Love After All
Page 24
“I can’t believe Des and Logan are getting married tomorrow¸” Jane said as they pulled through the ranch gates.
Chelsea nodded. “And so far it looks like no photographers are in sight. We’ve managed to scatter the arrivals of everyone enough that no one has gotten wind of the upcoming wedding.”
“Let’s hope all those photographers are still in Italy, sniffing around for possible leads on Des and Logan’s whereabouts.”
“I know. It was a brilliant idea on Des’s part.”
Chelsea pulled up and parked in front of the main house. She and Jane grabbed their things and went inside, where the normally quiet house was bustling with activity. She spotted Des in the kitchen with Martha and Tony, Colt’s boyfriend, along with a couple of women she didn’t recognize. One was older, and another was younger. Those had to be Des’s mother and sister. Chelsea could definitely see the resemblance to Des.
“We’re here,” Chelsea said.
“Oh, great. This is my mother, Cynthia, and my sister, Penny,” Des said, introducing her mother and sister to everyone.
“We’re so happy you’re here,” Chelsea said.
“We’re delighted to be here,” Cynthia said. “And on such a happy occasion.”
Penny put her arm around Des. “I never thought I’d see the day that some man would be willing to put up with my little sister for the rest of his life, yet it’s actually happening.”
Des bumped her sister’s hip. “You’re so funny. You’re right, though.”
“Hey,” Chelsea said to Tony. “It’s so great to see you.”
Tony smiled and wrapped his arms around her for a tight hug. “Good to see you, too.” After he hugged her, he swept Jane up in a hug as well. “Hi, Jane.”
“Where’s Colt?”
“He’s out riding with Logan, Des’s dad and her brother, Teddy, and a few others right now. You know Colt. Any chance he has to get out on a horse.”
“Of course. How’s the movie business?”
“Great. I just finished cinematography on an amazing drama. I have a month off, then I’m starting a television series that’ll keep me busy for about six months in Ireland and Scotland. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Oh, wow,” Jane said. “That sounds spectacular.”
“Yeah. Colt has a break coming up during my shoot, so he’ll be able to fly over and spend some time there with me.”
“Sounds romantic,” Chelsea said, leaning into Tony. “I’m so happy things are going well for the two of you.”
“Thanks. I’m happy it’s all turning out so well for Colt. You know how worried he was about coming out. Turns out he didn’t have to be. The scripts are still rolling in.”
“There was nothing for him to be worried about,” Chelsea said. “He’s still a hot leading man. The movie he and Des filmed here? I was fanning myself over their kissing scenes.”
Tony laughed. “Yeah. Those were great, weren’t they?”
“The entire movie was great,” Jane said. “I think I went through two boxes of popcorn during that movie. It filled the seats in the Hope movie theater for months. I think we all saw it at least three times.”
“It’s because I’m such an irresistible leading man,” Colt said as he entered the room.
Chelsea went over and gave him a hug. “You are irresistible. And you’re sweaty.”
“I know. I had a great ride. It’s such a fantastic day out there today. Perfect weather. Plus Des’s dad and brother wanted to ride as well. I hear Des had a ride with Logan early this morning.” Colt nudged Des. “He tells me you’re getting good at it.”
Des grinned. “Logan likes to challenge me with these early-morning rides. He thinks I can’t keep up with him. Where is he, by the way?” she asked Colt.
“He’s showing your dad and Teddy around.”
“Okay.” Des turned to them. “I’m going to grab a quick shower because I know the nail salon folks will be here shortly. I’ll be right back.”
“I won’t be getting nails done, sorry,” Colt said with a wink.
“We’ll give you a pass on that one,” Jane said. “Is everyone else here?”
“Samantha and Megan are in the barn,” Tony said. “With Molly and her mom.”
“Okay,” Chelsea said. “We’ll head on over to see what’s up.”
“I’ll call you when the ladies from the salon get here,” Martha said.
Chelsea and Jane trekked across the gravel path toward the main barn, which was where the wedding ceremony was going to take place.
“I’ve been in the barn before. I can’t imagine how they’re going to transform it for the wedding,” Jane said.
“Trust me. Des has this all planned out. If anyone can make it happen, she can. She brought in an awesome wedding planner who promised to turn the barn into an epic wedding site.”
“And Logan didn’t mind this, huh?”
Chelsea shook her head. “Logan wants Des to have the wedding of her dreams. I think he’s happy they’re getting married on the ranch.”
They opened the barn doors and Chelsea forgot to breathe.
This wasn’t the same barn she’d been in a week ago. The cement floor had a lush wood overlay. The wood beams above had been painted white, and stunning white silk fluttered beneath the beams. Lights were everywhere, and Chelsea couldn’t believe it, but they’d hung the most stunning chandeliers she’d ever seen. She couldn’t wait to see it all lit up tomorrow night. There were tables set up, decorated like Chelsea would expect to see at a Hollywood event, with white and coral linen tablecloths and breathtaking china.
