Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Emery
“Cheers.” Leleila and I click glasses where we sit on bar stools at Lucky Cowboy.
“To a night out,” Mia says. “And for those of us who are mothers, a night to unwind and relax.”
Savannah laughs, her green eyes sparkling. “I love my daughter so much, but I do love a night out with my girls.”
“Same.” Leleila flips over her phone and shows us an adorable photo of Ashley and Abigail waving and laughing. “Brayden just sent this to me. They’re refusing to get into their pjs right now. I have to admit—I’m glad he’s handling bedtime tonight.”
Next to me, Jasalie laughs. “I remember that when my kids were younger. Now they’re all teenagers and pretty self-sufficient.”
Jasalie is intimidating in every way—gorgeous, tall, confident, and she holds a wisdom in her gray eyes that tells me she’s been through a lot and come out on the other side. She and Dylan make quite the couple visually, but she also strikes me as a strong woman and a good person .
She smiles at me warmly. “I’m glad you could join us, Emery.”
“Me too,” I say. “Thank you for including me.”
I haven’t had a true girls’ night out in a while. I used to do Friday Night Wine with several women from work, but we didn’t talk about much outside of office gossip. The group I’m out with tonight is eclectic, and I’m enjoying getting to know all of the ladies.
Alyssa has to work, but Mia’s bestie, Jamie Beth, is here, and Leleila brought her best friend, Sophia.
Sophia jumps up and down, her curly blond hair bouncing. “I’m planning to get drunk off my ass tonight. Who’s in?”
Jamie Beth smiles. “Shots?”
Sophia holds up her glass of whiskey. “As soon as I finish this, I’m in.” She turns to me. “Emery? You want another drink?”
I glance at my empty glass of wine. “Sure.”
“So you grew up in the area?” Sophia asks me.
“I did. Recently, I’ve been staying on Wild Ranch. I gave myself a vacation after getting dumped and then losing out on a job promotion.”
“Ouch.” Jasalie frowns. “That sounds rough.”
“It was. And then I quit my job on top of it. But you know, silver linings and all.” I smile. “I was offered the promotion after all. And I met a hot guy who happens to be a Wild and is also staying on the ranch temporarily.”
Leleila smiles. “Michael seems smitten.”
Sophia gasps. “Michael Wild? I’ve met him a couple of times. He’s so grumpy!”
“He does tend to be that,” Savannah agrees. “But not with Emery.”
“He’s still grumpy sometimes,” I say. “But he’s also super sweet. ”
Sophia downs her glass of whiskey and calls to the server for a round of shots.
“Is everything okay?” Leleila touches Sophia’s arm. “You seem out of sorts, Soph.”
“I’m great,” she says with a shrug. “Actually, I’m engaged!”
“What?” Leleila’s eyes widen. “When did this happen?”
“This morning.” Sophia holds up her left hand to reveal a large diamond ring.
“How did I not see this?” Leleila grabs Sophia’s hand and examines the ring. “Buster gave you this?”
“He did. We’re going to get married this year if we can pull it off.”
Sophia’s smile is wide, but her eyes are flat. I look closer, hoping she’s not settling. I know how that feels.
As we all congratulate her, I flash back to Henry. I thought we’d get married, and when he ended things, I felt so lost.
But right now, the only man on my mind is a certain fisherman. And all I feel about not marrying Henry is relief. Such relief that I feel myself smiling at the way my life has changed.
Jamie Beth raises her glass in the air. “Congrats, Sophia. I can’t imagine getting married.”
Mia smiles at her. “I think you’ll meet someone who will have you imagining it.”
“I doubt it. I can’t pick a good guy to save my life.” Jamie Beth looks at Mia. “This one did good. She gives me hope.”
Sophia triple points from Jasalie to Leleila and Savannah. “Same with these three. You all make the impossible seem possible. I hope my marriage will be as strong as all of y’alls are.”
The server drops off a tequila shot for each of us.
I’m not a tequila girl, but when I’m having fun like I am tonight, I’m up for anything .
Three shots later and I’m plenty buzzed.
“So let’s talk about marital sex, shall we?” Sophia puts her arm around Jamie Beth and me, and we gather in close to the other three sitting on their bar stools. “What’s your secret?”
Mia throws her head back and laughs. “Sophia, this is why I love hanging out with you. You keep everything fun.”
“Don’t change the subject with a compliment.” Sophia’s blue eyes sparkle with humor. “Tell Jamie, Emery, and me about what y’all are getting as happily married women.”
Jasalie smiles teasingly. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“I know what they’re getting,” Jamie Beth says. “Great times in bed but also out of the bedroom. They’re with unicorn men. The Wild men are unicorns.”
Savannah laughs so hard she leans her head on Leleila’s shoulder.
“I felt that way too,” Savannah admits when she stops laughing. “I didn’t trust any men before Cam.”
I shouldn’t jump in, considering Michael and I aren’t even close to married like the three Wild women flanking me, but I can’t stay quiet. The alcohol gives me that extra push, of course, but I want to talk to these women about Michael and me. Maybe they can offer some advice.
“Michael and I have a no-strings agreement,” I announce.
Jasalie raises her glass of wine. “Those types of agreements can change.”
Leleila smiles at Jasalie. “You want to share more?”
I look at Jasalie in confusion, and she tugs at her blond ponytail.
“It feels like a long time ago,” she begins with a teasing smile.
“Tell us the story!” Sophia jumps up and down.
“Dylan and I started that way too.” Jasalie looks directly at me as she speaks. “Obviously, things turned out differently than the way we began. In a good way. ”
I feel her words like a gale-force wind in my ears.
Things turned out differently than the way we began. In a good way.
Could they change for Michael and me too?
“If it’s meant to be, all will work out in due time,” Jasalie assures me. “Trust me.”
