What a mess.
Gathering my purse and my courage, I climb out of my car and head toward the bar. The bass from a new country song pulses through the night air as a touchy-feely couple stumbles outside, somehow navigating their way to their car without taking their mouths or hands off each other.
Oh, to be that in love. Maybe someday.
With a sigh, I pull open the heavy front door, immediately spotting Mason Creek rancher Wilder James and his younger brother Levi coming from the bar with bottles of beer gripped in each of their hands.
“Look out, everyone. Trouble just showed up!” Wilder teases, and Levi laughs.
“You got an extra beer for me?” I nudge the younger brother in greeting.
“Sure do. Your brothers know you’re in town?” he asks.
“Yep, but Alana doesn’t, remember?” I wink.
They lift their chins in silent understanding. Everything is set for the birthday party tomorrow at this very location. Apparently, Alana insisted Holden take her out tonight, and he wasn’t about to ruin the surprise and tell her they’d be going out tomorrow night, too.
“We’re at our usual table.” Wilder tips his head in the general direction of the tall tables lined up along the front wall of the pub-style establishment. A stage runs the length of the far wall, and one of the local bands is warming up.
I follow the friendly rancher through the crowd with his brother behind me. They both instinctively act as my cover to keep Alana from seeing me until I loop my arms around her from behind and give her a big, smacking kiss on the cheek.
“Happy birthday weekend, sister-in-law!”
“Ahh!” She spins so fast that she nearly spills her mixed drink over the both of us. “What the heck are you doing here?”
“Heard you were turning a year older and figured that was as good a reason as any to visit!”
She throws her arms around my neck, and we squeeze each other tight. I’ve only known her since last fall when Holden moved to Montana, but I already love her like a sister. My big brother did good with her. Heck, Kaden did good with Carly, too, but I don’t know her quite as well.
“Hey, sis.” Holden holds out an arm, and I slide into his embrace with a sigh. He’s a pain in my butt about a lot of things, but I wouldn’t trade either of my brothers for the world. “Glad to see you made it safely.”
“It was a perfect day for a drive.” I smile up at him and catch a familiar face watching me from a stool at the table. “Hey, boss man. If you took a picture, it’d last longer.”
Holden half laughs, half grunts as he shoots a glare at Dean. No words are exchanged, but it’s a reminder, nonetheless. Don’t look and don’t touch. Good thing there’s nothing in those ridiculous rules about getting hitched.
“Is that all you got, smart-ass?” Dean smirks behind the lip of his beer bottle before he takes a pull.
“I just got here,” I quip. “Give me time.”
Wilder, Levi, and their ladies laugh, but my other brother glowers as he approaches for a hug. “You’re really gonna say hi to him before me?” Kaden complains.
“Aw, you jealous?”
He grumbles under his breath as he gives me a quick squeeze. “You just missed Carly. Work and the baby have been kicking her ass, so she went home early. I stuck around to say hi to you, but I’ll probably cut out soon to make sure she’s okay.”
“Oh my gosh, Kaden, go and be with your girl.” I shove at his arm. “We’ll see each other plenty this weekend.”
He nods and flicks a glance at Dean. “You gonna behave this time? I ain’t got time to be babysitting you and Langston.”
Um, it’s a little too late for that, big brother.
“I always behave, Kaden. I’m the innocent sibling, remember?”
“Ha!” He throws his head back and barks out a laugh. “Right. Anyway, Holden will be here to make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
Mm-hmm. Like get married?
Kaden tips back the rest of his beer before he says a quick goodbye to the rest of crew and heads for the door.
