Chapter One
Jake
Keep smiling. It’s almost over. I remind myself as I circulate the pavilion for my brother’s wedding reception here at the Taylor Ranch.
It’s not that I’m not happy for him. Despite the fact that this is a hastily patched together marriage, I think it’ll last. At least, it will if the way that Luke looks at his bride is any indication.
It’s just that my twin is the last of my five brothers to marry. Now I’m the only single one left, and I don’t have the faith that there’s a woman out there for me.
Look at you, Jake. No girl is ever going to want the guy who can’t talk. What are you going to do—mime your way through a date with me?
Caroline was a stupid teenager when she said the words. Hell, we both were. But I can’t deny that they’ve kept me from dating. It’s not like Courage County has a huge pool of single women to start with.
It’s probably time to try one of those dating apps that my sister-in-law is pressuring me to use. Maybe I’d make a better impression online, but I’ve always wanted to meet someone the old-fashioned way.
My dad told me the moment he saw my mom in the crowded dance hall, he knew she was the one. I want that. Simple. Easy. Natural.
Nick, my oldest brother, approaches the makeshift stage at the front of the pavilion. I listen as he gives a sweet speech, welcoming Austin to the family.
She smiles and kisses him on the cheek after his words. She might not feel like she fits in just yet, but she will in time. Everyone here will make sure of it.
When the pavilion is cleared and soft music thrums through the outdoor speakers, Luke leads his new bride to the center of the dance floor. They’re looking at each other with so much love that I find myself slipping away from the crowd.
I escape to the main house that’s a mile down the road from the pavilion. It’s our childhood home where our parents raised us. They’re long gone, and the house has since become an office that we use to keep the ranch running and a gathering place for holidays, birthdays, and events.
But I’ve been talking to—well, signing—to them about building a new house. Something that’s big enough to contain everyone because each of them has at least one kid here or on the way. Hell, the rumor around town is that all it takes is for a Taylor man to look at his woman and she gets pregnant.
I grab a beer from the fridge, thankful that someone stocked it. Probably Riley, Nick’s wife. She likes to help out around the ranch.
Taking it outside onto the back deck, I inhale the summer air. It’s evening now which means the oppressive humidity has lowered, making it easier to breathe and enjoy the sweet scent of my mama’s honeysuckle.
It only takes me a second to spot the woman hunched on the third porch step. Long black hair flows down her back and for some reason, I have an urge to tangle my fingers through it.
She sniffles and something in my chest lurches. I hate seeing a woman in pain or crying.
Joining her on the step, I study her profile. She’s got long lashes, high cheekbones, and beautiful, plump lips that look damn kissable.
I open my mouth to ask her what’s wrong then remember I can’t. My vocal cords were irreparably damaged when I was a kid. I haven’t been able to speak a word since that day. But there are still times when I find myself trying.
“Sorry. I’m ruining the wedding vibe,” she finally speaks, her voice thick with tears. She turns to me and her blue gaze pins me to the spot. There’s a warm feeling in my chest, accompanied by the knowledge that I’ve just found her. The one who’s meant to be mine.
***
Willow
I’ve been hired to pass out drinks and keep the guests happy at the wedding reception. I’ve worked a few of them, and it’s not usually a big deal.
But there’s something different about this place, about the Taylor Ranch. Everyone here is so filled with love for each other.
It makes me ache for things I’ll never get to have. A husband. A family. I know I’m only nineteen. But since I was a little girl growing up with a rich father who ignored me, I’ve ached for what these people right here have. A simple life filled with love.
Setting down the tray of food, I hurry away. I’m not sure where I’m going. This whole ranch is so big that it would be easy to get lost. I bet you could walk for miles on this land without seeing another person.
I’ve only walked a few minutes when my body begins to ache, a painful reminder of the accident. But I still manage to make it to the big house where the team and I were preparing the food earlier.
Inside, the place is quiet as the servers take care of the guests at the pavilion. I breathe in the peace, thankful for some time alone.
When I’m using the restroom, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair has shifted revealing the pink, puckered scars on my neck. The familiar rush of sadness engulfs me, and I quickly cover them again.
I think of the way the Taylor brothers look at their wives. I’ll never find someone who looks at me like that. Not now that I have these scars.
My father barely acknowledged my presence before the car accident. He visited me just one time in the hospital. He wouldn’t stay for more than five minutes. The only reason he even came in the first place was because my aunt prodded him into it.
Moving to the back deck, I take a seat on one of the wooden steps with the peeling paint. I want what these people here have. I want to feel safe and warm. I want someone who can accept these scars.
Tears leak from my eyes. I know self-pity doesn’t help me. It was my first big realization after I started recovering in the hospital. But this isn’t about pity. It’s about longing. About the desperation to find someone who could see all of me and still find me beautiful.
I hear the sound of a door opening behind me and rub at my face. Not that it matters. One look will tell anyone that’s paying attention I’ve been crying.
I wait for the person to walk away, but instead someone joins me on the step. I sniff and stare at my sneakers. I used fabric paint on a white pair to create a drawing of a castle complete with a fire-breathing dragon and a princess setting herself free. “Sorry. I’m ruining the wedding vibe.”
Then I turn to look at the stranger, and my heart nearly stops. I’m looking back into the deep blue gaze of a man wearing dark stubble and a frown. He has a tiny white scar above his lip. He looks like the groom but a quick glance at his ring finger tells me he’s not it.
He reaches for me, his thumb grazing my cheek to catch a single teardrop that managed to escape.
“Do you ever wish you could find somebody to love you?” I ask. I’m not sure what prompts the question. I just need to know that I’m not alone right now.
He pauses, seeming to think for a moment before he nods. His fingers are still against my face, my chin cupped in his big palm. His simple touch is sending warmth through me, and something about the way he’s staring at me leaves me feeling bold.
I think about Leona, my friend and a fellow server. She kept talking about this fun game she plays when she goes to weddings. Maybe I could play it too. Maybe just once I could feel somebody touch me.
“My friend told me about this game where you find someone single at a wedding and pretend to be silent strangers. You don’t say a word, you just hook up. Sounds kind of fun, huh?” Then I’m holding my breath and trying to gauge his reaction.
He nods quickly, something sparking in his gaze. It looks even darker than it did a moment ago, and he runs the tip of his tongue along his bottom lip.
Gathering my courage, I ask, “Do you want to maybe be my silent stranger tonight?”