Ella
A soft giggle from the dark on the path outside the barn caught her attention. Jace and Ella froze, their lips so close Ella could feel his breath. The soft sound of high-heels on rock steps brought her down from the happy high she was on. The giggles grew louder along with a “let’s check that barn again.”
Speak of the devil.
They stopped, a breath away from what promised to be an amazing kiss.
The magic spell that wove them together evaporated like mist on the wind. Suddenly, they were just two strangers standing a little too close.
“They're back,” Jace said, his shoulders creeping up and his eyes darkening. He released her, but kept his hands on her waist as he stepped back, moving closer to the shadowed corner of the stall. “I wish they would just leave me alone.”
His voice was calm and even, but Ella could sense the desperation seeping into his words. She didn't know how she knew it- from the outside he looked perfectly calm and collected, yet somehow she knew.
“You really don't want them to find you, do you?” she murmured, more to herself that to him.
“You have no idea.” His blue eyes pleaded with hers. “It's absolute torture to be around them. Please.”
“Don't worry. I'll be your knight in shining armor.” She smiled softly. As if she could say no to him and those eyes, especially after he had just told her that her dreams weren't crazy. She reluctantly pulled away from his touch. “Stay low in the stall.”
Her words had barely left and his head ducked down when the beautiful blonde's face popped out of the dark and into the warmly lit barn. Perfectly long-lashed eyes glanced disdainfully around the barn's interior. Her manicured hand moved from the barn door and she carefully wiped it on the hem of her short dress as though simply touching the barn had dirtied her.
Ella stepped out of the stall, taking her time to walk toward the intruding woman. “Can I help you?”
“You sure you haven't seen a tall, dark, and devilishly good-looking man wandering around here?” the blonde purred. She gave Ella a once over glance from head to toe, contempt flowing from her perfect doe-eyes. She waved a dismissive hand. “If you'd even notice that kind of thing.”
Ella's own hand went to her hair, smoothing it back in her ponytail. A piece of straw came out in her fingers and she tried not to blush as she tossed it on the floor. Raising her chin up a little higher, she locked eyes with the blonde and motioned to the two occupied stalls behind her.
“The only good-looking males in here are in those stalls. So, unless you're looking for a stallion, I'd look elsewhere.” She smiled so sweetly her teeth hurt. “Maybe try the bar.”
The blonde rolled her eyes and it took everything Ella had not to throw a handful of hay at her. Dislike rolled through Ella's stomach, but she kept the polite smile plastered on her face. Customer service was everything.
“Come on, girls. We have better places to be” The blonde glanced around one last time, letting out a contemptuous sniff. “Hang around here much longer and we'll end up smelling like the help.”
Ella held her smile so hard her jaw hurt. “Have a nice evening. Enjoy your stay at Blue Lake Inn and Resort.”
The women teetered away, still looking like they were about to topple over on the uneven cobblestones. For a moment, Ella wished they'd fall and break their necks before feeling bad. They were still guests. They could just break their heels. No injury needed.
The blonde lead the way, her chest puffed out and her hair perfect. Her voice carried in the warm darkness, heavy and full of intent. “Don't worry, girls. We'll find him. No bride is keeping that man out of my bed.”
Classy, thought Ella. One of them giggled, high pitched and over-the-top girly. It made Ella want to vomit. If Delores held a class on how to gold-dig one's way into riches, the blonde and her friends would have gotten top marks.
“They don't know anything,” Ella whispered to herself, taking in a deep calming breath as she slid the barn doors shut. The evening air was cool and refreshing, but she didn't want the catty women coming back any time soon. “And I don't smell.”
She took in one more big deep breath before turning around. Better people had said worse about her. She was used to being the brunt of someone else's joke. She wasn't about to let those awful women get the best of her.
“Stallion, huh?” Jace's head popped up over the stall door along with Commander's and then Captain's. Her laugh came out easily and smooth. It had been a long time since someone made her laugh with just two words. The stress melted from her shoulders without her thinking about it. Jace winked at her. “Considering both these horses are geldings...”
