Chasing Christmas Read online

  His cousin scowled at him. “Jessie Pierce is a lovely, sweet girl. She owns her own graphic design company, Rose Above Graphics. I want you to be nice to her. From what I can surmise, she’s a little shy and a lot reserved. Don’t be a jerk.”

  Chase narrowed his gaze. “If she’s shy, why would she want to put herself through this ordeal?”

  Ashley grinned. “She didn’t. Her friend submitted an entry on her behalf. I knew the moment I read the essay that Jessie was the one.”

  “The one what?” Chase asked, reaching up to tug at his collar.

  Ashley smacked his hand and glared at him. “The one who would make a perfect bride for my thick-headed cousin. Look, Chase, I know you don’t want to do this, but listen to me. It’s important to you, your career, and this girl that you pretend to be a happy groom today. Just smile and kiss her cheek and act as if you find her reasonably attractive. As soon as the ceremony is over, you two will stand at the back of the room and do a little meet-and-greet for about twenty minutes. I’ve arranged to have Jessie change out of the wedding dress and I know you’ll get out of the tux as fast as humanly possible. You’ll take her to lunch then spend the afternoon with her. She knows you have to compete tonight, so she isn’t expecting you to eat dinner with her. However, she will be at the rodeo again tonight, like she’s been the past two nights.”

  “And you want me to make some special effort at recognizing her?” he asked. Ashley had tried to get him to come meet the girl the past two evenings, but he’d made up a lame excuse to keep from doing so. He figured the less time he spent around his phony fiancée the easier it would be to avoid any potentially uncomfortable situations. After all, what kind of loony woman flew to Las Vegas to engage in a fake wedding ceremony with a man she’d never met?

  “That would be appreciated, Chase. I realize it isn’t what you want to do, but it won’t kill you, for one day, to make this girl feel cherished and special. I’m telling you, she isn’t like the women you are used to being around. She’s the real deal and I don’t want you to treat her like you would one of the usual rodeo groupies.”

  “Fine. I’ll dig deep and be so charming, she won’t know what hit her, but if she tries to have her way with me, it’s all your fault.”

  Ashley smiled and started backing away from him. “If you give her a chance, I think you’ll like her. I’ve spent the past two days with her, and can honestly say she’s one of the nicest, most sincere people I’ve ever met.”

  Chase lifted one eyebrow in doubt as Ashley continued backing toward a door. She waggled a manicured nail at him. “Just be ready to go in about five minutes. And remember, this is all for your benefit.”

  “Got it, Ash. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  His cousin disappeared, leaving him with the grouchy-faced giant. Chase didn’t even pretend to be interested in making conversation. Instead, he pulled out his cell phone and placed a call to Lucas. His friend would help calm his nerves.

  When his call went straight to voice mail, lines creased horizontally across his brow. He considered the reasons why Lucas would have his phone turned off. He tried calling Lori, but her phone did the same thing.

  That was odd.

  Before he could give it more thought, the giant waved to him then pointed to a side door.

  Chase nodded, silenced his phone, and then strode across the room.

  After filling his lungs with one last cleansing breath, he opened the door. The combined chatter of many voices hit him full force and almost made him slam the door shut. It appeared several hundred attendees gathered in the expansive ballroom. Ashley had chosen a venue at one of the large casino properties that also hosted a popular cowboy Christmas vendor show in conjunction with the rodeo. People could attend his wedding, shop for new tack or western clothes, and lose their hard-earned money in slot machines without leaving the building.

  Instead of surrendering to the desire to bolt, he focused on the minister dressed in a black suit, smiling at him encouragingly. Although he assumed Ashley hired an actor, the old gent certainly looked the part of a seasoned man of the cloth.

  With another fortifying breath, Chase walked through the doorway and closed the door behind him. In half a dozen steps, he found himself standing where the minister indicated.

  “Thank you for coming today, sir,” Chase said, shaking the man’s hand.

  “My pleasure, son. I’m Pastor Randall,” the older man said, continuing to grin. “Your cousin can be quite persuasive.”

  Chase chuckled softly. “Ashley certainly can be persuasive. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here.”

