CHAPTER 33 #2
“Knows what?” Charlotte piped up from the back seat.
Clayton hadn’t told the twins about the party, not trusting ten-year-olds to keep a secret. “We got Miss Ruth a cake,” he said smoothly, which wasn’t exactly a lie.
“Duh,” Emily scoffed. “It’s her birthday. ”
Clayton parked behind Ruth’s car and everyone climbed out. From the front the house looked quiet, dark, no sign of the party waiting inside. Everything had been set up in the backyard.
Nolan pushed the door open and Ruth stepped in. The moment she crossed the threshold the lights flicked on and a chorus of voices rang out, “Happy birthday!”
She gasped, stumbling back as her hands flew to her chest. “Oh my goodness!”
Laughter rippled through the crowd as friends and family swarmed her, eager to wrap her in warm hugs. Even a few familiar faces from the tour had shown up.
As the excitement settled Birdie and Doc edged forward, carrying something between them. The guests parted just enough for Ruth to see: a stunning leather saddle, her name engraved in elegant script across the flap.
Ruth gasped and reached out, running her fingers over the intricate tooling. “This is beautiful.” Her voice wavered. “I can’t believe it.”
Birdie squeezed her in a one-armed hug. “We know how much you love riding, sugar.”
Tears welled in Ruth’s eyes. “This is the best present ever.”
Doc chuckled, his mustache twitching. “Well now, don’t speak too soon. There’s a better one waiting for you.”
Ruth frowned, but before she could ask the crowd shifted and Sue and Levi stepped forward.
She froze. For a second she didn’t seem to breathe—just stood there staring, as if her mind couldn’t believe what her eyes were seeing. With a sharp inhale she launched forward, throwing her arms around them.
“Mom! Dad!” Her voice cracked. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
Levi laughed, hugging her back. “The good doctor invited us. ”
Ruth pulled away just enough to swipe at her tears, shaking her head. “This is the best birthday ever.”
A few feet away Jamie nudged Birdie and said, “Ruth nearly keeled over when she saw everyone.”
Birdie grinned, but then her gaze flicked to Clayton, who was standing off to the side. His eyes weren’t on Ruth, they were locked on Jamie and full of admiration or panic. Or something in between.
Birdie smirked. “Speaking of keeling over,” she murmured, eyes twinkling. “Your dress is fixin’ to give my son a heart attack.”
Jamie bit back a smile. “This old thing?” She spun playfully, the hem of her black dress catching the light just enough to tease a glimpse of her leg.
Clayton swallowed hard and looked away, then looked back just as quickly. His jaw flexed but Jamie caught the way his fingers twitched at his side, like he was fighting the urge to reach for her.
Satisfied, she turned to greet the band and crew. She hadn’t expected to see them here, but they flashed their usual cheeky grins.
“Thanks for coming, guys,” Jamie said.
“Had some time to kill,” Deaner said, tipping back his beer.
“Free booze,” Chico added, lifting his glass with a smirk.
Jamie laughed, but even as she chatted with them she felt it—Clayton’s gaze was still lingering.
Tonight was going to be interesting.
A moment later he stepped up beside her. “We pulled it off.”
She nodded. “We sure did.”
His eyes searched hers. “How’d your exams go?”
She exhaled. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I’m sure you did great, darlin’. ”
She turned to him, frowning. “Jesus, Clayton, why does everyone keep saying that? I bombed the reading section. I barely understood the passages. And the multiple-choice answers? They were all correct—you had to pick the most correct one. I guessed on half of them.”
Clayton studied her for a long beat then jerked his chin toward the bar. “Want a drink?”
She shrugged. “Not unless you’re having one. I’m not losing by default.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Not everything’s a competition.”
She shot him a look. “Since when?”
His lips twitched. “Fair point.”
“Anyway, don’t you have the girls tonight?” she asked.
“They’re staying with Momma and Daddy. They’ve got horse camp in the morning.”
Jamie blinked. “Horse camp?”
“Yeah, we run a camp for underprivileged kids.”
For a second, she just looked at him. Clayton Langley, soft-hearted cowboy? That was new.
“Are you a saint or something?” she asked, a little off balance.
He chuckled. “No, my parents do all the work. I show up and say howdy.”
“That’s mighty big of you.”
Something in his gaze shifted. The usual fire between them was still there but something quieter wove through it now. Something softer.
Jamie’s heart did a strange little skip. She cleared her throat. “I’m not drinking first.”
Clayton smirked. “We’ll see about that.”
And just like that, the moment passed. But it left something in its wake. Something neither of them wanted to name .
