Page 143 of Dust Storm

Usually, I would have said something sassy like, “I know,” or, “You have good taste if you’re dressing like me.”

But Bree’s confidence was about more than shoes. I knew it in my bones, because I felt it too. Funny how a pair of shoes made me feel like I belonged.

“We look good, don’t we?” I said, tossing my arm around Bree.

Bree put her arm around my waist. “Daddy, do you think Uncle Ray will get more sponsorships? Because he should do ads for clothes so I can get free stuff.”

Christian laughed. “I don’t think kids clothing brands sponsor many bull riders. Usually just boots and jeans.”

“But he’s done—like—those underwear ads.”

I lifted an eyebrow at Christian and mouthed, “Which ones?”

He shot me a look so sharp I nearly tripped.

The arena was deafening. Instinctively, I held on tight to Bree and followed Christian and Gracie through the throngs of people milling about. He kept a tight grip on my hand, weaving through the masses as we made our way to an area that had been cordoned off with metal gates and rope.

“Uncle Ray!” Gracie screamed in excitement.

I honestly had no idea how Gracie picked him out of the mass of men dressed like clones of each other. But Ray looked up and grinned as he elbowed his way through the bodies.

“There’s my Gracie Girl!” he said, snatching her up and putting her on his shoulders.

If I had been treated like that at eleven, I would have insisted I was too big to sit on someone’s shoulders. But not Gracie.

Bree hugged Ray. “Daddy showed me the video of your ride last night!”

“Yeah?” He squeezed her tight. “What’d you think?”

Bree tapped her chin. “Underscored, but I’ll let it slide since you’re still on top.”

“That’s my girl,” he said, fist bumping her.

The rest of the Griffith crew condensed, saying hello to Ray and wishing him luck.

Gracie hopped off his shoulders and scurried over to me so Ray could hold his newest niece, who was sporting a pair of baby-sized noise canceling headphones.

“Good thing she looks like Becks and not your ugly mug,” Ray said, carefully elbowing Nate in the ribs.

Nate pressed a kiss to the side of his wife’s head. Becks slipped her hand in Nate’s. His rough, scarred skin wrapped around hers like a protective shield.

I knew the basics of what they had been through—meeting in Afghanistan and falling in love—but in that moment, I realized that I had only heard about it from Becks.

Christian never mentioned it.

Ray’s sharp eyes landed on me. “You ever watched bull riding before?”

“This will be a first.”

He grinned. “You’re gonna hate it.”

Ray brought over his manager, Marty, who hooked us up with passes to be in the staging area.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Becks said as she bounced from foot to foot as she tried to soothe the baby. Nate and Christian were taking Bree and Gracie around, leaving us on the small deck under the sponsor tent. “I’ve been wondering when one of the boys would bring a woman around long-term.”

I curled my fingers around the metal gate. “I don’t know about long-term.”

I saw the age in her eyes as she studied me. “You’re good for him. For all of them. Christian needed someone like you.”

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