“It won’t be that long before they’re moved in.”
“If they do get married, I give them six months max,” Kat said.
“I’m betting they never reach the altar,” Bo said.
They looked to Ainsley, the one they all seemed to think was the most levelheaded of them. If they only knew, she thought.
“Olivia has loved Cooper since the first day he hired on at the ranch,” she said, even though she’d be the first to admit Livie didn’t seem happy.
“That doesn’t mean she should marry him,” Kat said reasonably. “She’s been acting odder than usual lately. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.” She glanced at Ainsley. “Has she said anything to you?”
Ainsley shook her head. Livie had always been good at keeping secrets. Ainsley was even better.
She looked to the edge of the party. The old Livie would have been glowing with excitement tonight and kicking up her heels on the dance floor—even with morning sickness. She’d waited for so long to marry Cooper. Even pregnant, she should have been radiant with happiness since this was her engagement party and the wedding wasn’t that far off now.
“Maybe she’s getting cold feet,” Cassidy suggested.
“Not a chance. She’s crazy about him,” Harper said.
“Did you know Daddy offered Cooper three hundred and sixty acres of prime land on the creek for a wedding present,” Bo said as she took a sip of her champagne.
“Let me guess,” Ainsley said. “Cooper turned him down flat.”
“Yep,” Bo said.
“I think Dad admires Cooper for standing up to him,” Ainsley said.
Kat shook her head. “Well, I think Cooper’s pride will be his downfall.”
“If we all don’t think they’ll ever get married, then why are we here tonight?” Cassidy demanded. The party had been put off until now because their stepmother wanted it outside.
“Because Livie wants to believe she can change Cooper,” Bo said. “We’re the only ones who know she can’t. The wedding isn’t going to happen, so I wouldn’t get too attached to your bridesmaid dresses if I were you.”
“Maybe Cooper will change his mind and make things easier for Livie by taking Daddy’s offer of help on the house,” Harper suggested.
Ainsley shook her head. “I know Cooper pretty well. He doesn’t say something unless he means it. I wouldn’t count on him changing his mind.”
“Then we should try to talk some sense into her,” Harper said. “Maybe if we tell her how we all—”
“It’s Livie’s engagement party,” Ainsley interrupted. “Let her enjoy the night. We can preach to her tomorrow.” The others laughed.
“I’ll drink to that,” Bo said as she flagged down one of the waiters for more champagne. Shoving a glass into each of their hands, she lifted hers. “To Livie, the first to take the plunge. Maybe.” They all laughed and drank.
“If they don’t get married, it will break Daddy’s heart,” Harper said. “Look how happy he is tonight.”
“Speaking of Daddy,” Kat said. “Does he know yet that you’ve dropped out of law school?”
All of them looked at Ainsley.
“What?” Harper and Cassidy said in unison.
“I’m taking a break.” That was the problem with living in a small town. Everyone knew your business, especially your nosiest sister.
Bo poked her and pointed toward their father. Ainsley recognized the town busybody, Mabel Murphy, talking to Buckmaster an instant before he scowled and looked in her direction.
“I’d say Daddy just got the news,” Bo said with a laugh, and threw back another glass of champagne. “As for Livie marrying Cooper...” They all followed her gaze to see Delia with her hand on Cooper’s arm and in deep conversation. “Delia Rollins is Cooper’s Achilles’ heel.”
It wouldn’t be Delia who would keep the wedding from happening, Ainsley thought. Olivia had bigger concerns than Cooper’s former girlfriend.
* * *
COOPER SPOTTED OLIVIA sitting alone in the pines and had just started for her when Delia grabbed his arm.
“Dance with the future maid of honor?” she said with a grin.
“I’d love to but I have to find my fiancée. Maybe later.”
“I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. Anyway, you have all night to find her. You might not have all night to dance with me.”
He’d always liked Delia. They’d started out as friends when he’d first gotten to town. He wished now he’d left it at that. “Delia,” he said, and sighed. The silly game she’d been playing of apparently trying to make Livie jealous was wearing thin for him.
“Come on, there is nothing wrong in two old friends sharing a dance.”
“We aren’t old friends and you’re Livie’s maid of honor.”
“So I am,” she said, and laughed. “I couldn’t have been more surprised when she asked me. I’m sure you were, too.”
He’d tried to talk Livie out of it. “Why would you do that?” he’d asked when Livie had told him.
“Because she and I were best friends for years. We made a pact when we were eleven to be the maid or matron of honor at each other’s weddings.”
“Livie, you’re not best friends now.”
“No, but I wish we could be better friends. I want to put the past behind us.”
Now, he said, “Livie takes her promises seriously.”
Delia scoffed. “Apparently. We were kids. I was the skinny, scrawny one. We’ve changed a lot since then,” she said, and added with a wink, “as you know.”
He removed her hand from his arm. “Like I said, I need to go see my fiancée.”
“Promise me one last dance for old times’ sake,” Delia said.
“Maybe later.” At least, he hoped there would be a later at the party. Given the way Livie was behaving, he had his doubts.
Sidestepping Delia, he headed for the stand of pines and his fiancée. From the moment he’d hired on to the Hamilton Ranch, there’d been Olivia. She’d hung around while he was working with the horses. He’d been captivated by her—her smell, her laugh, her intensity when she set her eyes on something she wanted. He’d never known a woman who’d been raised like her and couldn’t imagine just snapping his fingers and getting anything he wanted.
He’d
