Page 81 of More Than a Little Spark

“They’re adorable.”After a peck, we part ways, and she heads toward the lawn chairs.

I head toward Grayson but make a stop at the cooler and grab enough drinks for all the guys standing around the grill.

Dag

I’m eager for the gathering.Some of us still work at the ranch and see each other often.But it’s rare that we’re all together in one place like this.

After parking, I turn around and give the girls the same lecture I give when I let them loose anywhere.“Have fun.Your mom and I will be around.But you know the rules.No drugs.No alcohol.And no kissing.”

“We know, Dad,” Carolina says.

She is so much like her mom.I probably don’t even need to give her rules, but Isabella is more like me, and that has me worried.

Isabella giggles and bumps Carolina’s arm.“No kissing, okay?”

Goldie gives Isabella that warning look.She started using it on me, and by the time we had kids, she’d perfected it completely.

“Sorry.”Isabella jumps out of the truck and runs toward the group.

I look back at Carolina and then at Goldie.“Is there something you need to tell me?”

Carolina clears her throat.“Davy asked me to be his date to the wedding.”

“He invited you to a wedding?For a first date?”

Goldie rests a hand on my arm.“You know Davy.He’s like family.”

Carolina grimaces.“Mom, please don’t say it like that.”

I choke back the laugh.“I don’t mind if you go with Davy.But if he’s not respectful?—”

“I know, Dad.If a guy doesn’t treat me right, I should walk away.”

“Good girl.”

“Can I go now?”

Goldie nods.“We’ll be over there in a minute.”

I take Goldie’s hand.“I’m really glad you didn’t follow the advice I give our girls.”

“Except I did.I walked away.Then you figured it out.”

“And I started treating you right.”

She trails a finger through the gray whiskers of my beard.“One day, our girls will meet someone who makes them feel like I felt when you said, ‘She’s mine.’For Carolina, it might not be Davy.They’re young.But you never know.”

“Having Parker as an in-law wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Don’t marry her off yet.She’s seventeen.”

I laugh.“I know.But sometimes I need a reminder of her age.Do you ever look at her and see that little girl swinging the piñata stick?I do.All the time.How can she be seventeen already?I feel for Anderson.He must be a nervous wreck about the wedding.”

“I think he’s excited.Fred is crazy about Bailey.We’ve all known that for years.”

“Yeah.And all the people falling in love on this ranch is putting crazy ideas in our girls’ heads.”I slide out of the truck and open Goldie’s door.“I’m kidding.Sort of.”

She presses a kiss to my lips.

---