Page 33 of Sudden Summer

“Ow!” I yipped as Hayes pulled his hand back to his side of the couch after pinching me. “What the hell was that for?”

“To show you that you weren’t dreaming. I said what I said, and I meant it. You and Beau are both so goddamn stubborn about this weird line you’ve drawn in your relationship. Get over it and realize what all of us already see.”

“Which is?”

“That you’re meant for each other. Jesus, Birdie. He had a kid with another woman, and that kid was just dropped on his doorstep. And the only person he thought to ask for help from was you. Because you’re his person. And you stayed. You’re helping. Because…”

“Because he’s my person?” I whispered.

“Bingo.” Hayes lifted his head up, smiling as he twisted his body towards mine. He stood, looking down at Juniper. “Now that I’ve set you straight, and gotten my niece to sleep, I think I’ll just put her in her bed and head off to see what trouble I can stir up for Colt and Vi.”

“She’s in the room across the hall from Beau’s.”

“Got it. Across the hall from the room you sleep in with my brother.”

I shook my head. “Wait until I tell him about this conversation.”

“Jesus, I hope it kicks him right in the ass. I’m sick of watching you two make googly eyes at each other during every family dinner, and then literally do nothing about the sexual tension that’s choking all of us. Please, for my sake, tell my brother exactly what I said, and ask him to either take your hand and step over the line, or let you go. Just remember, either way, you’re still a part of this family. We’ll get rid of him before we ever get rid of you.”

“And now, see right here? This is the barn where your daddy and your grandpa keep all the horses. Beckett got one for his second birthday, but I’ll bet anything your daddy gets you on one before you even start walking. You seem like you might be a barrel racer one day.” I pressed my lips to the top of Juniper’s head and smiled against the softness of her skin. We’d spent the day waiting to hear back from Lainey, but after baking Juniper’s weight in chocolate chip cookies and almost my weight in brownies, I’d had enough of being cooped up in the house. So I’d grabbed the baby sling Violet had let me borrow, and we were now a couple of girls out exploring the ranch!

A whistle sounded in the distance, and my stomach exploded with butterflies. Beau was back. I turned from the stalls and walked along the trampled down path alongside the barn. As soon as the sun hit my face, I could see Beau riding in with Travis and Kip. Another guy was behind them, but he trotted off towards the bunk house. I couldn’t tell if it was Denver or the new guy Beau hired, who I still hadn’t met.

He jumped down off the horse, handing off the reins to Kip as he walked towards us.

“What are my two favorite girls doing out here this afternoon?” His hand slid along the small of my back as he bent in to kiss Juniper’s head the same exact way I’d kissed her just a minute before. “I was gonna come home early and surprise you. You’ve been avoiding me, and I can’t take it anymore.”

“Hey, Birdie.” Kip smiled as he trotted the horses up to us and dipped his head toward me.

“Hey, Kip. It feels like it’s been forever since we caught up.”

“Tell me about it. You had a baby since the last time I saw you!”

I laughed. “Don’t tell me Beau’s been hiding his happy news from you guys?”

“Nah, he told us. Just have to give him some shit about it.” He turned to Beau. “She’s a cutie pie, boss. Your daughter is, too.”

“Kip,” Beau grumbled as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

“So, how are things with Amelia?” I asked. The last time I’d seen Kip, he’d been out at Davney’s dancing with his girlfriend.

“Oh, shit. I forgot all about that night we saw you out.” He pulled his hat off his head, pointing to a long, red line across his head. “Took a beer bottle to the head trying to protect her from her ex. Turns out she had a different definition of ex than me.”

“Which was?” Beau asked.

“Well, boss, she was still…” his eyes dropped to Juniper and he lowered his voice to a whisper…“forking him while we were together.”

“That’s awful!” I gasped.

But Kip just shrugged. “It is what it is. She wasn’t marrying material, anyways. Not like you, Birdie. Bet boss here is all red cause he knows what I’m saying is true.”

“Oh no—” I started to say at the same time Beau blurted, “Of course I do.”

The three of us were standing in this awkward circle of tension, and I had no idea how to get out of it.

“Well,” Kip chuckled, “now that everyone is clear on that, I’ll let you three be. Have a good one, Birdie.”

“You too,” I replied.