“Oh, shut up,” Ella replied, knowing that her cheeks were burning scarlet. She hadn't thought about her choice of words. Neither horse was a stallion anymore. The only “real” male in the barn was Jace. “At least they don't know anything about horses.”
Jace laughed. It was an easy, wonderful sound that sent her heart tumbling. I could listen to that laugh all day, Ella thought. Instantly, her brain was searching for something clever or funny to say, just to hear him laugh like that again.
She was going to have to ask him for his room number. He would be the very first guest that she ever approached like that, but the way he smiled, the sound of his laughter... she wanted more. A few minutes in the barn hiding from predatory women wasn't enough. She was even willing to risk her stepmother's disapproval, and that meant something.
Ella opened her mouth, ready to ask the question. What room are you staying in? Can I see you again? Want to groom the horses again tomorrow? Each sounded lamer than the last, but she knew she had to do something. Jace was wonderful and it was no wonder the blonde and her little group of fiends wanted to find him.
Yet, something was wrong with this image. Fantastic, handsome, wonderful men didn't fall into Ella's lap. There had to be something she was missing, something that didn't fit. Fate loved screwing with her too much to let something as obviously good as Jace just happen to her.
No bride is keeping that man out of my bed... The blonde had said that. It was an odd phrase. She would just have to ask Jace what she had meant. Ella frowned, trying to place the name from the wedding guest list. Jace... She'd been over the guest list a thousand times and there wasn't a Jace listed. However, the groom for the wedding tomorrow was named Jason. Jace would be an easy nickname. It also made the blonde's “soon-to-be-ineligible bachelor” comment make a lot more sense.
The realization hit her like a punch to the stomach.
He was the groom.
And she had almost just kissed him.
EllaShe hurried back over to the Captain’s stall, holding onto the big white horse like a lifeline to sanity. Jace was the Jason getting married the day after tomorrow. No wonder he was so perfect. He was someone else’s.Ella shook her head, trying to keep her heart beat steady and her stomach from flinging its contents all over the barn. He must think her a complete idiot. He hadn't tried to kiss her, he was just catching her from falling. She was the one doing all the kissing. She was a terrible person. She was no better than those vicious trollops hunting for him outside. He was supposed to be getting married!“You okay?” Jace asked after a moment. She was frozen, the brush paused in mid-air. She looked over and her heart sunk just a little bit more. His eyes were still far too blue for her to look at, especially now that she knew they weren't meant for her. He was probably just being nice to her for letting him stay in the barn and hide from the overzealous party guests.“Yeah, I
EllaJace was the only thing on Ella’s mind.She didn't want him to be, but like a splinter that she couldn't quite remove, he was in her thoughts. All night, her imagination had revolved around him. She could smell the soft woodsy scent of his skin, the way the light reflected blue and green at the same time in his eyes, and the soft curve of his lips as he bent to kiss her.Except he had never actually bent to kiss her. That was all in her mind. It had to be. The man was supposed to be getting married tomorrow. Yet, as much as she tried to push him out of her head, he just stayed firmly put.With a determined breath, Ella focused on her day's work. The odds of running into him were low and if she just avoided the barn, she would get everything prepped for this wedding and life would go back to the way it was. Just, hopefully with more customers.The lobby was full of people that Ella had never met, yet she recognized most of them. A-list actors, sports personas, and at least three m
Ella“What happened?” Ella whispered, her hand going to her mouth as she stepped forward to inspect the rags. The dress was completely ruined. Even if it hadn’t been ripped in over a dozen places, there were black stains that would never come out of the once cream-colored fabric.“They lost my dress on the runway. The plane ran over it.” The woman's voice was surprisingly steady, as if she still didn't quite believe it herself. She let out a half-hearted chuckle. “So much for the billionaire service, right?”Ella admired the woman's attempt at humor, even as the chuckle twisted into a sob.“They tried to tell me that it wasn't a big deal, but...” She picked up a corner of the blackened dress and a piece of lace fluttered to the ground. Her hand shook and for a moment Ella was afraid that the woman was going to completely break down. Ella certainly knew that she would collapse in this situation.Ella quickly put her hand on the woman's shoulder and turned her away from the dress. “We'l
