Page 84 of His Eighth Ride

“Yeah,” Tag said. “I like it here.”

“So you’re going to stay?” Sawyer asked, finally able to tear himself from the messages, which Opal still had not answered.

“Yeah,” Tag said slowly. “I don’t see any reason why I’d leave. They pay me well here. It’s a good-sized farm for us to run. I love Gerty and Mike.”

“And Opal,” Sawyer teased.

Tag simply looked at him, not denying it yet not confirming anything either. Sawyer sobered, his eyes going wide. “Oh, boy. Are you in love with her, Tag?”

“Could be,” Tag said, seeing no reason to deny it. “She’s building a house here. I’m here, and I want to stay. We’ve been together about six months now. Give or take. I’ve known her for longer than that. It’s…it’s a real thing, guys.”

The twins both stared at him, and Tag swore it was the first time either of them had ever seen him as an adult. A real, grown man.

“I told you this was serious,” Flint said. “I just had a feeling.”

“Then you need to get serious about Sarah,” Sawyer said. “You’re so flirty with her.”

“I’m flirty with her?” Flint scoffed. “You haven’t had a second date in a decade, Sawyer.”

Tag grinned as the twins bickered back and forth about their own love lives. Or the lack thereof. His phone buzzed on the counter, and he took the few steps to it. He didn’t interrupt the twinly conversation in the living room, but instead, stepped outside to take Opal’s call.

“Hey, honey,” he drawled.

“It’s your birthday?” she demanded. “When? Today?”

Pure adrenaline shot through his veins, making his vision go white for a moment. He forgot where he stood, and why there were voices behind him in his cabin.

“Tag?” a woman asked, and he looked at the phone in his hand. “Taggart?”

Oh, Opal was not happy, and the way she said his full name now was not a term of endearment.

twenty-six

Opal walked across her brother’s deck, the view from this place absolutely magical. And she’d thought the mountains couldn’t be beat. Well, the beach might do it.

She wondered if Tag was ever going to say anything.

She wondered if she could just go back inside and take baby Spencer out of his swing and hug him close to get this pinching in her chest to subside.

“I’m going to hang up,” she said.

“Don’t hang up,” Tag growled.

“Then say something.”

“It’s my birthday tomorrow,” he said.

Pure defeat trampled through Opal. “Why—Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You knew it was in May,” he said quietly.

“You—I…did.”

“You were so excited about Spencer,” Tag said. “And I’m what? Going to make you stay here on this muddy farm to celebrate with me?” She could just see him shaking his head. “My brothers were already planning to come. It’s fine.”

“You didn’t tell me they were coming.”

“I didn’t see the point,” he said.

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