  “And I wouldn’t be sitting here,” a familiar voice said.

  Chase turned around, eyes wide in astonishment as Lucas rolled his wheelchair away from the front row, stopping next to Chase.

  “Man, am I glad to see you!” Chase gave him a hearty handshake. “What are you doing here, Luke?”

  “Ashley convinced Lori and me to come to this shindig. She said you needed a best man and since there’s none better than yours truly…” Lucas grinned as he turned his wheelchair so it faced the crowd. “Mind if I hang out up here with you?”

  Chase shook his head. “I can’t believe she talked you into coming.” He noticed Lucas wore a tuxedo similar to the one he had on, with new boots and a Stetson exactly like his. “Who’s keeping an eye on the ranch?”

  “The guys said they could manage without us for a day or two. Lori and I fly back in the morning. We got in just in time to watch the rodeo last night.”

  “And you didn’t even let me know you were here?” Chase chided.

  Lucas smirked. “That would have spoiled the surprise. Now, hush up, because the wedding music started and here comes the bride.”

  Chase watched as a spunky brunette with a deep tan and sassy smile marched up the aisle in a dark burgundy lace dress that came just to her knees. The girl was attractive but she had a calculating gleam in her eye that made him wonder if his cousin had been sniffing glue when she told him his fake bride was sweet and uncomplicated. This woman might be nice, but something about her didn’t exactly scream innocence. In fact, she looked like a bundle of trouble in an appealing package as she sized him up while she made her way down the aisle.

  When she reached him, she smiled and whispered. “I’m Jessie’s friend. I nominated her for the contest.”

  Oddly relieved this girl wasn’t his bride, even if the whole thing was a sham, he returned her smile and offered a slight nod of acknowledgement.

  A string quartet Chase failed to notice earlier began to play “The Wedding March,” and the room fell silent as everyone rose to their feet. He held his breath as a woman walked down the aisle on the arm of Chase’s uncle while carrying a bouquet of burgundy and cream flowers. She looked elegant in a billowing gown with lace sleeves reaching her elbows. Lace modestly covered her neckline and highlighted her trim waist. The dress belled out in a full, unadorned skirt, except for a band of thick lace edging the hem.

  He had no idea Ashley had invited her parents to participate in this farce, but a quick glance around assured him his aunt was in attendance, sitting in the second row and beaming at him. Thank goodness, his parents weren’t invited. That would have been disastrous.

  Several familiar faces, of his friends, fellow rodeo contestants, and sponsors filled the front rows while people he assumed had to be fans crowded into the back.

  Swiftly returning his attention to the bride making her way down the aisle, Chase experienced a prick of disappointment that a filmy veil hid her face. She didn’t dawdle as she approached him, striding beside Uncle Jack with purposeful steps.

  When they reached the flower-bedecked archway where Chase and Lucas waited with Pastor Randall, Jack kissed the woman’s cheek through the veil then placed her hand on Chase’s arm.

  Jack winked at Chase then turned to take a seat next to Ashley’s mother, Amy.

  The pastor cleared his throat once, smiled at the bridal par
ty and began the ceremony. Chase tried to pay attention, but his thoughts were entangled with the woman standing at his side. She smelled like summer roses mixed with a hint of soft vanilla. And she was tall. He didn’t know what kind of heels she wore beneath her princess-like gown, but he guessed her to be only a few inches below his six-foot height.

  When Pastor Randall instructed them to face each other and join hands, Chase thought his skin might blister from the heat conducted from her hands to his. Lightheaded and befuddled, he decided he should have taken time to eat breakfast. That had to be the reason he felt so unsettled. Maybe he was coming down with something. He certainly felt feverish. That was the last thing he needed. Any sort of illness was sure to throw him off his game at the rodeo, and that would never do.

  Thoughts of illness and ornery bulls flew right out of his head when the pastor asked them to present their rings.

  Frantic, Chase realized he really should have paid more attention to the wealth of information Ashley attempted to share with him. A nudge to his side made him turn slightly and stare at the two rings Lucas held out to him. The matching bands looked like scrolled leather done in heavy silver. One band was obviously wider and made for a large hand while the other looked very feminine, especially with a glittering square diamond set in the center of the band.

