Page 26 of Eye of Her Storm

“No, smartass.”

“Yes, it’s good. I’m happy. Happier for my sisters. They’re going to need him. I’m kind of shocked right now. I’m sure when it all sinks in, I’ll be ecstatic. And probably a little pissed.” She sat up. “No, I’m already pissed off. How could my mom do that?”

“I don’t know, baby. I wish you could ask her.” Tai shifted the truck back into gear, checked the road then pulled off the shoulder and onto the graded gravel. Seth settled into place and fastened his seatbelt then checked River’s.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He shrugged. “Can’t help it, love.”

“I had one rule…”

“Rules are meant to be broken. You know that.” Seth grabbed her hand then raised it to his lips. He nibbled at the inside of her wrist until she squirmed. “Now, about the appointment?” he repeated.

“One-track mind.”

“Two-track mind: sex and taking care of you. Now, tell us.”

“They’re just scanning my head again. Thankfully, just a CT scan this time. My doctor will look at the images then meet with me just before noon.”

“Are they concerned with it spreading elsewhere in your body?” Tai asked.

River shook her head. “No, it’s not that kind of tumor. It’s not cancer, so it’s not something that will metastasize. They just want to see how much it’s grown…give me a better, um, time estimate.”

“Oh, love,” Seth whispered. “You don’t want to be alone for that. We’re coming with you.”

“You don’t—”

“We’re coming.” Tai’s insistence didn’t leave room for argument.

“Okay.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Can you guys afford the time away from the ranch?”

“It’s really more of a farm now,” Seth laughed. He ran his fingers along her thigh, obviously wanting to keep her on edge. As if that were a problem. “Brant has some connections at the university he attended. We’ve hired some of their Ag students to help out the next few months.”

“Agricultural students,” Tai translated. “Work study. There’s not a ton to do this late in the year, anyway. I mean…you know there’s always plenty, even with it being late October, but it’s not as intense as in the summer. Anyway, Brant will oversee them while we’re away.”

“Away? You make it sound like you’re taking more time off than for my doctor appointment.”

Seth cleared his throat. “About that. You can travel, right?”

“I can do whatever I want. No limitations right now.”

“We thought we might…check off some things on your bucket list.”

River stared at him, stunned, then glanced over at Tai. They both looked determined but a bit smug. When they’d lain in bed a few nights ago, the guys had asked her about other items was on her bucket list, wishes besides watching them have sex. She’d told them about some of her dreams and the things she figured she’d never do but really wanted to. She’d never expected they’d want to fulfill those desires.

“Oh my God,” she cried, overwhelmed.

“There’s a condition to it.” Tai squeezed her thigh. “This isn’t exactly where I—we—wanted to do this, but…”

“What condition? That I’m healthy enough? I’m well enough to travel.”

“That it’s a honeymoon,” Seth replied.

“A…what?” Her mouth worked as she tried to voice more of a question. Lord, her brain must be more scrambled than she’d thought. Coherent words failed her.

“We want you to marry us.” Seth sounded less confident this time, her reaction apparently not what they’d expected.

“But…why?” The reasons why not seemed all too obvious, and she wouldn’t point out what they already knew.

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