“They eloped!” Willow practically bounced on her toes. “They made a detour from New York City to Las Vegas! Can you believe it? She got halfway through dress shopping and said, ‘Screw this. I just want you.’ So they flew off to Vegas!”
The yard was flooded with a large group now, everyone hugging and laughing as Theo and Juliette stood in front of the lodge looking both smug and ridiculously happy.
Colt slapped Theo on the back hard enough to make him stumble. Rhae hugged Juliette. Dutch yelled something about champagne, and Navy bounced through the crowd wearing a cowboy hat much too large for her.
Willow turned to Summer. “We’re throwing a big party. Right now. Come party with us.”
Summer’s smile faltered. “I don’t know about a party. I have Ben with me…”
“If Navy can party, Ben can party.” She pointed at the three-year-old who was enjoying the fun.
Ben looked up at Summer with hope in his blue eyes.
Summer hesitated, and Pope saw her instinct to say no because she didn’t feel like she fit in with the Malones. But if he did, she and Ben did too.
Willow must have seen her hesitation as well. “We’d love for you to celebrate with us. It’s family-friendly.”
She glanced from Willow to Ben, then to him, and the worry in her eyes slowly gave way to a careful kind of wonder.
Like maybe belonging wasn’t a thing he had to earn.
Like maybe it could be offered.
Somebody already pulled out the wireless speakers and music filled the air as the party truly got started, Black Heart style.
Ben tugged lightly on her hand. “Please?”
She exhaled, and a smile finally broke through. “Okay.”
The single word settled deep in Pope’s chest as the ranch burst around them in laughter and celebration, with Summer and Ben pulled into the fray as if they’d been expected to show up all along.
Suddenly he didn’t feel like he was showing them his world.
He felt like he was bringing them home.
* * * * *
Summer barely had time to get her bearings among the huge crowd of family and veterans, let alone process the fact that they were apparently throwing a wedding reception right this second.
She didn’t know Theo Malone, buteveryoneknew Juliette. Summer had seen photos of her in ball gowns, an elegant star she never expected to see in her life let alone help throw an impromptu party for.
People moved in every direction across the yard. Country music drifted through the air mixed with laughter that bounced around hard enough to make the whole ranch feel alive.
Summer found herself falling into step with the bustle. She might not know how to throw a wedding reception, but thanks to waitressing, she knew hard work and how to handle a crowd.
Inside the lodge kitchen, women moved around each other like they threw parties every day—with seven siblings, maybe they did. They pulled containers from the refrigerators and pantry shelves. Somebody grabbed a big bowl and began whipping cream as another woman sliced strawberries at lightning speed.
Summer spotted stacks of plates before anybody asked for help and carried them toward the tables being set up outside.
She glanced around for Ben and saw him with the little girl wearing the big cowboy hat. Navy, Willow called her. As she looked on, Vander strode past with a stack of chairs balanced on one shoulder.
“Pope! Pope!” Navy bounced up and down on her bootheels. “Neigh-neighs!”
He stopped walking, a grin stretching across his face and so much affection in his expression that a lump slipped into Summer’s throat.
“We’ll go see the neigh-neighs after we eat. Sound good?”
The child tossed her head back and whinnied. The noise made everyone around her break out laughing. Then Ben tried his best to mimic the sound.
