“He needs fashion advice from Harper. I’m surprised she hasn’t attempted to make him over.”

“She’s been buying stuff in his size, because the man doesn’t need to lose another pound. When she puts her mind to making him look decent, he won’t know what hit him.” Tierney looped her arm through Celia’s. “Let’s see who won the prizes.”

“More vibrators?”

“Please. Not all the gifts are sexually oriented.” She groaned. “But I’m starting to think that’s what the partygoers would’ve preferred.”

Celia laughed.

Tilda won the name-the-food game and her prize was a cookbook—which she donated to Celia.

Lainie won the name-the-apron-items game and her prize was a bottle of flavored cooking oil—which she also donated to Celia.

“Okay, this is the last question, Celia, so come up here while Tobin pours the shots.” Harper asked, “What do you consider ‘your song’?”

The memory came rushing back. At the concert with Kyle, standing in the wings. Devin had looked at them from center stage and said, “This is dedicated to my hometown friends.” She remembered her belly swooped when she glanced at Kyle and knew he felt it too. Even through her haze of alcohol she’d known. No wonder she’d ended up married to him that night.

“Celia?” Tierney prompted.

“The song is ‘Right in Front of Me’ by Devin McClain.”

“That’s what Kyle said too. Pour this woman a shot.”

“The time has come to open presents!” Harper clapped with glee.

Lainie leaned over. “I’ll admit I snooped in your kitchen cupboards when we visited. I made a list of what you didn’t have and shared it with the shower attendees. Hope you don’t mind.”

“I’m overwhelmed. Thank you.”

The present opening took more than an hour. Celia could not believe the mountain of household items. Garnet referred to a few items as bood-war gifts, like the Hitachi “massager” with attachments and a basket of flavored body oils, and a jumbo bottle of lube. No one fessed up to that one and Celia suspected it was from Tanna.

“There’s one last game to play and it involves the guys, so ladies, make room while we get Celia ready.”

Harper hustled her from the room and led her down the hallway to Wild West Clothiers.

“I don’t have to change clothes, do I?”

“No. First I wanted to give you and Kyle your wedding gift from me’n Bran.” She unlocked the door and flipped on the lights. “It’s up here.”

Curious, Celia followed her to the cash register.

Harper picked up a painting leaning against the wall and turned it around. “I saw you looking at this one when you were shopping. The woman in this picture reminds me of you.”

The picture was a cattle drive scene. A blond-haired woman on horseback was driving cows across the prairie. The sky was that magnificent color of blue that seemed to be found only in Wyoming. The fences were broken down in places. The ground was so dry dust swirled around the cows’ legs. At the forefront of the picture was a man on a horse with his broad back to the viewer as he waited. For just a moment the image came to life. That could be her future with Kyle. The tears she’d sworn she wouldn’t cry sprang to her eyes.

“Harper,” she said hoarsely. “It’s such a stunning gift. I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem enough.”

“Now you know how I feel. You sent me to Bran, Celia. I can’t ever repay you for that. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Then Harper hugged her and they were both crying. And they started giggling because they were crying.

Tierney cleared her throat. “I figured this had happened. You two getting all mushy.”

“Oh, shut up, Tierney. I saw you tearing up when you watched them entwined together on the dance floor at Buckeye Joe’s a few weeks back.”

“Guilty.” She pointed to the painting. “I’m glad that’s going to your place, Celia. But it makes the Crock-Pot I gave you pale in comparison, huh?”

“But we need a Crock-Pot.”

“Such a diplomat. What are we using for a blindfold, Harper?”

Celia froze. “Blindfold?”

“For the last game.” Tierney snagged a paisley-patterned scarf from a rack. “This’ll work. Turn around.”

Everything went black. Then something was smeared under each nostril. A mint scent wafted up. “What the hell?”

“Don’t be a baby. It’s just a dab of peppermint oil.”

Now Celia was really confused.

“Let’s go.” Tierney led her out.

Noises became louder, but she couldn’t make out any individual voices.

“So, everybody, the first couple of games tested how well Celia and Kyle know each other. This game will test how well she knows him by touch. Celia can’t see. She can’t smell. You all will not give her any hints by making noise. Gentlemen, you will not speak.”

“Boo!” came from the back of the room.

She snickered, recognizing Bernice’s voice.

“Gentlemen, bare your body parts.”

More catcalls.

“Out of ten male arms, you get to figure out which one belongs to Kyle.”

This would be a piece of cake.

Tierney placed Celia’s hand on the first forearm. Celia started at the wrist and smoothed her hand up to the crease in the elbow. Nope. Not Kyle. Too bony. The second forearm was too hairy. The third forearm too thick. The fourth one was close, but not quite.

Tags: Lorelei James Blacktop Cowboys Western
Source: readsnovelonline.net