you.”
“Not too much for a rustic wedding?”
“Never.”
Lily grinned. “Your turn.”
“Okay.” Kayla hurried into the next room to don her dress.
A few minutes later, Kayla joined her friend at the mirrors in the main part of the store, feeling somewhat uneasy. Though the long flowing dress with a fitted bodice and off-the-shoulder sleeves exceeded her expectations for a maternity gown, it was a far cry from the jeans and T-shirts she was used to wearing.
A grinning Lily tugged her in front of the mirror. “You look absolutely stunning.”
Kayla wasn’t sure about that. “It’s been a long time since I’ve worn something so feminine.”
“Do you like it?”
She pondered her reflection a moment. “It is flattering.” It even camouflaged her baby bump. “And I love the color.”
“Me, too.” Lily peered at the shop’s owner. “Monique and I agreed that plum was the perfect shade for you.”
The older woman set to work then, scrutinizing the fit of each of their dresses, making certain they were just so.
Once they’d changed back into their regular clothes, Lily and Kayla grabbed their dresses, said their goodbyes and climbed into Lily’s vehicle for the drive back to Ouray.
“I have a confession to make.” Kayla eyed her friend as they began to pull out of the parking lot.
“Uh-oh.” Lily put on the brakes. “You hate the dress, don’t you?”
“No, not at all. There’s just something I haven’t told you.”
Still skeptical, her friend continued down the road. “And that would be...?”
“I kinda already told Jude I was going to accept your job offer.”
Knuckles white around the steering wheel, Lily said, “What do you mean, you kind of told him?”
“I got mad when he started trying to tell me what to do.”
Stopping at the corner, Lily looked right then left before making her turn. “Telling you what to do? Like what?”
“When I was at the hotel this morning, something startled me, and I screamed. Jude came rushing to my rescue, then suggested I go put my feet up so the baby wouldn’t be stressed.”
Lily laughed then.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because I can totally hear Jude saying that. And Noah and Clint... That’s the Stephens men for you. Gentlemen to the core, thanks to their mother. Or so I’ve been told.”
“Yeah, well, it gets annoying.”
Lily reached across the console to lay a hand on her arm. “Kayla, Jude’s not Shane. He wouldn’t try to make you do anything you didn’t want to do.” She glanced her way. “But then, I think you already know that.”
Somewhere deep inside, she did. Recent history had her on high alert, though. “I not only refused to put my feet up, I told him I was going to turn the hotel into the greatest thing Ouray had ever seen.”
A slow smile split her friend’s face. “Does this mean...?”
She nodded. “If you’re certain, then I guess so.”
“Yay! Now we’ll really have something to celebrate tonight.”
“What’s tonight?”
“We’re all having dinner at the ranch. Didn’t I tell you?”
“No...” She would have remembered that. And then tried to come up with a way to bow out so she wouldn’t have to face Jude again today.
“Hmm. Guess I only thought I told you. The whole family is getting together for dinner tonight, and you’re invited, too.”
“Sounds like fun.” Or not. Now she really wished Jude’s mother was still alive. Despite everything, she would have made Kayla feel welcome and right at home. This time, Kayla had to find her own way.
* * *
This was one family dinner Jude did not want to attend.
Not that he wasn’t used to them. But in the past year and half, they’d added what would soon be three sisters-in-law, three nieces and two nephews to their numbers. And while he mostly enjoyed family gatherings, occasionally he felt left out because he didn’t have someone to share his life with.
That feeling had amplified since Kayla’s return. And her presence at tonight’s supper would likely make things even more challenging.
She’s staying in Ouray, buddy, so you’d better get used to it.
A sweet aroma met him as he emerged from the hallway into the living room of the ranch house. “Something smells good.”
“That would be pumpkin crunch cake.” Armed with pot holders, Matt’s wife, Lacie, pulled a baking dish from the oven in the adjoining kitchen.
His other sister-in-law, Carly, cleared a spot on the counter while Dad’s girlfriend, Hillary, closed the oven door.
“Well, if it tastes as good as it smells...” He continued toward the wooden dining table where his infant nephew, Lucas, sat quietly in his seat, oblivious to all of the activity. Jude nudged a finger under the baby’s fisted hand until he took hold. “How’s it going, buddy? You keeping these ladies in line? Where’s everyone else?” he tossed over his shoulder.
“Outside.” Hillary moved beside him, smiling at Lucas.
He glanced at the woman who’d found a place in all of their hearts. “Dad manning the grill?” Hillary had given it to the old man for his birthday, and he’d been like a kid with a new toy ever since.
“Of course.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what he’s going to do once winter sets in.”
“Jude,” said Carly, “could I get you to take these baked potatoes outside for me?” She gestured to the large cast-iron pot atop the stove.
“Sure thing.” He freed himself from Lucas’s grip, grabbed the pot and made his way through the mudroom and outside onto the deck that spanned one side of the house.
Strings of patio lights illuminated the area as Lily smoothed black-and-white-checkered tablecloths over the two wooden picnic tables. His nieces Kenzie, Matt’s daughter, and Piper followed behind her, setting out mason jars full of sunflowers as centerpieces. Meanwhile, Noah ignited two patio heaters to ward off tonight’s chill.
In front of the deck, his niece Megan, Andrew’s daughter, and Lily’s son, Colton, took turns adding wood to the metal firepit as orange flames reached toward the night sky.
“All right, you two.” Andrew eyed the preteens over the railing. “That’s enough wood for now.”
Jude continued on to the far end of the deck where his father and brothers Andrew, Matt and Daniel stood near the grill, no doubt solving the world’s problems while the steaks cooked.
“Potatoes are ready.” He set the pot beside the grill as the sound of tires on gravel met his ears. That could only mean one thing. Turning, he saw Kayla’s blue truck ease to a stop near the opposite end of the deck.
Lily hurried down the wooden steps to greet her with Noah in tow.
Jude watched as Lily introduced the two. Both smiled and shook hands before Noah wrapped an arm around his intended and pulled her close.
“Guess we’d best go say hello.” Dad started across the expanse, followed by Matt and Daniel.
Andrew paused, looking at Jude. “Aren’t you