JaceJace walked along the lake shore with quick, long strides. He was used to walking fast. In the business world, there was always someone to catch up to and someone to outrun. Life was a competition and only the strong and the fast survived.He sighed. He needed to find a way to stop thinking like that. Madelyn was always telling him that he was becoming more and more like his father. He hated that. His father was a workaholic with no time for his wife or family. A brilliant businessman, but not a good parent and a terrible husband. Jace wanted to be better than his father. It was part of why he was going all out for Madelyn's wedding. The fact that he was putting in so much effort annoyed his father to no end.He paused on the path, glancing around at the carefully manicured lawn and trees surrounding the lake. He hoped he hadn't missed it. He was looking for the small gazebo, the one Ella had mentioned last night. She had said the path was near the main gazebo, but so far he hadn
JaceNo one had ever had this kind of effect on him. He felt as giddy as a twelve-year old with his first crush, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in over fifteen years. He’d dated plenty of beautiful women, but none of them ever made his brain fog quite like this. It wasn’t just her looks or her sexuality that made his heart race. It was something so much more.“I'm sure you'll be glad when it's all over,” she murmured. “I saw the bride this morning, by the way. She's beautiful.”“That she is,” Jace agreed. “This is all for her. If I had my choice, I'd get married with just an officiant and immediate family. Maybe even just elope.”“Really?” Ella sounded surprised. Her eyes went out to the lake and she bit her lip. Good lord, the things he wanted to do with that lip.“Yes, really.” The idea of Ella and him at a chapel in Vegas popped into his mind, and for the first time he wasn't put off by the idea. “I don't want any of these crowds and white or off-white roses.”“Me too,” Ella agree
EllaElla didn't just run to her stepmother's office. She sprinted.It wasn't just the text simply stating “Office. Now.” that made her run. No, that would have gotten a fast pace walk, maybe a light jog. It was Jace that made her run. She had come so close to kissing him. Again.Her cheek still sizzled from his touch. His hand had felt so damn good on her skin. The simple act of him tucking hair behind her ear had sent her heart to pounding so hard she was surprised she hadn't passed out. It had felt so good...He's getting married tomorrow. To Madelyn. Ella reminded herself.It hurt to think it. He couldn't have been leaning forward to kiss her. That was her imagination. He was just a great guy who she shouldn't feel anything for. Because he was getting married at her inn tomorrow and she was a professional.Which is why she ran. She had to. If she had actually kissed him, if she had let her own emotions take control... She could have ruined everything. No one would ever go to a pla
EllaElla knocked on the bridal suite door, hoping that her knock sounded more confident than she felt. The initial shock of excitement had quickly worn off as she changed. The dress pants she now wore didn't fit quite right and she was fairly certain that the blouse was so old that it was close to being back in style, but they were the only “nice” clothes that she owned. It had taken her nearly ten minutes of staring bleakly into her tiny closet wishing something new would show up before she had given up and put on what she had. Tomorrow, she would have to ask Allison if she could borrow something. Maybe one of Maria's daughters had something...The door swung open and Madelyn beamed at her. The tears were long gone and her makeup replaced. She looked radiant and happy. Just as a bride should. Jace would be happy to know his future bride was no longer upset.“Thank heaven you're here!” Madelyn exclaimed, reaching out and pulling her into the bridal suite.Ella nearly didn't recognize
JaceBeautiful.That was the only word that Jace could think of to describe what he had just seen. Even as Ella fled, spilling champagne all over the carpet, she was stunning. He didn't know it was possible for someone to be so breathtakingly lovely.He looked at the three women staring at him, trying to figure out why Ella had just run from the room. They all shrugged at him, concern filling their eyes.“Hey, Cousin. Madelyn is in there with her. She'll be fine.” Clarissa asked, settling back on the couch. He was surprised she could find it given the amount of tissue paper filling the room. “What's up?”“Just coming up to check in on Madelyn,” he replied. He had always like Clarissa. She was one of the few people that Jace was actually glad to have at the wedding. “What are you all doing for lunch?”“We have a tea service planned for this afternoon,” Clarissa told him. She crossed her arms. “No boys allowed.”Jace was instantly transported back in time to when the three of them were