Chelsea nodded. “And so far it looks like no photographers are in sight. We’ve managed to scatter the arrivals of everyone enough that no one has gotten wind of the upcoming wedding.”
“Let’s hope all those photographers are still in Italy, sniffing around for possible leads on Des and Logan’s whereabouts.”
“I know. It was a brilliant idea on Des’s part.”
Chelsea pulled up and parked in front of the main house. She and Jane grabbed their things and went inside, where the normally quiet house was bustling with activity. She spotted Des in the kitchen with Martha and Tony, Colt’s boyfriend, along with a couple of women she didn’t recognize. One was older, and another was younger. Those had to be Des’s mother and sister. Chelsea could definitely see the resemblance to Des.
“We’re here,” Chelsea said.
“Oh, great. This is my mother, Cynthia, and my sister, Penny,” Des said, introducing her mother and sister to everyone.
“We’re so happy you’re here,” Chelsea said.
“We’re delighted to be here,” Cynthia said. “And on such a happy occasion.”
Penny put her arm around Des. “I never thought I’d see the day that some man would be willing to put up with my little sister for the rest of his life, yet it’s actually happening.”
Des bumped her sister’s hip. “You’re so funny. You’re right, though.”
“Hey,” Chelsea said to Tony. “It’s so great to see you.”
Tony smiled and wrapped his arms around her for a tight hug. “Good to see you, too.” After he hugged her, he swept Jane up in a hug as well. “Hi, Jane.”
“Where’s Colt?”
“He’s out riding with Logan, Des’s dad and her brother, Teddy, and a few others right now. You know Colt. Any chance he has to get out on a horse.”
“Of course. How’s the movie business?”
“Great. I just finished cinematography on an amazing drama. I have a month off, then I’m starting a television series that’ll keep me busy for about six months in Ireland and Scotland. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Oh, wow,” Jane said. “That sounds spectacular.”
“Yeah. Colt has a break coming up during my shoot, so he’ll be able to fly over and spend some time there with me.”
“Sounds romantic,” Chelsea said, leaning into Tony. “I’m so happy things are going well for the two of you.”
“Thanks. I’m happy it’s all turning out so well for Colt. You know how worried he was about coming out. Turns out he didn’t have to be. The scripts are still rolling in.”
“There was nothing for him to be worried about,” Chelsea said. “He’s still a hot leading man. The movie he and Des filmed here? I was fanning myself over their kissing scenes.”
Tony laughed. “Yeah. Those were great, weren’t they?”
“The entire movie was great,” Jane said. “I think I went through two boxes of popcorn during that movie. It filled the seats in the Hope movie theater for months. I think we all saw it at least three times.”
“It’s because I’m such an irresistible leading man,” Colt said as he entered the room.
Chelsea went over and gave him a hug. “You are irresistible. And you’re sweaty.”
“I know. I had a great ride. It’s such a fantastic day out there today. Perfect weather. Plus Des’s dad and brother wanted to ride as well. I hear Des had a ride with Logan early this morning.” Colt nudged Des. “He tells me you’re getting good at it.”
Des grinned. “Logan likes to challenge me with these early-morning rides. He thinks I can’t keep up with him. Where is he, by the way?” she asked Colt.
“He’s showing your dad and Teddy around.”
“Okay.” Des turned to them. “I’m going to grab a quick shower because I know the nail salon folks will be here shortly. I’ll be right back.”
“I won’t be getting nails done, sorry,” Colt said with a wink.
“We’ll give you a pass on that one,” Jane said. “Is everyone else here?”
“Samantha and Megan are in the barn,” Tony said. “With Molly and her mom.”
“Okay,” Chelsea said. “We’ll head on over to see what’s up.”
“I’ll call you when the ladies from the salon get here,” Martha said.
Chelsea and Jane trekked across the gravel path toward the main barn, which was where the wedding ceremony was going to take place.
“I’ve been in the barn before. I can’t imagine how they’re going to transform it for the wedding,” Jane said.
“Trust me. Des has this all planned out. If anyone can make it happen, she can. She brought in an awesome wedding planner who promised to turn the barn into an epic wedding site.”
“And Logan didn’t mind this, huh?”
Chelsea shook her head. “Logan wants Des to have the wedding of her dreams. I think he’s happy they’re getting married on the ranch.”
They opened the barn doors and Chelsea forgot to breathe.
This wasn’t the same barn she’d been in a week ago. The cement floor had a lush wood overlay. The wood beams above had been painted white, and stunning white silk fluttered beneath the beams. Lights were everywhere, and Chelsea couldn’t believe it, but they’d hung the most stunning chandeliers she’d ever seen. She couldn’t wait to see it all lit up tomorrow night. There were tables set up, decorated like Chelsea would expect to see at a Hollywood event, with white and coral linen tablecloths and breathtaking china.
