Page 33 of Eye of Her Storm

Tai glanced at River and smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Well, I have the legal paperwork for us to sign. It will be filed tomorrow. We’ll want to do the ceremony as soon as Riv and her sisters can arrange it.”

“Good.” Leo nodded then looked at River. “Suzette and the girls are going to be devastated to hear your news. Don’t be surprised if Suzette calls you. And…it might be too much to ask, but do you think they might help you with things? For the wedding?”

“Of course. I’d love that. There’s a lot to do, really fast, and they’re my family, too.”

Seth squeezed her shoulders in a quick hug and kissed her temple. Tai flexed his fingers on her thigh. And suddenly, she really wanted to get home and be alone with them right now. Of course, they’d spent a great deal of the day with her already and the ranch couldn’t run itself. They’d have a ton of work to do once they got back.

“Speaking of a lot to do…” River continued. “These guys have to get back to the ranch. They’ve been running me around all day, and there’s a pile of work to do before their work study kids start.”

They chatted a little longer then the four parted ways, Leo hugging River just a little tighter than the day before.

* * * *

“What. The. Hell. River!”

“Hi, Paisley. How are things?” River replied when her sister started yelling the second River answered the phone the next morning.

“How are things? Well, let me tell you. First, I find out my sister has been shacking up with my cousins-in-law for over a week and she didn’t tell me.”

“It was less than a week.”

“Then,” Paisley continued as if River hadn’t spoken. “I find out this morning that the same sister is getting married and didn’t tell me—or Moon or Sun—but yet my stepmother knows all about it. She called me to see how they could help since she doesn’t have your number. And I’m fucking pregnant!” she shrieked before the sound turned into a sob.

“Oh honey. Do you need me to come over?”

“No. I need you to tell me things, so I don’t keep finding out weeks later.”

“Okay.”

“And maybe…I might need you to help me bury a body when I find out who did this to me.”

“I’m guessing it was Ace or Brant.”

“So you’ll help me?”

River laughed. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” And despite her earlier outrage, Paisley sighed happily. River pictured her sister rubbing her belly as she often did through her other pregnancies. “Congratulations to you, too.”

“Thanks, sis. I love them so much.”

“I know you do. You have for a long time. I just wish you’d realized that.”

“Me, too.” River sighed and placed her hand over her flat belly, wishing she’d been smarter. But wasn’t it better she wasn’t leaving a child behind? She’d do anything to change her fate. Closing her eyes, she shook her head. It is what it is. Make the best of your time. Everyone should, she supposed. Who really knew when Death would come calling? Today, though, she was alive and she’d smell the roses and enjoy her men and the rest of her family.

“So what are you up to do today?” Paisley asked.

“Might go bungee jumping.”

“Uh-huh, right. What are you really doing—and don’t say skydiving. I know you’re afraid of heights.”

“I’ll probably take a long walk, clear my head.” She laughed at her unintentional joke. “Maybe, find something chocolate to eat. I’ll have to dig deep in the freezer, though. Seth is still on the plant-only health kick.”

“Do you need me to make an emergency run? I have a stockpile of Hershey’s. I think I have a pack of Oreos, too.”

“Oh my God, yes! If you throw in a pint of ice cream, I’ll love you forever.”

Paisley laughed. “You’ll love me forever, anyway. I’ll throw some Ben and Jerry’s on ice. My thank-you-for birthing-my-son truck from Ace has awesome built in coolers in the floorboards. I’ve been wanting to try them. I’ll be over in under an hour. And come to think of it… They better get me a hella good gift for having another one so soon.”

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