Page 5 of Secret Baby for the Triplets

She’s in her element here. I find myself wondering how she’d ever been invited to that bachelorette party in the first place, with those inebriated, obnoxious women. This woman dances to her own rhythm. She fits perfectly out here in the untamed world—with us.

Though maybe it’s just Vegas bringing this out in all of us.

I don’t typically act this way back at Pine Sky, do I?

Drunk and sweating, we leave the bar, laughing and heading into the wee hours of the morning, but the city is still wide awake.

“I haven’t danced like that in forever!” Diana gushes, leaning against Owen, who holds her up easily.

I scrutinize her with narrowed eyes, taking in her heavy-lidded gaze and the slight wobble in her stance. Her cheeks are flushed—from exhaustion or the alcohol, I can’t quite tell.

As if she’s reading my thoughts, she rights herself and flashes me a huge smile. Relief washes through me. There’s no taking advantage of this one.

“I’m sure you would have gone out with your friends from the bachelorette party,” Owen offers.

I scowl at my brother.

Why would he even bring that up? Now she’s going to be worried about them.

Her lips twist into a grimace. “I guarantee they passed out as soon as I left them at the casino. I warned them to pace themselves, but they started doing shots during brunch. No one even responded when I texted to let them know I wasn’t dead.”

“Their loss is our gain.” I reach for her waist to pull her closer. “I’m glad your friends can’t handle their liquor.”

She squeals and giggles as we head across the busy roadway toward our hotel.

Abruptly, she stops in her tracks as we cross the lush hotel grounds toward the entrance, her eyes widening with mischief. “Is that... Oh, wow.”

“What now?” Toby asks slowly, confused by her sudden change in focus.

“That,” she breathes, pointing toward the sprawling oasis to our right where the massive pool glimmers under moonlight, the cabanas dark and deserted. “It looks magical.”

“That’s the VIP area,” I tell her as we pause on the pathway. “It’s reserved for high rollers and celebrities. Regular guests aren’t allowed in.”

“So?” Her eyes dance with a challenge. “Can sneaking past velvet ropes be any harder than breaking a wild stallion? Aren’t you cowboys?”

“Being from Texas doesn’t automatically make us cowboys,” I joke.

“All hat and no cattle?” she taunts, nodding at my Stetson with a knowing smirk.

Damn. She’s got me there.

“We have horses, not cattle,” Toby corrects.

Owen shoves him hard enough to make him stumble.

Her gaze drifts back toward the darkened pool area. “Surely it’s not that hard to sneak in for a quick swim, is it?”

In the low light, her pupils are blown wide, and I can tell she’s riding that perfect level of tipsy where inhibitions fade, but coordination remains. I wonder if stone-cold sober Diana would ever suggest something this reckless.

My brothers exchange knowing glances at her challenge, and I raise an eyebrow, scanning for security cameras. This place probably has dozens, but the shadows between cabanas offer blind spots.

I catch Toby’s eye, and a silent understanding passes between us. We’ve done this dance before—taking turns, never competing. It’s how we’ve always operated with women. Tonight, somehow, the unspoken lottery has landed on me.

“I’ll distract the pool attendant if anyone shows,” Toby offers with a grin. “Owen can keep watch at the entrance.”

He’s being gracious, but I know he’ll collect on this favor later.

But something about this woman’s daring smile makes me care more about having her to myself right now than whatever debt I’ll owe my brother tomorrow.

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