gage to come home last night.” A grin surfaced. “No offense.”

      “Ouch. You want to see your fiancé more than your sister? I’m wounded.”

      Humor tugged at the corner of her mouth. “It’s just so hard not being there. Gage is doing his best, but he’s drained. I am, too, from going back and forth. From trying to find a couple of minutes in the day or evening to sneak over there and see them. And then just when I get there it feels like I have to come home. And with Hudson sick, I’d like to be there to help. He was clinging to me last night.” Her hands formed a self-hug, rubbing along the skin of her arms. “That’s why I got home so late.”

      “So why don’t you stay?”

      “Ah, that’s not really an option, as you know.”

      Mackenzie snorted. “Not like that. I mean, are you ever going to change your mind about marrying Gage?”

      Emma’s head shook slowly. “No. Of course not.”

      “You don’t have any doubts about him or Hudson.” Mackenzie didn’t say it like a question, because it wasn’t. She already knew what Emma’s response would be.

      “No doubts about either of them. Of course not.”

      “So get married.”

      Confusion flickered. “We’re planning to.”

      “I know you were thinking fall.” Gage and Emma had tossed that idea around because both ranches slowed down and the schedule switched at Wilder Ranch. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t change their plans. They didn’t have to follow some wedding protocol. “I’m saying get married sooner. What are you waiting for?”

      Emma’s mouth hung open wide enough that Mackenzie could toss a popcorn kernel into it without a problem—a game they’d played often as kids. One Mackenzie had always been the reigning champ of, much to Luc’s frustration.

      “Wait... What?”

      “You want to be with Gage. That way you could be. After you’re done with work, you’d go home and stay.”

      “Oh.” Emma’s eyes pooled with tears. “I want that.”

      “So get it. What do you really need to make a wedding happen?”

      “Dress, pastor, flowers, food, people, place.” Emma ticked items off on her fingers. “Mom and Dad. Gage’s parents and his sister.”

      “You already have your dress picked out, right?”

      She nodded, worrying her lip.

      Of course, Emma had her dress picked out. The girl had probably been planning her wedding since she was five. Just like she probably had a Pinterest page filled with rustic, shabby-chic wedding ideas, like candles in mason jars and string lights, and the perfect shade of bridesmaid dresses. If anyone could pull a wedding together fast, it would be her.

      “So, the biggest thing is family. And Pastor Higgin. Or you can always find another pastor to stand in if you need to—like the new assistant pastor at church.”

      “Actually...now that you mention it, Gage’s parents are already coming at the end of July. I wonder if Mom and Dad could come, too. And his sister.”

      “That’s a great idea. You could do a Saturday-evening wedding. The staff would rally to take care of things and complete the turnover for guests arriving Sunday. And you have so many friends you’ve helped over the years. You’ve been there for everyone. Let them be there for you. Mrs. Higgin could probably be convinced to make the cake. She’s a fantastic baker. And you can ask for help with flowers and decorations. The only issue would be where.”

      She lit up. “I always imagined getting married here. Setting up chairs and a trellis in the grassy open space behind the lodge, with the mountains in the background. Casual and pretty.”

      “That makes it even easier if you don’t have to find a venue.”

      “True.” Emma bolted out of the chair and enveloped Mackenzie in a tight hug. “You’re so right. This is the best idea you’ve ever had. Seriously, the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She let go and stood in a burst of energy. “I need to call Gage.” And then she was off, with her phone in her hands. Mackenzie listened to the excited timbre of her voice for a few seconds before it faded away.

      Emma had always been a bundle of cheerfulness. But Gage made her absolutely glow. Mackenzie didn’t want to lose her sister, but she loved seeing her even happier than normal.

      And really, shouldn’t one of them be? Because ever since Jace had marched back into her world, Mackenzie wasn’t confident she remembered how to get back to that feeling.

      Probably wouldn’t until he left again.

      She’d been waiting all week for the man to hurry up and fail. For him to flounder. But he hadn’t. So yeah, she’d thrown the square dancing at him as sabotage. If Jace couldn’t figure it out, if he couldn’t catch on, then he’d just have to leave.

      And unlike the first time, that was exactly what Mackenzie wanted him to do.

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