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Lucy downed another drink. She waved at Maggie. “Another.”
Shaking her head, Maggie poured two fingers of whiskey. “Are you sure about this?”
Lucy nodded. She shoved the whit veil away from her face.
“Hey, darlin’, where’s the weddin’? How about marryin’ me?”
Back teeth set, Lucy glanced over to Sid. “One more crack, Sid, and I’m coming over there.”
Sid leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Ah, you know I’m just funnin.’”
Maggie leaned her elbows on the bar. “So tell me again why you’re not at the church for your own wedding?”
With a shudder, Lucy threw back her drink. It burned all the way down and exploded in her stomach. “I didn’t think there’d be so many people.”
“Honey, you’re the one who decided to go and marry the man.” Maggie tugged at the beaded sleeve of Lucy’s dress. “He may be giving away most of his money, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a whole lot more. And everyone knows that now.”
Lucy slapped her shot glass on the bar. “Give me another. Maybe after six more I’ll be okay with tying my life to another. I just—”
“You just hate giving up an ounce of your independence.” Zach’s voice made Lucy spin on the bar stool. She almost fell sideways, but Zach caught her.
Looking up into his face, she asked, “How’d you know?”
“You’d be here?” He righted her, sat on the barstool next to her, and held up a finger. “Whatever you have on tap.”
With a smile, Maggie shook her head and moved off to draw him a beer.
Lucy frowned. “You don’t know me that well.”
“Oh, yes I do.”
He’d changed out of his tux—or maybe he hadn’t put it on yet. He had on his plaid shirt and jeans. He’d bought new cowboy boots, but the Stetson was still the worn straw that she’d first seen on him. He looked—well, he looked like any other hard-working cowboy.
Lucy had to swallow. That sizzle of desire that stirred in her whenever she put eyes on him tugged at her. “When you told Charlie not to spare any expense, I didn’t think she’d invite the whole county. And everybody’s cousin.”
Zach grimaced. “I know. I didn’t figure on that, either. But...well, this isn’t about us anymore. Your mom’s waiting, you know. She and Jackson have taken a liking to each other—I think your mom’s thinking he’s her beau.”
With a groan, Lucy sank her head onto the bar. From the back, Sid’s voice lifted. “Honey, you come on over here and I’ll marry you!”
Lifting her head, Lucy shot him a look. “Shut up, Sid. I don’t work here so I don’t have to take your guff anymore.”
“Like you ever did,” Maggie muttered. She put a beer in front of Zach. “Anything else I can get you? A preacher maybe?” She grinned.
Turning on her stool, Lucy faced Zach. “Can’t we just elope.”
“We could. Only there’s your mom waiting, and Charlie’d be disappointed.” Zach took her hand. “And my brother would kill me—he’s already saying the press we’re getting is like gold in the bank.”
Lucy wrinkled her nose. “Your brother needs to get a life.”
“Or a good woman. But what I need is to get a wife.” Zach stood up. “Coming?”
From behind the bar, Maggie took away Lucy’s glass and waved at her. “Well, go on. You always said you wanted a hard-working man, and honey if you haven’t made this man work hard to get you then I don’t know hard when I see it. Now get. And save me some cake. I’m off at five.”
With a sigh, Lucy stood. She put her hand in Zach’s. Straightening, she tugged at her veil. “Do I look all right?”
Zach kissed the tip of her nose. “You look perfect.”
He smiled at her with a look that made her heart melt. “You do know, I’m a woman who only does this once.”