  His friend grinned as he dropped the rings on Chase’s palm.

  Chase handed the larger of the two rings to the stranger beside him. She took it and repeated the vows the pastor stated then slid the ring on his finger. Chase followed suit, amazed as the ring slid smoothly onto her finger. Her hand trembled slightly, so he gave it a little squeeze, hoping it conveyed a measure of reassurance. The reason he wanted to offer assurance escaped him.

  Finally, she lifted her head from staring at their joined hands to his face. Even if he couldn’t see her eyes through the veil, he felt the weight of her gaze.

  “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Chase Jarrett?” the minister boomed. “You may now kiss your bride.”

  Shocked by his eagerness to discover what this woman looked like and share a kiss with her, Chase lifted her veil with deliberate care. For a long, hushed moment, he studied her face. Gorgeous blue eyes, sparkling with unshed tears, caught him off guard. Pale skin, kissable pink lips, and a timeless beauty that seemed to shine outward from her soul made him decide Ashley had been correct in her evaluation of the girl. He’d never seen a grown woman with such an aura of innocence about her.

  Drawn to it, to the very essence of her, Chase slid one hand along her creamy cheek then lowered his lips until they met hers in a gentle, tender kiss. One that melted every female heart in the room.

  When he raised his head, he smiled. “Hi,” he whispered.

  “Hi,” she said in a soft voice that resonated somewhere deep inside Chase’s chest.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you,” he spoke in a low voice before he turned to greet the crowd.

  Uncertain, she nodded and looked at him for direction.

  “Just smile and act like a happy bride. It will all soon be over,” he suggested, lifting a hand to wave at the well-wishers filling the room.

  With another nod, she plastered on a smile and strode beside him as he took her hand and hurried to the back of the room. Several photographers and two camera crews waited to take photos. Just when Chase thought the assortment of flashes might cause permanent vision damage, Ashley directed them to stand in an area where those who wished could join in a receiving line. He noticed some people eating cake and drinking punch while it seemed like a million people waited to speak with him and his faux bride. Women easily outnumbered the men, three to one.

  Fortunately, Ashley made sure his friends were the first through the receiving line.

  “Cooper! I sure didn’t expect to see you here, but thank you for coming,” Chase said, shaking the rodeo entertainer’s hand then giving the man’s new bride a friendly hug. “Congrats, again, on your recent nuptials.”

  At Jessie’s confused look, Chase leaned closer to her. “Cooper and Paige wed yesterday. From the smiles on their faces, I’d have to say married life agrees with them both. Cooper is the face, or perhaps I should say backside, of Lasso Eight western apparel.”

  Jessie smiled at his explanation. That was his bride’s name, wasn’t it? He’d been so caught up in her luscious scent and the warmth of her hand branding his skin, he’d forgotten to pay attention when the pastor said her name. But Jessie was the name that popped into his head as she spoke to his friends.

  “The Lasso Eight ad campaign is brilliant. Everyone is talking about it,” she said to the couple.

  Cooper beamed with pride and kissed his wife’s temple. “It was all Paige’s idea. However, she’s forbidden me from a future of modeling because she says now that I belong to her she doesn’t want a bunch of women ogling my…”

  “Assets,” Paige inserted, grinning at her husband. “Best wishes to you both. Even if it is a pretend wedding, it’s one of the prettiest I’ve attended.”

  “Thank you,” Jessie said. “Mr. Jarrett’s cousin outdid herself with the arrangements.”

  Cooper winked at Jessie. “You better just call him Chase or no one will know who you’re talking to, especially him.”

  As people impatiently waited for their turn to speak to Chase, Jessie smiled at Cooper and Paige. “It was lovely to meet you both. Thank you for coming.”

  “Our pleasure,” Cooper said, and then guided Paige out the door.

  Chase introduced her to more of his friends then they both braced themselves to deal with the female fans eager to meet him.