“Can I have your attention?” Nolan tapped a knife against his glass and the noise in the room softened to a dull roar. “Thanks for coming, everyone! And most importantly, happy birthday, Ruth!”
Ruth smiled, nestled between her parents, their arms wrapped around her.
He continued, “I want to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Abbott—Levi and Sue—to the ranch. And a huge thanks to Momma and Daddy for helping to pull this party together while we were on the road.”
A chorus of whistles and cheers erupted from the band and crew.
“But there’s one more surprise in store.”
Jamie glanced at Clayton. He gave a slight shrug, clearly just as clueless.
Nolan turned back to Ruth, a small jewelry box in his palm as he lowered himself to one knee. “Ruth Helen Abbott,” he said, voice steady but thick with emotion, “Will you be my wife?”
A collective gasp filled the room. Ruth pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, eyes wide with shock. Then, as if breaking free from a trance, she took a step forward, a tearful laugh escaping her lips.
“Yes!” she cried.
Applause and whistles rang out as Nolan slid the diamond ring onto her finger. Tears streaked Ruth’s face, but her smile outshone them.
Doc popped a bottle of champagne and wait staff appeared with trays of already-filled glasses. He lifted his own in a toast. “I’d like to welcome Ruth and her parents to the Langley family!”
A server stopped beside Jamie and Clayton, offering each a glass.
Jamie turned to him. “You having one?”
Clayton considered for a beat, then smirked. “Would be rude not to.”
He took two glasses, passing one to her. They clinked, lifting them toward the newly engaged couple before taking a sip .
Jamie closed her eyes as the cold liquid slid down her throat, its crisp bite a welcome relief. “God, I needed that,” she murmured.
Clayton let out a low chuckle, eyes glinting as he took another sip. “You and me both.”
A few hours later the party was in full swing. The music was blaring and everyone sang along to country songs Jamie had never heard. Birdie and Doc had already left with the girls, so she didn’t feel bad about drowning her sorrows. Alcohol was the only thing keeping her in a good mood.
Of course, she was happy for Ruth, but it also felt like she was losing her best friend. At that moment she decided to stay in Nashville for the summer while figuring out her next move.
Jamie spotted Shorty talking to Buddy, and from their expressions she knew it was about business. They were planning her next tour. But she didn’t want to go without Clayton’s band. Maybe not even without Clayton.
She approached them, a glass of champagne in hand. “Hi, guys.”
Shorty’s eyes flicked to her drink. “You’re drinking?” His tone carried a note of disapproval.
She glanced at the glass and nodded. “This is my second one,” she lied.
Buddy frowned. “Take it easy, Jamie. You haven’t had a drink in months.”
Without another word he walked off, leaving her alone with Shorty.
“I’ve decided to stay at the penthouse through the summer,” she said.
Shorty let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “I wish you’d told me sooner. ”
“Why?”
“I rented it out, starting the middle of the month.”
Panic tightened in her chest. “Can’t you back out of it?”
“The lease is signed.” He shook his head. “You said you were leaving after recording the Osmonds’ song.”
“I know, but I can’t take Poppy away from her puppies. And now Ruth’s getting married.”
Shorty studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Do you want me to find you another place? A hotel? Nashville’s tricky for short-term rentals in the summer.”
“No hotels,” she said firmly.
“I’ll see what I can do.” His gaze flicked to her empty glass. “And by the way, I don’t believe that’s your second drink, missy.”
The fireworks exploded with booms and colors that lit up the sky, streaking red and gold across the night.
Luckily, Pyro Pete—one of their crew guys—was at the party and had taken over the detonation, otherwise it would have been total chaos.
Jamie was probably the only person in attendance who hated fireworks: too loud, too unpredictable.
And worst of all, they terrified Poppy. She’d asked Clayton’s parents to take the dogs home so they wouldn’t have to suffer through it alone.
“Can I get you a drink?”
She turned at the sound of his voice behind her. Clayton stood close—too close—his breath warm against her shoulder.
“Dad’s already mad.” She tilted her empty glass. “I’d better not.”
His chuckle was low, knowing. “Shorty gave me shit too, if that makes you feel any better.”
“It does.” A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “Thank you.”
“You enjoying the fireworks?” he asked, glancing up at the sky .
“Not really,” she said. “They scare the dogs, and they’re bad for the environment.”
“Yeah, well, they’re also a waste of money,” he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Oh, I asked your parents to swing by your place and pick up the dogs on their way home.”
“Good thinking,” he said, then nodded toward the road. “Hey, I’ve got a bottle of Clase Azul at my house.”
She raised her brow. “Why do you have a bottle of expensive tequila?”