Page 119 of The Rough Rider

“I didn’t...” Fia looked flustered. “I thought everyone wanted to make those changes.”

“You did. So much that no one would ever dare fight with you about it. And you know, you’re the one that got in there and did all that extra planning with the Garretts and the Kings and the McClouds. You were the one that spearheaded the new Four Corners with them. It’s only fair that you had a bigger vote. It’s just that...it wasn’t ever what I wanted.”

Fia looked well and truly wounded, and Alaina felt terrible. And she wondered how they had gone from joking about Big Hoss to this. But she had to be honest.

“I really didn’t know you felt that way.”

“That isn’t to say that I don’t think you should get funding. We have to work something out. It’s just... Please don’t be mad at Gus about it.”

“You’re a McCloud,” Rory said, shaking her head.

“I’m a Sullivan too,” Alaina responded. “I care very much about your goals. I really do. I love you all, and I really never meant to have it be weird. And Gus doesn’t want that either.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Fia said. “He is... He’s deeply smitten with you,” she said.

And that made Alaina’s heart jump. “You think so?”

Fia frowned at her, and then took Big Hoss out of Rory’s hands. She waved the figure at her. “The way he looks at you is ridiculous.”

“He looks at me a certain way?”

“With his tongue hanging out,” Quinn said.

Alaina felt herself turning pink, but she was absolutely delighted to hear this.

“Come on. We can’t just leave here with a novelty decanter,” Rory said. “We have other things to find.”

“But tell me more about how Gus looks at me.”

Rory was waylaid by a stack of beautiful classic children’s books with gold edging on the pages and lovely illustrations. But Elsie, Quinn and Fia all kept walking with her.

“I can just tell. I’ve known him a long time,” Fia said. “I’ve never seen him look so happy. The way he was dancing with you... He’s really happy.”

“I hope so,” Alaina said. “I really want to make him happy.”

“He should make you happy too,” Fia said, patting her hand. “Don’t forget that.”

“He does,” Alaina said.

They stopped in front of a midcentury wooden TV cabinet, with big speakers made from a shimmery gold fabric.

“I want this,” Alaina said.

“I support you,” Quinn said.

Rory came up behind them holding the giant stack of books. “I’m getting all of them. I will read them to your baby. I’m going to be the best aunt. Because I’m going to have the best books.”

Alaina rolled her eyes. “I have the best books.”

“You’re not going to share those with your child,” Rory said.

“Well, eventually,” Alaina said. “They’re good reading.”

“The sex scenes in them are very unrealistic,” Rory said, sniffing.

Quinn and Elsie exchanged a glance. “They aren’t, Rory,” Alaina said. “I’m here to tell you.”

Rory blinked. “You can’t tell me that Gus...”

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