Read A Cadence Creek Christmas (Cadence Creek Cowboys) for Free Online Page A

don’t exactly have a lot of options.”
    “It was supposed to be romantic and relaxing and...” She floundered a little. “You know. Elegant.”
    He frowned at her and she regretted what she’d implied. “What would you do if you were in Vancouver right now?” he asked.
    “This kind of weather wouldn’t happen in Vancouver.”
    He made a disgusted sound. “You’re supposed to be so good at your job. You’re telling me nothing ever goes off the plan?”
    “Well, sure it does, but I...”
    “But you what?”
    “I handle it.”
    “How is this different?”
    “Because it’s family.”
    The moment she said it her throat tightened. This wasn’t just another job. This was her big brother’s wedding. This was also the chance where she would prove herself to her family. She could talk until she was blue in the face, but the truth of the matter was she still sought their approval. The Shepards were driven and successful. It was just expected. She knew she’d disappointed her dad in particular. He thought what she did was unimportant, and the last thing she wanted to do was fall on her professional face in front of him.
    “This isn’t Vancouver, or Toronto, or New York or L.A.” Rhys spoke firmly. “This isn’t a big-city event with a bunch of rich snobs. It’s just Cadence Creek. Maybe it’s not good enough for you but it’s good enough for Callum and Avery and maybe you should consider that instead of only thinking about yourself.”
    His words hurt. Partly because he was judging her without even knowing her and partly because he was right, at least about things being simpler here. How many times had Avery said they didn’t need anything fancy? Taylor had insisted because it was no trouble. Had she messed up and forgotten the singular most important rule: Give the client what they ask for?
    “Call your mother, then, and see if there’s any way she can squeeze us in.”
    “Give me five minutes.”
    The words weren’t said kindly, and Taylor felt the sting of his reproof. Still, she didn’t have time to worry about Rhys Bullock—there was too much left to do. While the minister spoke to Avery and Callum, Taylor fished poinsettia plants out of a waiting box and lined them up on the altar steps in alternating red and creamy white. The congregation had already decorated the tree and the Christmas banners were hung behind the pulpit. The manger from the Sunday School play had been tucked away into the choir loft, which would be unused during the wedding, and instead she set up a table with a snowy-white cloth and a gorgeous spray of red roses, white freesias and greenery. It was there that the bride and groom would sign the register.
    The altar looked fine, but the pews and windowsills were naked. In addition to the wrong color tulle, the company had forgotten to ship the candle arrangements for the windows. This would be the last time she ever used them for any of her events!
    Her father, Harry, approached, a frown creasing his brow. “What are the plans for after the rehearsal?”
    Taylor forced a smile. She would not get into it with her father tonight. “I’m working on that, don’t worry.”
    “You should have insisted on having the wedding in the city, at a nice hotel. Then the weather wouldn’t be an issue. Everything at your fingertips.”
    She’d had the thought a time or two herself; not that she’d admit it to her father. “This will be fine.”
    He looked around. “It would have been so much easier. Not that the town isn’t nice, of course it is. But you’re the planner, Taylor.” His tone suggested she wasn’t doing a very good job of it.
    “It wasn’t what Callum and Avery wanted,” she reminded him. “And it’s their day.”
    He smiled unexpectedly, a warm turning up of his lips that Taylor recognized as his “sales pitch” smile. “Oh, come now. A smart businessman knows how to convince a client to come around.”
    Business man . Taylor wondered if counting to ten