“I’m beyond grateful for your family’s help in getting us set up here,” Reed said, his fingers brushing mine at my side as we followed Penn’s excited cries down the hallway.
I smiled up at him, his dark eyes warm as he looked at me. My chest clenched. “I’m glad we’re able to help you and Penn.”
Penn met us at her door. “Come on, Lina, you have to see this!” She grabbed my hand, yanking me into the room that was once an office and was now a kid’s room, complete with twin bed, dresser, and toy bins.
She started naming off everything, pulling out all her toys to show me, and the whole time, Reed’s eyes were glued on me, caressing me like the softest, warmest touch. It was something I could get used to. And as much as it should … it didn’t scare me.
Sageand I stocked the last of the makeshift bar beneath the raised beams of Jude and Romy’s new barn. The DJ I hired—because go big or go home—was already testing out his setup with a Brooks and Dunn tune. I couldn’t help shimmying my hips while I unpacked the bottles Sage brought over from The Rooster.
“This is a little overkill for just the three of us.” Romy wasn’t one to have a plethora of friends … only a few close ones whom she knew and trusted. But I didn’t think that was a reason to not still throw her a party. “I’m glad you decided to let the guys come, too,” Romy said, stepping over the wall frame to join us. She looked amazing in a cream-colored maxi dress with a slit up her leg, a turquoise belt cinched at her waist. It didn’t even look like she just had a baby.
“Lina didn’t take my ‘no’ for an answer,” Sage grumbled at my side.
I rolled my eyes. “You know Christian would’ve made some excuse to drop by anyway, just like he does when we have our movie nights. He’s always crashing girls’ night. The guy is obsessed with you.”
“Ugh!” Sage complained. “I’m popping this bottle so I can get drunk before he gets here. He’s more tolerable when I’ve got my buzz on.”
Romy and I exchanged glances. The girl was always trying to convince us that she didn’t have any feelings for the guy.
“Might as well pour one for me, too,” I told her, pushing a champagne flute closer to her. “What about you, Romy?”
“Fine. Just a small one.”
I set another flute in front of Sage while she uncorked the bottle and poured the bubbly. The bubbles tickled my nose when I brought it to my mouth.
There weren’t any barn walls yet, just the frame, giving us a clear view of the ranch, the expanse of sagebrush and wild grass disappearing into the ponderosa pines. The day had been a scorcher, and I could still feel the sweat dripping down my spine, making my black crop top stick to my back. An evening breeze was beginning to kick up, cooling my heated flesh and ruffling the fringe of my mini skirt. I twisted my hips to the music, letting the fringe brush across my thighs. I sighed in relief with a cool drink in my hand and the air wafting across my skin.
“This is better than strippers,” Romy remarked behind me.
I spun around, looking past her to see Jude, Reed, Christian, and Kale strutting toward us in full cowboy getup, complete with chaps, hats, and boots. Baby Charli was tucked inside an infant carrier on Jude’s chest. Seeing him completely embrace fatherhood made me so happy. He was already such a great dad. Watching Penn tug on Reed’s hand was making me experience a completely different feeling. Something I hadn’t felt before. A feeling that made my heart feel warm and full all at the same time.
They’d all been out working the ranch earlier, but now they were all cleaned up with fresh jeans and button-ups. As they approached, I could smell the cologne drifting toward me. I licked my lips when my eyes connected with Reed’s, his own mouth tipped for a moment before disappearing into his usual scowl.
“Who’s idea was this?” Sage asked, gesturing to their outfits before shooting back her champagne and pouring herself another one.
My eyebrow rose in question. “Seeing Christian in chaps making you hot and bothered?” I asked her.
She shot me a death glare over her champagne glass. I snorted a laugh.
“Jude roped us into this one,” Christian remarked as they all ducked their heads beneath a low two-by-four.
Romy went to Jude’s side, beaming up at her fiancé while he lowered a kiss to her lips. “Anything for my honey. Do you want me to keep these chaps on for later?” he asked her with a lopsided smirk, brushing her lips with another kiss.
“Why is it even a question?” she asked, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“So it’s obviously foreplay for the soon-to-be newlyweds, but how did you manage to convince this one?” I probed, gesturing to Reed with my glass.
His eyes were so intense on me, raking down my body, that I couldn’t help the flush that crept across my skin while I waited for his reply.
“I owed him,” Reed answered simply in his deep voice, his gaze still not leaving me as it traveled down my bare legs to where they disappeared into my boots.
“We’ll hang out for a little bit, but then we’re on kid duty for the rest of the night while you ladies have fun,” Jude explained.
I squeezed my thighs together, my eyes still watching Reed, and the movement did not get past him. His lips tipped as his eyes found mine once again.
“We may have another surprise, too.” I heard my dad’s voice come from my right. I turned to welcome him to the party and froze when I saw who stepped into the barn with him.
Romy let out a sob before she muffled her cries with her hand.
