“I see that you’re in your element,” Rhett says, hanging his arms over the stall.
“I don’t think I could ever be in a bad mood if I got to play with puppies every day.”
“My boys feel the same way. Gabriel and Austin would sleep in the barn if I let them.”
“I don’t blame them.” I kiss the puppy and put him back with the others. Standing, I brush off the hay. “Guess I should get going. People will be here soon for the game.”
He opens the stall door for me, then leans down to kiss me. “I think your casserole is ready. Whatever you made smells amazing.”
I glance at my phone. “I have five more minutes before I need to take it out of the oven. It’s nothing fancy, just a hot chilicheese dip. I thought we could have nachos. I made a bunch of different toppings. Austin said nachos are his favorite.”
He tosses his arm around my shoulder. “Sure do appreciate that.”
“How, um, how did your conversation go with Amber?”
Rhett sighs. “About how you’d expect. There was a lot of yelling.”
“I’m so sorry. I hate that I made her freak out.”
“Not your fault, sweetheart. I had no idea she was being so mean to the boys. My attorney’s filing an emergency custody order on Monday.”
“That’s a relief. I can’t imagine being that age and having my parent freak out at me like that.” I wrap my arms around his waist. “I want to love up on Gabriel and Austin, let them know I’m here for them. I know I’m not their mom, but if they let me, I promise I’ll be a great bonus parent.”
“My boys are lucky to have you.”
I shrug. “I know what it’s like to have a terrible stepmother. My one goal with them is to be the opposite of Irma.”
Rhett stares down at me. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
My heart races at his closeness. “I’m pretty crazy about you too.”
Leaning down, he grazes his lips against mine. Within seconds, he has me pinned to a stall.
Suddenly, the alarm on my phone goes off, and I groan. “Unless you want burned chili dip, I have to go.”
He lets me slide down his body. Then he adjusts himself. “Guess I’ll have to wait for tonight.”
“It’s a date,” I yell as I run out of the barn, smiling.
I make it back to the kitchen and pull out the dip and set it on a potholder. After I taste it, I add it to the other nacho toppings.
The back door opens, and Beau, Jace, and Rhett stroll in with the boys.
Jace yells, “It’s game time!”
A few minutes later, the doorbell rings, and I let Baylee in. “Where’s Sean?”
“He had a family thing. He invited me, but I’m not going to miss a Bronco game.”
I tug her into the kitchen and whisper, “Have you told Mav you’re talking to someone?”
“Why would I do that? He has an endless array of women he bangs. It’s not like he runs that by me.”
“Good point.” I hand her a beer. “Get some food before the guys decimate the table.”
“I like this plan.” She takes a plate and loads up the nachos.
My husband’s buddy Brady, who did Rhett’s beautiful tattoos, and his wife Kat, join us. As they greet everyone, I smile at the way Brady looks at his wife, like she’s his whole world.
