Page 13 of Montana Rain

He chuckled. “It’s weird for me too. I’m not used to being called by my first name.”

“We’ll still call you Phillips,” Jude said. “Just to make sure you get your fix.”

We all took seats, and the guys began bringing food over to the table. These dinners had a natural balance. When it rotated throughout the houses, whoever hosted and cooked never had to clean. If the women prepared, the men served. A silent and continuous agreement that everyone was in this together, and nothing was assumed.

“Okay,” Lena said as soon as everyone sat down. “I can’t possibly hold this in any longer.”

Jude chuckled and pulled her into his side, kissing the top of her head. They were so in love, it was inspiring to see. Even now, she closed her eyes, accepting the affection. The gnawing hole in my chest that I’d identified yesterday ached. Loneliness.

Watching all my friends be happy and fulfilled was incredibly satisfying. And also difficult.

I looked away from Jude and Lena to find Cole looking at me again, like he knew exactly what was going through my mind. His mouth turned up into the tiniest smirk, and I looked away.

“We’ve set a date,” Lena said. “This spring.”

The table erupted in cheers, and everyone had smiles on their faces. In our minds, Lena and Jude were basically married. But their wedding was going to be the celebration of the century for Garnet Bend.

“Now,” Cori said, leaning in and reaching for the bottle of wine in the middle of the table. “The wedding is one thing. But the honeymoon is another. Have you thought about where you want to go?”

Lena laughed. “At this point, I’ll be happy to go wherever because I haven’t been anywhere in so long. I was jealous of Rayne when she was in Chicago. Maybe we’ll go there.”

“Take it from me,” Cole said. “Don’t go to Chicago on your honeymoon.”

“Because you’ve been on so many honeymoons?” The words snapped out of my mouth so fast, the entire room had gone quiet before I fully processed I’d said them.

Cole’s eyes found mine, that maddening smirk on his face. He liked getting under my skin, the bastard. “Not many honeymoons,” he said. “None, actually. But having spent the last few months in Chicago, I feel qualified to say it’s not a good place for a honeymoon.”

I struggled not to roll my eyes. “It’s not the traditional beach getaway, but there’re some amazing things in Chicago. Museums, architecture, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, incredible pizza.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Putting aside the problematic nature of the Bean and its creator, I didn’t say Chicago wasn’t a good place to visit. I said it wasn’t a good place to go on your honeymoon.” Cole glanced at Jude. “If I’m choosing a place to go on my honeymoon, I’m choosing a place that’s beautiful but doesn’t have tourist attractions, so I don’t feel guilty when I choose not to spend as much time…outside.”

I flushed even as everyone laughed. Right this second, I was so aware of Cole and his body, it felt like I was on fire. His gaze burned into mine, my breath going short.

No one had ever affected me like this, and I didn’t know what to do. Because people didn’t spar with me. Not like this.

“I think you can have a good honeymoon anywhere. It’s all about who you’re with, right? If you were miserable, then maybe it’s the company you kept.”

I saw the trap a second before he sprung it. “Does that include when we ran into each other?”

Someone gasped. Everyone was watching us like a championship tennis match. I needed to defuse this. Family dinner wasn’t the time or the place, and yet I couldn’t help but rise to meet the challenge he was giving me. “No, Agent Phillips, I hardly think the five minutes we spoke counts as ‘keeping company.’”

“I’ll have to make sure I practice that while I’m here, then.” He grinned at me before looking around at the others. “Maybe these guys can teach me their secrets.” Then he raised his glass. “Regardless, congratulations.”

“Yes,” Grace added, and then we all joined in, lifting our glasses and toasting to the happy couple. I smiled too, unable to shake the feeling that I’d fought a battle and lost, but at the same time, feeling like I wanted to dive back into the fight again.

“I’ll be right back,” Daniel said, brushing a kiss across Emma’s cheek and disappearing out the front door.

“Are we having it at our place?” Grace asked, getting back to the topic at hand and not the business of honeymoons.

“I don’t know yet,” Lena said. “I know the weather can be unpredictable, but I’ve always wanted to get married outside. The nice thing about having so many of the wedding things under your own control is having the flexibility. We’ll have to have a girls’ day and talk about it.”

Kate laughed and leaned into Noah. “I’m all for that. I need a break.”

“Me too,” I agreed.

Cole looked at me like clockwork, gaze skimming over me before he raised an eyebrow, like he was asking me exactly what kind of break I needed and if he was going to be involved in it.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

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