Page 79 of Savage Secrets

“Sure thing.” He ruffled her hair and the universe seemed to be put to right with a few small promises to the child. He loved the hell out of that kid, and she was completely wrapped around his little finger.

Half an hour later, Rainie was dropped off at her PJ party sleepover. Kirsten assured Opal that she wouldn’t let her child stay up too late or consume too much sugar.

Their drive to the Gracey Ranch took a bit longer. The snowy back roads to the ranch forced Zach to drive slower.

He squeezed Opal’s hand. “Ready for all the dancin’ you’re about to do?”

She sliced a smile at him. “I’ve got my comfiest boots on.”

“There hasn’t been a New Year’s party on the Gracey in years…not since before Forest died.”

She meshed her fingers with his. “It’s a sign that the family is ready to move on. I understand all too well how difficult it is for them to lose a family member like that.”

Opal had her high moments and her low ones too. She’d miss her father forever, and his loss had created a hole in their small family. Zach couldn’t fill that hole, but he would do his best to help her keep the man’s memory alive in every way possible, both around the ranch and with his daughter and granddaughter.

The snow clinging to the branches glinted with blue sparkles as their headlights passed the trees. The weather had cooperated by creating a magical wonderland for the celebration to come.

At the ranch, the big garage was lit up and vibrated with music. When he opened the door and guided Opal inside with a hand on her lower back, the crisp night air followed them in, and the country tunes swelled in volume.

“Opal!” Demi spotted her first and rushed across the space to her.

“Ohh, look at you glowing.” Opal’s gaze fell on Demi’s baby bump. As the ladies chattered about trimesters, which Zach knew little about, he wandered over to Ledger, who was never far from the woman he loved and the mother of his unborn child.

“About time you made it. I’ve got a new whiskey for you to sample.”

Zach cocked a brow at his friend. Ledger twitched his head for him to follow him.

He caught Opal’s eye, and she nodded between enthusiastic replies to Demi’s questions about where Rainie was for the evening.

The Graceys had invited a bunch of friends from town. Mr. Gracey was seated at a round table playing poker with some of his old buddies. As Zach and Ledger passed by, he gave Sean a congenial nod.

The man returned it with a smile. It was a relief to Zach that they were on good terms. His refusal to accept the parcel of land as a gift from Sean had ensured that there would never be tension between them. That was as important to him as owning the land and it filled him with pride.

The beat of the music pulsed through the space. The ladies had decked out the garage in string lights and balloons. They reached the makeshift bar, comprised of a long slab of wood set on two barrels.

Colton and Hunter paused in their conversation to swing toward them as they approached.

“Hey, Webb! Good to see ya.” Colton reached out and clasped his hand. Zach squeezed his in return before doing the same to Hunter.

“We’ve come for the whiskey.” Ledger drew two plastic shot glasses across the bar and tipped the contents of a dubious-looking bottle into each.

“Pour us a round too.” Hunter craned his neck. “Where’s Carver? He should get over here too. It’s time we had a toast.”

“Carver!” Zach called out to the man who was standing on the edge of the small dance area, a thumb hitched in the front pocket of his jeans, watching Livia doing a country line dance with some other women he recognized from town.

At the sound of his name, Carver twisted. He caught sight of them all standing at the bar. Ledger held up the whiskey bottle, and Carver made his way toward them.

As Zach thrust a full shot glass into his hand, the five of them all fell into a strange silence. Zach didn’t know about the other guys, but he was suddenly emotional.

Nobody spoke or moved for a long moment.

Finally, Zach raised his glass. “To my new friends. I think of you all like brothers.”

Ledger dipped his head for a second as though overcome by what he said. Then he thrust his glass into the circle they stood in. “To a new brotherhood.”

“To old friends and new.” Carver’s voice came with a soft crack at the end.

“To the future.” Hunter raised his glass higher.

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