“Please tell me Alana’s room isn’t nearby.”
“I think she’s a few floors up. Why?”
“I’m supposed to be there, too, and unless I want to show up in last night’s dress and give my brother a heart attack, I need to run back to my hotel to change.”
Dean frowns. “They want to meet in a half hour. You don’t have time for that.”
I spring upright and glare. “Oh, now you’re going to start second-guessing my suggestions? Great timing, Dean. Really great timing.”
“Hey, don’t get pissy with me.” He gestures to our marriage certificate. “You did this just as well as I did.”
Right. But he’s supposed to be the voice of reason in this… whatever this is between us. That’s part of the reason I like him so much. He’s cautious where I’m impulsive. Or at least, I thought he was.
“I have some sweats and a clean T-shirt you can wear. Just tie it in a knot or crop it off. I don’t give a shit.”
Ugh. I can’t afford to care either. Not when we have bigger issues to deal with.
* * *
DEAN
“Hey, man. Good to see you off the ranch.” Holden stands and offers a hand across the table when I arrive at the busy restaurant just off the casino floor. The aroma of coffee and pancakes battles with the bitter guilt in my gut as I accept the gesture, knowing damn well I don’t deserve his kindness. Not when I’ve gone and done the absolute worst thing I could have done where his baby sister is concerned.
“Uh, yeah. You, too. Heard you kicked ass last night.” Dropping into an empty chair, I avoid eye contact and reach for the carafe of coffee.
“Yep. Thought it would be closer than it was, but Cruz couldn’t hold on.” Holden grins, and Alana leans into him, looking up at him with an adoring smile. More than halfway through the ABR season, he’s on top of the leaderboard in points, and if things keep going his way, he’ll win that second world title.
“How was the wedding?” Alana asks, bringing her coffee cup to her mouth.
“Great. My grandparents even flew out, which was a nice surprise. Haven’t seen them in a couple years.”
“Dean.” Alana prods my leg with her foot beneath the table. “You should really make a point of seeing them more often. Wyoming’s not that far, for Pete’s sake.”
I nod, heat creeping up the back of my neck. “I told them I’d try to visit before the snow flies.”
“Good.” She smiles softly.
“Have you talked to Kaden at all? Everything okay at the Magnolia Blue?”
“Yep.” Holden dips his chin. “I’m telling you—you’ve got nothing to worry about. My brother knows his way around a ranch. I wouldn’t have brought him on as partner if he didn’t.”
I chuckle as I scan the menu. “I never said he didn’t. But he doesn’t know our girl like I do.”
Alana huffs a laugh. “I don’t think anyone is going to argue with you about that.”
They better not, or I’ll gladly put them in their place. I’ve lived and breathed the Magnolia Blue for almost half my life. “Anyway, did you order yet?”
“Nah, we’re waiting on Tessa,” Holden says, checking his watch with a huff, and I bristle at the mention of her name. I wish we’d had time to plan how we’re going to handle this.
“Tessa is in town for a wedding, too,” Alana explains, opening her phone and scrolling to something on her screen before she shows it to Holden. “Didn’t she look gorgeous?”
Hell, yes, she looked gorgeous. She always does. Especially sleeping in my bed and wearing my T-shirt.
“Wait…” Alana frowns and glances up at me. “You were at the same wedding?” She flips the phone around and shows me a picture from Tessa’s Instagram account. She’s cheesing it up for the camera with the other bridesmaids, but there I am, right behind her at the bar.
“Uh, yeah. Small world.” I shift uncomfortably in my seat.
Holden narrows his eyes. “Did you talk to her?”
