I watch as Palmer melts before my eyes. She’s all tough and fun until it comes to her husband. Brooks makes her soft. He brings out that side of her. They’re perfect for each other.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” she tells him.
“It’s all good, beautiful.” Brooks moves to sit next to her on the lounger and pulls her to his side.
“Any takers?” Palmer asks.
“Uh, that'd be a no.” Archer shakes his head.
“Fuck no,” Rushton chimes in.
“Pussies,” Brooks taunts.
“I’m going to have to let that one fly this time,” Merrick tells his older brother. “That looked painful as shit.”
“It wasn’t exactly a picnic,” Brooks tells him.
“Well, ladies, I bow down to you,” Sterling says.
“What he said.” Ryder nods toward Sterling. “I don’t want any part of that.”
“You couldn’t handle it,” Ramsey teases.
“I’m not disputing that,” Ryder tells her. He looks over at Jordyn and grins. “That gives all-new meaning to me telling you that your body is amazing.” He winks.
Jordyn covers her face with her hands, but not before we see a blush color her cheeks. Her shoulders shake with silent laughter, and I find myself grinning. It’s a good thing she likes him already. That comment might have gotten him slapped otherwise. We know what he meant. A woman’s body is incredible for being able to grow a human, but he probably shouldn’t have embarrassed her like that with his double meaning.
“I’m starving.” Archer changes the subject.
“What are you making us?” Kennedy asks him.
“After seeing that?” Archer asks. “You can have whatever in the hell you want.” We all laugh.
“Let’s go out to dinner tonight,” Ramsey suggests. “My treat. We needed this.” She nods at Deacon. “Stressing about the wedding even though it’s all set has been a lot. It’s been nice to be with everyone and just hang out. So, yeah, dinner on me.”
“We can go out,” Sterling tells her, “but you’re not buying.”
“I want to. You’re my family. You saved me. Gave me a safe place to land and folded me into your lives with ease. I can afford to do this. Let me. Please.”
“You know there’s no point in arguing with her. She’ll just find some other way to do it if you don’t agree,” Deacon tells us.
Sterling nods and the others do as well. “Yes!” Ramsey stands and pulls Deacon to his feet. “We leave in thirty,” she calls over her shoulder as they head for the house.
* * *
We had dinner at a restaurant on the lake. We spent a couple of hours sitting on the patio, laughing and talking. The guys told stories of their younger days, and I had to back them up with the ladies when they didn’t believe them. I’ve been around for all of it, so they looked to me to give them the validity of the stories. They were all true. There was never a dull moment growing up with these boys—men.
We ended up closing the place down, and now we’re all dragging ass as we pull back into the driveway of the rental house.
“I’m calling it a night,” I tell the truck. Ryder and Jordyn rode with us to the restaurant.
“Me too,” Jordyn agrees.
Sterling parks the truck, and we all file out, heading for the house. There’s a herd of us, as the others arrived at the same time. I’m just about to open the door when Sterling’s arm appears around me. He pulls it open, placing his other hand on the small of my back and leading me into the house.
“Night!” he calls out to whoever cares to listen. A chorus of “Nights” follows us down the hall to our room. Once inside, he closes the door and points to the bathroom. “You go first.”
“I’ll be fast.” I grab my clothes and disappear behind the bathroom door. I quickly change into my night clothes and brush my teeth. Deciding I need a few more minutes, I run my fingers through my hair and pull it up on top of my head. Finally, I gather my dirty clothes and head back to the room.