Page 117 of The Other Side

Brett pressed his lips to hers again, and the world caught fire. She was burning, blissful, and more alive than she’d ever been in her life.

“Psst. Dude, Everly is looking for you,” Colt said as he peeked his head around the corner.

Brett and Thea laughed together.

“We’ll be there soon,” Thea said reluctantly.

Colt disappeared, leaving Thea to admire her husband.

Brett rubbed a hand gently over her side. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m great. I actually sneezed this morning, and it didn’t hurt.”

He’d been handling her with kid gloves since she reinjured her ribs, and he’d taken his caretaking very seriously. She’d basically been waited on hand and foot for weeks, and Brett showed no signs of giving up his service.

He pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Good.”

Thea took his hand and tilted her head toward the reception hall. “Let’s get back out there before Everly sets up a search party.”

They found Everly quickly, and she greeted them with a giddy smile. “There you are. It’s time for some photos.”

Brett squeezed Thea’s hand. She wasn’t a fan of pictures, and Brett knew it. When she looked up at him, inwardly groaning, he gave her a playful wink. She’d bet money he would goof off in at least a few pictures. That should make things interesting.

Thea smiled until her cheeks were sore as Everly and the photographer positioned them for dozens of photos. Thankfully, the whole ordeal lasted about half an hour.

“Okay, you’re free to go,” Everly said.

Brett pressed a hand to the small of her back and leaned in close. “Do you want some punch?”

Of course, he was chugging the punch. He’d made a point to ask Everly to have extra. “I’m fine. I’ll have some later.”

“I’m going to get some. I’ll find you in a minute.” He kissed her forehead before heading off across the room.

Thea spotted the table where her mom, Emerson, Gage, Hadley, Ridge, and Cheyenne were sitting and made her way over.

Emerson stayed close to Thea’s mom since they both moved to the ranch. Thea’s mom moved in with them the week Tommy was arrested, and Emerson moved in with Hadley.

Having Emerson here eased Thea’s mind. She’d accepted a full-time position as a horse trainer for the ranch, and Emerson would be working with Vera in the kitchen as soon as the tourist season started, which was soon.

Everything at the ranch would change in the next month, but Thea welcomed the excitement. Tommy, Bruce, Cain, and Max had all been arrested and racked up more charges than Thea could count.

Bruce was to be tried for the murder of Oscar Patton, and even though Brett and Jess didn’t have any good memories of their dad, it was good to have some closure.

Cheyenne waved Thea over to the empty seat beside her. “I can’t believe how beautiful this is. I hope mine is half this nice next week.”

Thea laughed. “Yours will be a weddinganda reception, and Everly has had months to plan it. I’m sure it’ll be even better than this.”

“I’m so excited. I’m not sure I could have waited much longer.”

Ridge lifted his punch cup. “I’ll drink to that.”

“I heard you got the go-ahead to ride this week,” Hadley said.

“I did! Just in time too. The guests will start arriving before we know it.”

Thea was used to working with horses, but she’d never been a part of a ranch where the horses were a big part of the day-to-day activities. She’d trained for shows, but these horses went on multi-day trail rides and were part of the weekly rodeo. It would be a change but a welcome one.

“Can we come watch?” Hadley asked, pointing to Gage, Emerson, Thea’s mom, and herself.

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