Page 83 of Saddled in Secrets
Brody almost grins. “Wouldn’t dare.”
I tug her closer to my side. “Better not.”
“Oh, umm… spoiler alert.” Bianca’s eyes dart to the dumbfounded expressions gawking at us. She straightens her shoulders, lifting our joined palms. “In case you can’t read the room, we’re together now. After much begging and considerate gestures, I convinced Colton to become my boyfriend.”
Brody snorts. “That’s ass backward.”
But Dennis is grinning broadly. “Well, it’s about damn time. Marion and I had placed a bet ages ago to see how long it would take.” He wags a gnarled finger at the sky. “You called it, love.”
“Phew.” Bianca fans her face. “It’s been an emotional start to the day.”
My friend studies his sister’s wet hair, shifting his stare to mine that’s tucked under a cowboy hat. “Did we interrupt something?”
“What?” Bianca’s tone is too pitchy. “No. We were just having a slow start to the morning. Had to speed things along once we knew you were coming.”
The sloppy excuse narrows Brody’s eyes on me. “You’re in a good mood.”
“Can you blame me? The woman of my dreams just claimed me as hers.” I mean, damn. It’s a challenge not to toss her over my shoulder and fuck her with my tongue right now.
A loud gasp interrupts us, drawing our attention to the source. “You’re willingly in a relationship with Colton? That’s not the story you told me yesterday morning, Bee.”
Bianca winces at Paisley’s accusation. “A lot can change in twenty-four hours.”
On cue, Spud trots over from his shady spot under the oak tree. He sniffs the affronted blonde and the upset immediately clears from her expression. Paisley kneels in the grass to welcome him with open arms.
“Who’s this fella?” Her voice transforms into a babble for babies.
“That’s Spud. He’s such a good boy,” Bianca replies in the same tone.
“Like a potato?”
“Mhmm, my favorite food group. Colton named him after he showed up yesterday. We went into town and asked if anyone was missing a dog, but it was a dead end. That means he’s ours.”
“One big happy family, hmm?” Paisley’s stern focus observes me before softening on her friend.
Bianca shrugs and bumps me with her hip. “As it turns out, he’s not so bad.”
The blonde stands and beckons her forward. “Help me unload the horses. The men want to discuss dangerous manly things.”
“Better fill me in later,” Bianca murmurs from the corner of her mouth.
“No more secrets.” And then I swat her ass to send her along her way.
Brody and Dennis appear flabbergasted, their heads swiveling from me to her and back again. Their astonishment is serenaded by the squeal from the rusty windmill. It takes a dozen beats of my rapid pulse for the men I admire like idols to collect themselves. The one I view as a father figure finds his voice first.
“Really didn’t think I’d see the day,” he murmurs.
Brody nods slowly. “She seems to actually like you.”
Doubt snakes through my veins in a lethal dose. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes,” they say in unison.
“Thanks a lot,” I grunt in response.
“It’s not you,” Dennis is quick to clarify. “I’m amazed to see Bianca serious about someone. That isn’t a knock against you, kid. My daughter is very strong-willed. Fiercely independent.”
“No man has ever been good enough,” Brody adds. “But what did I tell you?”
