One Mother Wanted. Jeanne Allan

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      Zane couldn’t decipher Worth’s tone of voice. Nor could he bring himself to look at this man who’d been his best friend. “We had some good times together, you and I.”

      “Yeah.” Worth added quietly, “I’ve missed you, you son of a gun, but Allie’s my sister. What you did about killed her.”

      Zane said fiercely, “I’d do anything, pay any price, if I could undo what I did.”

      “I know.”

      Zane looked at Worth. “Does she?”

      Worth shrugged. “She hasn’t spoken your name to me since the night she walked into the house and told us you were marrying someone else.”

      “I thought she’d be married by now.”

      “Men have been interested. She’s not. Between Beau and you, Allie’s opinion of men isn’t too high.”

      Zane shoved clenched fists in his pockets. Men didn’t come much lower than Beau Lassiter, Allie’s late and unlamented father. Yet Zane couldn’t deny the truth of Worth’s words, no matter how painful they were. “Hannah’s been looking forward to the cake, but we’d better leave.”

      “I never knew you had a yellow streak a mile wide down your back.” Worth walked away.

      Zane watched his former friend cross the room. Worth had called him a coward. Zane had no idea why.

      Laughter caught his attention. Allie and her two sisters laughed with the groom. Zane used to dream about her laughing in his bed. Although he’d tossed away the right to have those kind of dreams, the dreams had never stopped.

      Hannah had wandered off again, but he kept her in sight. She stood near the bridal party, her big blue eyes locked on Allie. Little girls were supposed to be crazy about weddings, but Hannah appeared fascinated by the maid of honor instead of the bride.

      Most people thought the two older Lassiter sisters looked alike. They couldn’t be more wrong. Cheyenne was an open book. Allie was a closed book, with only a precious few allowed to peek inside. Once Zane had been privileged to share her innermost thoughts. A privilege he’d stupidly thrown away. Even from across St. Chris’s ballroom, he could see how shuttered her face was, how hidden her thoughts and emotions. If he were a man given to crying, he’d cry now. He could have cried a million times over the past five years. Crying wouldn’t have changed a thing.

      Neither would running. He’d stay until Hannah had her cake. Then he’d get the hell out of here. Away from Allie Lassiter.

      Jake Norton joined the bridal party and put his arms around Allie and her sister Greeley. Zane had read in the newspaper about Norton and his wife staying on the Lassiter ranch while the movie star filmed a Western in the area. He knew the couple had become close friends with the Lassiters. The knowledge did nothing to stop the jealousy that rocketed through Zane as Allie laughed up at Norton.

      He’d been an idiot to come. If only the bride would cut the damned cake. Not that he’d be able to choke any down. Just cut it, so Hannah could have her piece. Then he could leave.

      She was so damned beautiful. More beautiful than five years ago. He could almost taste her mouth. His own went dry. Cut the damned cake.

      

      Allie wanted to scream. They’d cut the cake, and everyone had toasted the newlyweds. Brides were supposed to be anxious to leave on their honeymoons. Thomas ought to be chomping at the bit to get Cheyenne to himself. If Cheyenne would throw the darned bouquet, Allie could escape. She had to get out of here.

      Out of this clinging blue floral silk dress that had seemed so elegantly simple and classic when she’d put it on earlier. Now the dress felt wrong. Too tight. If he didn’t quit watching her... She couldn’t stand being in the same room with him.

      “I assume you know Zane’s here. I just saw him. You okay?” Greeley asked quietly at her side.

      Allie turned to her younger sister. “Of course I’m okay,” she said brightly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

      “How would I know? I’m just your half sister.”

      “Greeley Lassiter, you are as much my sister as Cheyenne is. You make me furious when you say such stupid things.”

      “That’s better than you standing there looking like the sole, dazed survivor of some disaster.”

      “I don’t look like that,” Allie said in a low, fierce voice. At Greeley’s skeptical look, she added, “It was a shock, that’s all. I didn’t know Cheyenne had invited him.”

      “I thought I detected the hand of our resident meddler. Want me to tell him to take a hike?”

      “Worth talked to him.”

      “And told him to leave?”

      “Obviously not. They seemed to be just talking. They didn’t shake hands or anything.”

      “I should hope not.”

      Allie gave her sister a quick squeeze of appreciation for her loyalty. “No, Cheyenne is right. If he no longer matters to me, he and Worth should be able to resume their friendship. If Worth wants such a shallow friend.”

      “If,” Greeley emphasized the word, “he no longer matters?”

      “He doesn’t matter,” Allie said firmly. He couldn’t matter. Their love had died. Not died, been trampled in the dirt. Nothing remained. Nothing. She forced a smile to her face. “Cheyenne’s finally ready to throw the bouquet. You know she’ll aim it over here. You catch it, because I’m not going to.”

      Sent on its way with teasing comments, the bridal bouquet arced through the air. Directly toward Allie and Greeley. Allie stepped to her right at the exact second Greeley stepped to her left. The bouquet sailed between them.

      “Look, Daddy! The lady threw flowers to me.”

      One look at Cheyenne’s dismayed face confirmed Allie’s suspicions about her older sister’s intent.

      “I’m not getting involved in this.” Greeley strolled away before Allie could ask what she meant.

      “Are mine,” came a determined voice from behind Allie.

      She turned.

      Zane crouched inches away, speaking to his daughter. The little girl clutched the bridal bouquet to her chest and shook her head. “Mine.”

      He held out his hand. “No, they’re not. The flowers are for a big girl.”

      “I’m a big girl.”

      “They’re for a lady,” Zane amended. “Give these back to the bride, and we’ll go to a flower shop and buy you some flowers.”

      “I caught ’em.”

      “You weren’t supposed to.”

      The little girl’s mouth wobbled. “I want ’em.”

      Allie СКАЧАТЬ