parents have for making the decisions they do. But we always try to do what’s in our children’s best interest.”
It was apparent the woman’s focus had shifted and she was referring to someone other than Angelica. Fee didn’t have a clue who Marlene was talking about, but she got the distinct impression there might be more than one rift in the family.
“I don’t have children, but I can imagine it’s extremely difficult sometimes,” she agreed. Deciding to lighten the mood, she pointed to the bride’s table, where the wedding party would be seated. “I don’t know who did the decorations for the reception, but everything is beautiful.”
All of the tables were draped with pristine white linen tablecloths and had vases of red, white and blue roses for centerpieces. But the table where the newly married couple and their attendants would sit had been decorated with a garland made of baby’s breath and clusters of red and blue rosebuds. It was in keeping with the holiday and utterly stunning.
“Thank you,” Marlene said, smiling. “Hannah left the reception decorations up to me and I thought red, white and blue would be appropriate. After all, it is the Fourth of July.” Marlene smiled. “We’ll be having fireworks a bit later when it gets dark.”
“Grandma Marlene, can I sit with you for dinner?” the adorable little red-haired flower girl asked, walking up between Fee and Marlene.
“Of course, Cassie,” Marlene said, putting her arm around the child. “As long as your mother says it’s okay.”
“Momma said I could, but I had to ask you first,” Cassie answered, nodding until her red curls bobbed up and down. She seemed to notice Fee for the first time. “I’m Cassie. I got a new daddy today.”
“I saw that.” Fee found the outgoing little girl completely charming. “That’s very exciting, isn’t it?”
Cassie smiled. “Yes, but Uncle Chance says that I’m still his best girl, even if Logan is my new daddy.”
“I’m sure you are,” Fee said, smiling back.
While the child walked around her grandmother’s chair to sit on the other side of Marlene, Fee felt encouraged. She hadn’t realized she had been talking to her new spokesman’s mother and niece. Surely if Marlene knew about the public relations campaign and was all for it, her son would be, too. And with any luck, he would be more than willing to play a role in the publicity she had planned to help restore the Lassiters’ reputation.
* * *
Seated next to his new brother-in-law at the head table, Chance was about as uncomfortable as an eligible bachelor at an old-maids convention. He didn’t like being on display and that was exactly the way he felt. Every time he looked up from his plate, someone was either smiling at him, waving to him or just plain staring at him. It was enough to make the succulent prime rib on his plate taste about as appetizing as an old piece of boot leather.
Finally giving up, he sat back from the table and waited until he had to toast the bride and groom. Once he got that out of the way, as far as he was concerned, his duties as the best man would be over and he fully intended to relax and enjoy himself.
At least, Logan had decided they would wear sports coats and jeans instead of tuxedos or suits. Hannah called Logan’s choice of wedding clothes “casual chic.” Chance just called it comfortable.
As he scanned the crowd, he looked for the little blonde that had caught his eye at the wedding. He hoped she hadn’t skipped the reception. She was definitely someone he’d like to get to know.
He was almost positive she wasn’t from the area. None of the women he knew looked or dressed like her. From her perfectly styled hair all the way down to her spike heels, she gave every indication of being a big-city girl, and he would bet every last penny he had that the red strapless dress she was wearing had a famous designer’s name on the label. But it didn’t matter that they came from two different worlds. He wasn’t looking for anything permanent with anyone. All he wanted was for them to have a little summer fun while she was around.
When he finally spotted her, he barely suppressed a groan. She and his mother seemed to be deep in conversation and that couldn’t be good. Since his mother had gotten a taste of what it was like to be a grandmother with Cassie, she had made several comments that she wouldn’t mind him giving her another grandchild or two in the near future. Surely his mother wouldn’t be talking him up as husband and father material.
He frowned. Of course, he couldn’t be sure. She’d shocked the hell out of him a couple of months ago when she had admitted that she’d known all about the affair his late father had thirty years ago. Then his mother had surprised him further when she admitted that she was the one who paid child support to Hannah’s mother all those years after his father’s death. His mother’s secrets had caused him no end of frustration and it had only been in the past few weeks they had started to repair the breach those issues had caused in their relationship. Surely she wouldn’t run the risk of creating more problems between them.
Lost in thought, it took a moment for him to realize that Logan had said something to him. “What was that?”
“Time for your toast,” Logan said, grinning. Lowering his voice, he added, “Unless you’d rather make us wait while you sit there and ogle the blonde seated next to Marlene.”
“Did anyone ever tell you what a smartass you can be, Whittaker?” Chance grumbled as he took his champagne flute and rose to his feet.
He ignored his new brother-in-law’s hearty laughter as he sincerely wished the couple a long and happy life together, then gifted them a thousand acres on the Big Blue ranch to build the new house he knew they had been planning. Now that the toast was out of the way and he had given them his gift, he was free to enjoy himself. And the first thing he intended to do was talk to the blonde.
Hell, he might even ask her to dance a slow one with him. Not that he was all that great at doing more than standing in one place and swaying in time to the music. He wasn’t. But if the lady was willing to let him put his arms around her and sway with him, it would be worth the risk of looking like a fool.
Ten minutes later, after listening to several more toasts for the bride and groom, Chance breathed a sigh of relief as he headed over to the table where his mother, Cassie and the blonde sat. “I’m glad that’s over,” he said, smiling. “Now it’s time for some fun.”
“You did a fine job with the toast, son,” his mother said, smiling back at him.
“Uncle Chance, would you dance with me?” Cassie asked as she jumped down from her chair and skipped over to him.
“You’re my best girl. Who else would I dance with?” he teased, winking at the blonde as he picked Cassie up to sit on his forearm. “But we’ll have to wait until the band starts. Will that be okay with you?”
Cassie nodded. “I hope they hurry. I’m going to pretend we’re at the ball.”
“Fee, this is my son, Chance,” his mother introduced them. Her smile was just a little too smug as she rose to her feet. “While we wait for the dancing to begin, why don’t you and I go inside the house to see if we can find your princess wand, Cassie?”
“Oh, yes, Grandma Marlene,” Cassie agreed exuberantly. “I need my wand and my crown for the ball.”
Chance