I swallow. I hope she’s right, but with the dream job of a lifetime sitting in my lap and Michael’s job thousands of miles away, a long-term relationship sounds awfully challenging.
“We’re going to Maine together for a couple of days,” I say. “If we can find a flight, we’re leaving this week.”
“I’ll have to ask my husband, but you may be able to take Dylan’s private plane there,” Jasalie says. “I remember him saying he needs to send his plane to the East Coast to pick up someone for his charity.”
“Are you serious?” I ask her. “I couldn’t possibly impose.”
“You won’t be.” She has her phone out now and is typing into it. “I’m asking him now.”
A minute later, she holds up her screen so I can see.
Absolutely. Tell Michael to call me.
“That’s so incredible.” I hug Jasalie. “Thank you so much.”
“I think you’ll have a good trip,” she tells me. “I’m pretty good at reading these things.”
“Me too,” says Jamie Beth. “You picked a good man, Emery.”
“Maybe you should date a Wild man too, JB,” Mia says with a sly glance at Jamie Beth. “I know a few Wild cowboys who are single.”
I turn to Jamie Beth. “Do you like one of the Wilds in particular?”
“No,” she says too quickly.
Mia smiles but doesn’t say anything.
“You know which Wild isn’t a darn unicorn?” Sophia says. “The one walking through the door right now. ”
I turn my head to see Luke sauntering into the bar. He doesn’t notice us yet, but Sophia is burning a hole in the side of his head with her glare.
“You don’t like Luke?” I ask her.
“I wouldn’t say that.”
Leleila laughs. “Let’s just say Sophia and Luke got off on the wrong foot.”
Sophia waves a hand in the air. “Whatever. He spoke rudely of my mother once. I haven’t given him the time of day since.”
“Luke is a good guy,” Leleila says to her. “If you took the time to get to know him…”
Luke’s seen us now. I wave, and he tips his cowboy hat. Then Cooper and Chase crowd into the bar.
Followed by Michael.
As I watch him stroll into the room, everyone else fades away.
My lips curve into a smile as I admire his physique. He’s handsome and in great shape, of course, but what I’m most drawn to is his confidence.
Michael never tries to be anyone other than who he is.
His muscular body is tall and lean. He’s rough around the edges, wearing a faded gray t-shirt and worn blue jeans. His dark hair is cut short but still manages to look stylishly messy.
He glances around the bar, and his gaze lands on me.
I raise my hand in a brief wave.
His serious expression drops, and he breaks into a smile.
“Our girls’ night is about to be crashed,” Savannah murmurs.
“I’m okay with that,” Mia says. “My curious self is intrigued.”
“Intrigued by what?” I ask.
“By you and Michael. And…” She trails off, but then wh ispers to me, “Three single cowboys and an independent Montana girl. Somebody’s got to match up, right?”
I glance at Jamie Beth as all four guys, led by Michael, approach the bar. Her face flushes pink, but she doesn’t reveal who she’s reacting to.
“Hey.” Michael stops at my stool.
“Hey.” I smile up at him.
My chest lurches when he takes me by surprise and kisses me.
A lingering kiss on the lips.
A tender—but super hot—kiss.
My eyes flutter closed and I kiss him back.
I hear vague cheers around us, and Michael eventually pulls back.
We lock eyes as he braces his hands on my stool.
“I had no idea you’d be here,” he says.
“Girls’ night out took us to Lucky Cowboy,” I joke.
He cocks his head. “I didn’t know you were looking for a cowboy to get lucky with.”
“I don’t have to look. I’ve got a part-time cowboy I like very much.”
“Oh, yeah?” He leans closer to whisper in my ear. “I’m not even a part-time cowboy, but I’ll play the part if you want me to.”
I laugh, and my stomach dips with desire.
“You don’t need to play a part. I like you exactly as you are,” I tell him.
“Likewise.”
“Ha!” I hear loudly from my right.
I turn toward the sound.
Jamie Beth is waving a bill in Cooper’s face.
“I bet you five dollars,” she says.
With a grin, he takes the bill out of her outstretched hand. “Bet accepted. ”
Cooper grins at Jamie like she’s hung the moon, and Jamie’s cheeks turn scarlet. She’s trying not to smile, but one pops out anyway.
“What’s the bet over?” Luke calls out from where he’s leaning against the bartop.
“JB doesn’t think I’ll beat Chase tomorrow,” Cooper says.
Chase chuckles. “Always glad to be in on a bet I didn’t make.”
“You both will place,” Luke says confidently. “No one else who’s competing is any good at broncs.”
“Not true,” Chase counters him. “Mack and Jones are both decent riders.”
“Mack hasn’t placed since he had the scare six months ago,” Luke says. “And Jones has never done well at this county fair. So he’ll be spooked.”
“You sure know the field,” Sophia says.
Luke locks eyes with her.
Sophia’s cheeks turn pink. “I’m just saying, Cowboy…” She puts her hand on her jean-clad hip and winks at him. “You have strong opinions on rodeo.”
“You like strong opinions?” Luke asks her, his gaze locked on her like the rest of us don’t exist.
She takes a step closer almost like she’s being magnetically drawn toward him.
“That depends,” she says. “On what the opinion is.”
Luke clenches his jaw and goes silent.
Sophia’s casual smile almost turns into a glare.
And…
For a moment, they just stare at each other.
Almost like they’re…
I elbow Leleila next to me. “They look into each other…”
“They’re both too stubborn to right their wrongs,” she whispers back. “I’ve tried, believe me.”
“I think they’re hot together,” Jasalie murmurs to me .
Luke drags his gaze away from Sophia’s and clears his throat. “You two will be fine,” he says to Cooper and Chase. “Mark my words.”