Page 108 of Knot Her Cowboys
“More like made with anxiety, but I’ll try to throw in a little extra love. I’ve got everything prepped and the food for the guests is already in the oven. They just have to pull it out when the timer goes off, slice the meat, and serve it.”
“You did all the hard stuff. The staff can handle it from here.” He gave me a hard, but loving look before I could say anything else. “Come on. We’ll take the family tray for the oven in the big house and you can shower before everyone gets here. I’ll even keep you company during it if you want.”
“Then we’d be late for dinner, and I can’t look your family in the eye knowing I was late to greet them because you were railing me.”
Cash laughed. “I could probably rustle up some self-control.”
I didn’t believe him for a second. “I don’twantyou to have self-control, so better not to test it.” I took one of the deep pans out of the oven and set it onto a baking tray before passing him a pair of oven mitts. “The bottom pan isn’t hot. I don’t want you to get burned carrying the hot one all the way home, so be careful.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest, barreling straight down the bond from him.
I tilted my head. “What’re you so happy about?”
“Honey bun, what did you just call the big house?”
My face warmed as I picked back through what I’d just said. “Home?”
“Mhmm.” He cupped my cheeks, indulging himself in another kiss. “Is it starting to feel that way to you?”
“Anywhere you guys are feels like home to me.”
I could hardly breathe past the rush of adoration in the bond.
It was the truth. Cash and Cooper had always been home to me, and Dakota and Levi had quickly become that as well. They wanted me to be safe, wanted me to feel comfortable enough to heal. I knew gratitude was part of my feelings for them, but I could tell the difference now. Gratitude and loneliness had beenwhy I’d entered my last relationship, and while I was certainly grateful to this pack, it wasn’t why I wanted to surrender to a life with them.
Cash squeezed me tightly. “I love you so fucking much. I don’t even know how I get through the day carrying this much love around inside me.”
“Taking the words right out of my mouth.”
My replacement kitchen staff arrived and I gave them a brief rundown of everything I had prepared and everything they would need to do. Then Cash and I took the partially cooked food to the big house and got it in the oven before I disappeared upstairs for a quick shower.
I emerged to a grinning Cash holding up a pair of ballet flats and a sundress that matched my omega suite: Cream at the neckline and transitioning to a deep purple at the hem. “I ordered you something cute.”
His offering warmed me from the inside out. Sometimes new clothes functioned the same as armor, and I needed that right now. “How did you know I’d want something for tonight?”
“I didn’t know for sure, but I figure a new outfit can’t ever hurt a situation.”
“You know my size?”
“I snooped on what you had in your dresser and guesstimated for this style.”
With a quick detour for undergarments, I slipped on the dress, sliding my hands over the soft fabric.
“You look good enough to eat, honey bun.”
My cheeks flushed as I turned in front of the antique mirror. “You did good, Cashy. It fits perfectly, and it’s very cute. Thank you.” I crooked my finger and Cash bent so I could kiss his cheek.
A cloud of dust out the window caught my attention and I peeked out to see a caravan of vehicles arriving.
“That’ll be Dakota’s family,” Cash told me. “Guess we’d better get down there.”
He looped an arm around my waist as anxiety bolted through me.
I shouldn’t have been worried. The women of Dakota’s family were hugging me before he even had the chance to introduce me.
“It’s so good to meet you,” the oldest of the three women beamed at me.
“Riley, this is my mother, Delores; my older sister, Star, who runs the Rez clinic; and my baby sister, River, who does community outreach with our mom.” Dakota turned, gesturing to the group of men waiting much more patiently. “My dads: Will, Glenn, and Ted. They own the construction company with Charlie and Fox. They’ll be here a lot, working on our projects, as soon as the busy season winds down. Chayton teaches science at the Rez school, and Mato is in law school right now.”
