I tilt her chin, giving her another kiss. “Damn right.”
It’s The Most Wonderful Time of Year
New Year’s Eve
High Noon is packed with people celebrating. At ten minutes to midnight, the party is at its peak, and the band shows no signs of slowing down.
“I really wish you’d let me bring out my office chair so you can sit,” Casey grumbles to Amy.
“No way,” she says, rubbing her baby bump, quickly shutting him down faster than a busted jukebox. “I’ll wait my turn like everybody else.”
We’re standing at the end of the bar, waiting for a stool to open up for her. It’s been half an hour, and no one’s moved, all holding tight to their drinks, waiting to ring in the new year. Amy already shot down Casey’s idea of kicking someone out of their seat.
“What’s the point of being the boss if I can’t do things like drag out an extra chair for my wife?”
“I’m totally telling Shep you called yourself the boss,” I chime in with a wink.
Casey laughs. “Go right ahead. Maybe he’ll actually fire me this time so I can finally catch up on season three ofBridgerton.”
Amy scoffs. “Catch up? Like you haven’t binged it twice already.”
Casey shoots her a playful glare, and Amy and I both burst out laughing.
Over the past week, Shep and I have gone out with them several times. It’s given them a much-needed break from her parents and a distraction from waiting for the baby to arrive. They’ve both welcomed me with open arms and were ecstatic to hear I’ll be staying.
Casey helped Shep give me a tour of my new soundproof podcast studio tucked in the back of the honky-tonk. Gemma had all the equipment expedited and video-chatted with the guys to make sure they installed everything correctly.
“This Boot Scootin’ Bubbly is amazing,” I exclaim, taking a sip of my drink.
I passed the time waiting for a seat by ordering a cocktail from the hottest bartender in town. It turns out he can mix a drink after all.
I glance over to the other side of the bar, where Shep’s behind the counter, sliding a tray of whiskey shots to a rowdy group of ranch hands hollering their appreciation. One of the bartenders was running late, and with the bar short-staffed, he jumped in as soon as he realized they needed an extra hand.
Casey and I were equally stunned that he offered to help out, but it warms my heart to see him taking small steps to be more social.
Amy frowns at her sparkling water. “I had a Boot Scootin’ Bubbly last New Year’s Eve, and Jake nailed the peach schnapps to lime ratio. Wish I could have one tonight.”
Casey drapes an arm around her shoulder and kisses her forehead. “Once the baby’s here, I’ll have Jake fix you one.”
“Hope she decides to make her debut soon,” Amy sighs, rubbing her belly. “There’s no more room left in here.”
“Our sweet pea will come when she’s good and ready.”
“I just wish she’d hurry it along so I can finally see her little face.”
“She’s stubborn, just like her mama,” Casey replies, leaning in.
As they share a tender kiss, I look over at Shep again. This time, he catches my eye, a smile tugging at his lips. He goes over to Jake, who’s handing out cocktails to a pair of women giggling like schoolgirls, and claps him on the shoulder, saying something in his ear. After Jake gives a quick nod, Shep turns around, striding toward me with purpose.
As he comes around the counter to join us, he draws me into his side, giving me a kiss of our own that leaves me weak at the knees.
“Howdy there, cowboy,” I murmur.
“I missed you,” he drawls.
“It’s only been an hour, and I’ve just been a few feet away the whole time.”
“Yeah, and within the first twenty minutes, I lost count of how many guys I had to stare down for getting too close. It was fucking torture when all I wanted was to make sure everyone knows you’re mine,” he growls, nuzzling his nose into my neck.
