Page 77 of Honey Bee Hearts

“We let you win,” Colt says, grinning and laying his cards down. “Because it’s your birthday and all.”

“Sure you did,” I tease, grinning back.

Colt studies me for a moment longer before he takes another sip of his whiskey. When the tension leaps into my throat, he smiles and reaches under the table for a large, wrapped box.

“I got you something, Annie Oakley,” he says before standing and coming over to kneel before me.

I’m still wearing my cowgirl hat, so I have to tip my head back to look up at him. “You got me something?”

“We all did,” he replies. “But I figured I’d give this one to you first.”

I tear open the perfect wrapping paper and pop open the box. “Is this?—”

“Crocodile leather,” he nods. “It took a while to track it down, but I wanted to find the best leather possible for you.” He touches his fingers to the large scales. “I know you can make something absolutely beautiful with it and I can’t wait to see what you make.”

I swallow. Crocodile leather is incredibly expensive and for good reason. It’s usually reserved for luxury brands, so I know Colt had to spend a pretty penny for this hide. I set the box aside and pull him into a hug. His arms wrap around me, offering warmth, and when I would have let go, he holds the hug just a little longer. When he leans back, he plucks the winning wild card from the table and slides it into my hat band.

“What’s that for?” I ask, looking up at him with wide eyes.

He grins. “You’re the wild card here, Annie Oakley, and all good things are wild.”

I touch the hat brim and smile up at him.

“Alright, alright,” Rhett grumbles. “Get out of the way, asshole, so I can give her my gift.”

I blink at Rhett as he hands me a small package. For some reason, I didn’t expect Rhett to get me anything, not when he’s been avoiding me so much. I look down at the gift in my hands.

“Well, go on. Open it,” he encourages eagerly, fidgeting with the cards in front of him as if he’s nervous.

Carefully, I unwrap the badly wrapped package and pop open the box. A bracelet is nestled inside, silver with turquoise stonesset in the band. I lift it up with wide eyes. It’s so pretty, and unlike anything I’d expect of Rhett.

“My mom used to say that every cowgirl needs her some turquoise,” Rhett offers as explanation. “I noticed that you didn’t have any in your costumes, so figured I’d get you some of that cowgirl candy.”

My chest squeezes tight. “Thank you,” I rasp, putting the bracelet on right away. “It’s so pretty.”

Rhett nods and goes to move away, but I grab him and pull him into a hug instead. He immediately wraps his arms around me, accepting the hug, but releases me the moment I release him. His smile is a little more awkward than normal, but he wipes it away behind a large grin before shooting a look over at Trent.

“What did you get her, big boss? A tube of grease?”

Trent raises his brow at his brother and shakes his head.

I look over at Trent with wide eyes. “Y’all are spoiling me. This is really too much.”

“Bullshit,” Gunnar declares. “You deserve to be spoiled on your birthday.”

“Just know that when it comes time for y’all’s birthdays, I’m going to go all out,” I warn them.

“As long as that means you’ll fly out to visit us,” Gunnar replies with an answering smile.

It’s a cold reminder that I’m leaving and my smile falls. Right. I won’t be here for their birthdays.

“I did get you something,” Trent says, interrupting my darkening thoughts. “Or. . . I made you something.”

He shifts nervously, his hands twisting together before he stands and slips into another room. When he comes back with a large four-foot-long box haphazardly tapped together, I choke on the sip of beer I’d been drinking.

“What the hell is that?” Colt demands.

“And why is it so large?” Rhett asks. “You overcompensating?”

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