it as a way to get your name out there.”
“My name is out there plenty,” Jade said with a helpless shrug.
Declan smiled. “Lead with the name of your cause. I saw a post on the table toppers in Big Jim’s for Honeysuckle Road. I had never heard of it, but while I’m not their target demographic, it got my attention. A picture of you with your horses with the cause would show people what a special place this is.”
Honeysuckle Road was Claudia’s boutique. Given his business success, Jade tucked the idea away for the future. “I’m devoted to making my farm succeed. My father was a great horseman. I inherited his love of horses.” The sadness and grief at her father’s passing never left her. It had been almost two decades since he had died and she still missed him every day. “He passed away when I was seven.”
It was something she rarely talked about with anyone, and she was surprised she mentioned it to Declan. When Jade was a child, Livia had made her feel bad for being sad about her father and had forbidden her from talking about it, even though her mother was responsible for her father’s death. Though she had gotten a few sympathetic looks from Claudia whenever it came up, the rest of her siblings had kept their heads down and their lips sealed. It was as if they knew Livia had done something wrong and they were too scared to say anything. That left Jade on her own. Growing up with a house filled with siblings, she had been utterly lonely.
Her father had been kicked by a horse, but the secret cause of his demise was one that Jade had kept for years. She had been terrified of her mother then and she was afraid of her now. Livia Colton was capable of true acts of evil. “Mac loves horses too, so I feel comfortable around them.” Better to keep the conversation light.
Jade hadn’t before had a friend who she could confide in about her family. To some extent, she could talk to her half siblings about their mother, but with varying degrees of success. Some didn’t want to speak of her; others seemed to turn a blind eye to the whole truth. Though her siblings’ feelings on their mother had changed in the last five months since Livia had escaped prison and began showing up in their lives, bringing more ugly truths to light, Jade hadn’t developed an open rapport with her family yet. But to have someone, anyone, in her life who she could speak to about Livia and about her childhood, would be therapeutic beyond measure. To open up to someone and not worry about them turning away from her would be a first.
Cheering and whistling from the party floated through the air. “We should get back to the party,” Jade said. Except she didn’t want to return. Talking to Declan had been the highlight of the night for her. He was open and easy to talk with.
Declan extended his elbow to her. “May I escort you back?”
She took his arm. “I’d like that, thank you.” When her hand set on the crook of his arm, she felt heat and a twinge of excitement.
* * *
Declan prided himself on having good instincts about people, business deals and properties. He had walked away from million-dollar deals because he didn’t trust someone’s motives. Since he’d been in Shadow Creek, seeing the Coltons around town was usually accompanied by the impulse to avoid them. The rule of thumb was that they could not be trusted: proceed with extreme caution.
That response presented a problem when it came to River. Edith wanted them to be friends and since Declan cared about Edith, he felt the obligation to try to get to know him better. Edith had strong opinions on the matter and, true to form, she wasn’t shy about telling Declan what she thought. Knowing their history, she thought they could move forward in a positive direction. Optimistic Edith.
Jade was the sole Colton who gave him no pause. Her beauty was undeniable, but it was more than that. He witnessed her caring for her family in the manner she worked the party and she was warm and kind to her horses. Yet he sensed she wasn’t on the inside circle of the Colton clan.
Declan shook off his strengthening emotions for Jade. His entire adult life, he’d held people at arm’s length. The engagement party was getting to him, his affection for Edith coloring the entire situation. He wanted to believe that the Coltons weren’t rotten to the core and that desire was influencing how he viewed Jade.
“There you are!”
At the sound of Edith’s voice, Declan turned, forcing a smile. Her happiness was of the upmost importance to him and tonight was special for her and River. Though he had reservations about how fast they were moving, he understood Edith’s unmet desire for a family. She wanted to belong to something and the Coltons had embraced her. If nothing else, Declan gave them credit for that.
Edith’s eyes sparkled with joy and excitement. River was standing next to her, decidedly more stoic. A few minutes before, he had been smiling when talking to his family. With Declan, he was serious and seemed almost wary. They had talked about what had transpired between their parents, but the brothers had not moved fully past the awkwardness. It took a long time for a lifetime of hurt and betrayal to cool.
“Congratulations, both of you,” Declan said. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the card he had brought for the occasion. Extending her hand, Edith took it. “Thanks, Declan. It was nice of you to come tonight.” She knew this wasn’t where he wanted to be.
He’d picked out a card and bought her a gift certificate for a spa she liked in Austin. His obligation was fulfilled. “For you, I’d go anywhere.” Having survived a rough part of his life with Edith’s help, Declan wouldn’t forget her strength and how it had kept him going. Her optimism had pulled him through then, and he relied on it now.
“I have an awkward question,” Edith said. “Since you’re the closest person I have to a brother, and you’re River’s brother—”
“Half,” he and River said at the same time.
Edith shot her fiancé a disapproving look. “Since you’re River’s half brother, would you give a toast?”
“No” was on the tip of his tongue. This night was to celebrate Edith and River. Declan had made his peace with the fact that they were getting married. But to stand up in front of the Coltons and give his blessing was asking him to dig deep for acceptance he didn’t have. “What would you like me to say?”
Edith touched her chest. “Speak from the heart.”
The pleading in her eyes got to him. Lying to a crowd of strangers wasn’t beyond him, but he wouldn’t do that to Edith. Already mentally composing what he would say, he nodded. “I can say something.”
Edith smiled at him and River nodded his appreciation. They would bond over their mutual affection for Edith.
Declan grabbed a glass of champagne from the bar. In the crowd, his eyes fell on Jade. She watched him and he read the burn of interest in her eyes. His interest had to be reflecting back to her.
Declan raised his voice. “Excuse me, if I could have your attention for a moment.”
Sixty pairs of eyes turned toward him and the conversation dulled to quiet.
“I’m Declan Sinclair, Edith’s brother. I want to say a few words about Edith and River.” Unexpected emotion swamped him and Declan marshaled his control. Harboring anger and resentment for the Coltons, he had not anticipated any warm emotions regarding this marriage, but here they were. Edith was marrying a Colton, the family of his enemy. Though River loved Edith without question, Declan worried about Edith’s