  After five minutes, he was tired of dodging kisses intended to land on his mouth. Twenty minutes later, he was sure he had every color of lipstick under the sun smeared across both cheeks. Thoughts of countless germs crawling all over his face nearly gave him a case of the heebie-jeebies.

  Despite a bright smile, he sensed his bride was tired of greeting guests, too. While accepting congratulations from a trio of scantily clad women who no doubt thought they were cowgirls, he caught Ashley’s eye and gave her a look that let her know he was finished shaking hands and making nice with the guests.

  She made her way through the crowd then stepped between him and Jessie, ushering them toward the side door.

  Before they could leave the room, Lori, Lucas, Stacey, and the minister hurried over.

  “Oh, I’m so glad I caught you before you left,” Pastor Randall said, smiling at Jessie then Chase.

  Chase reached out and shook the man’s hand. “Thank you, again, sir, for doing this ceremony for us. We greatly appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure. It’s refreshing to see a couple so genuinely in love. Most of the weddings I perform are, um… well, anyway, I’m so pleased I could join you two in holy matrimony today.”

  Chase cast Ashley a concerned glance but she just gave him an innocent smile.

  “Thanks, sir, but we didn’t really…”

  “I’m sure you young people are ready to go, but I need signatures on this paper before you leave.” The pastor motioned to a nearby table and laid down a sheet of paper then held out a pen to Chase.

  “Sign here, please,” the man said, tapping the paper with his finger while photographers snapped photos.

  Chase signed then handed the pen to Jessie. She signed her name on the line below his.

  “And our witnesses,” the pastor said, turning to Lucas and Stacey. After they’d signed, he folded the paper and placed it in an envelope then tucked it into his coat pocket.

  “You are all set.”

  “Thank you, sir. Have a wonderful holiday season,” Chase said, smiling at the man as he departed. He leaned close to Ashley and whispered, “Isn’t signing a marriage license taking things a little too far?”

  “Just keeping it real for your fans, cuz,” Ashley said with a grin. “Now, take your wife through the side door you came in. Jessie can make her way back to the room where she got ready earlier and you can ch
ange, too, if you like. When you’re ready to leave, call me. I’ll have the limo pull up to the door. And here, you might want this.” She slipped something into his hand and breezed off.

  Chase glanced down at a tiny sealed package that held a single pre-moistened makeup remover towelette. He rolled his eyes, cupped Jessie’s elbow, and guided her through the side door. A group of ardent fans attempted to follow them, but the grim faced gargantuan Ashley had hired for security kept them from entering the room.

  When the door closed behind them, Chase breathed a sigh of relief. Hastily gathering his composure, he turned to the woman who had endured a media circus at his side. “As strange as this sounds, I feel like I should introduce myself,” he said, taking Jessie’s hand in his and giving it a friendly shake. “I’m Chase Jarrett.”

  The slightest hint of a grin lifted the corners of her mouth upward as she returned his handshake. “I kind of figured that out with the whole groom thing. I’m Jessie Pierce.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, and marry you, Jessie. Thanks for going along with my cousin’s crazy plans.” Chase tugged at his tie until it came loose then slipped off his tuxedo jacket. “Ashley said she has a place for you to change. Do you want me to walk you there?”

  “No. It’s just down the hall. I’ll be fine. No one cares about me. All those people are here to see you,” she said, shrugging indifferently. “It won’t take me long to change. My friend Stacey will help.”

  Before he could say anything further, she disappeared out the main entrance to the room. Since Chase had worn a new pair of dark blue jeans with the tuxedo jacket, it didn’t take him long to remove the formal wear and pull on one of his favorite western shirts. He traded the new boots for a comfortable scuffed pair and settled his slightly worn gray Stetson on his head. He hurried to the closest restroom and scrubbed the assorted smears of lipstick off his face, washed his hands and took another deep breath.

  He’d survived the wedding in one piece. Hopefully, the worst part was over. Ready to leave, he sent Ashley a brief text message.

  She appeared in the room where he waited in a matter of minutes and smiled at him. “Jessie is ready to go, too. If you’ll come with me, I’ll get you out of here without being mobbed by your fans.”