I push against his chest, but it only makes him deepen it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from dating Tyler, it’s that he won’t be hidden, and if I do try to tamp down his antics, he only lays it on thicker.
“I will. Behave while I’m gone. No strippers.” I wink and climb into the truck. “I love you.”
“Love you too, darlin’.” He kisses me again through the open window before waving us off as we drive away.
“How are you not pregnant yet? That man is like a damn fantasy.”
Mallory and Tyler instantly hit it off. He picked up on her sarcastic wit and gave it back to her just as hard. Feels like two against one now.
“Trust me, if it were up to him, I would be. One thing at a time. For now, I’m ready to drink my weight in mimosas and enjoy our weekend in Grand Lake with Milly and Dolly.”
By the time I pick up the other two and we make it to Grand Lake, my stomach hurts from laughing so much. We quickly settle into our hotel then change to head out to get drinks and dinner.
“So, we know Brook is wifed up with Tyler, and I haven’t seen a penis since starting vet school, but what about you two? I feel like there’s nothing but sexy-as-hell mountain men as far as the eye can see out here.”
Milly laughs. “Yeah, I’m related to almost all of the men around here, so it’s slim pickings for me. I basically have to go to Denver to find a man who isn’t a Slade, and by that point, they’re a bunch of boys with Peter Pan syndrome.” She lets out a defeated sigh.
“And you, Dolly?” I give her a questioning look.
Her cheeks turn pink. “Well, I, uh . . .” She glances sideways at Milly.
“Oh God, what?” Milly’s hand goes to her nonexistent pearls.
“I just have kind of always had a thing for Ranger.”
Mallory looks around the table, confused.
“That’s Milly’s half-brother. He’s one of the cowboys at the ranch,” I explain.
“You have my blessing, Dolly, you know that. But girl, that man is a player and a half. Never seen him bring home the same girl twice . . . which is surprisingly weird considering we live in such a small town.”
Dolly’s smile falters a bit and I elbow Milly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say he won’t ever settle down,” Milly says. “Dammit, I just meant—”
“No, I get it. Like I said, I’ve always known that about him—we all do. But for some reason, I can’t seem to shake this damn crush.” She giggles and it breaks my heart. Maybe the next time I see Ranger, I’ll talk some sense into him, or at least get Tyler to do it.
“And things with Tyler?”
I down my drink and motion to the waiter for another. “Things are good—great, actually. He’s amazing.”
The table sighs in unison. “You guys are so in love,” Dolly says.
“I’m calling it now: married by next January,” Mallory adds on.
I blush and play it off, but secretly, I would love if that were the case. But the moment I start fantasizing about walking down the aisle, the feeling that I need to deal with the Neal situation and tell Tyler about it comes creeping back in.
I make a promise to myself that as soon as I get back home, I’m not only telling him about Neal, but I’m going to ask him to come home with me at Christmas.