Chapter Seventeen
BIRDIE BURST THROUGH the doors of the main house, heading straight for the dining room, excited to finally see Crew and her family.
She quickly scanned the room, noting her whole family was there, with the exception of Dare and Billie, which irked her.
Her heart skidded at the sight of her Viking sitting beside Hyde, along with several other ranch hands, at the table near the buffet.
Crew’s eyes locked on her, his fork frozen halfway to his mouth, stirring a swarm of butterflies in Birdie’s stomach. Yearning bloomed low in her belly.
My God, I’ve missed you.
He didn’t look away.
Didn’t blink.
“Aunt Birdie’s here!” Gus hollered, shattering their spell.
They tore their gazes apart.
Gus ran toward her at full speed, Sadie, one of Doc’s dogs, trotting behind him. He launched himself at Birdie, and she scooped him up into a tight hug. Sadie danced in frantic circles around them. Birdie set Gus down, petting Sadie. “How’s it going, little dude?”
“Good! Where have you been?” Gus asked, eyes dancing with delight. “I missed you!”
“Sorry, buddy. I’ve been busy adulting, and I don’t recommend it. Stay little as long as you can.”
“I’m not little. I can eat almost as many cinnamon rolls as you. I saved you one yesterday, but when you didn’t show up, I ate it.”
She gasped. “You ate my cinnamon roll?”
“Yes!” he said proudly. “Dad said I’d bounce off the walls if I ate too many, but I didn’t.”
“Shh,” she whispered. “Your daddy doesn’t know that you and I secretly run on sweets.”
Gus laughed, and Sadie poked her nose at him.
“I think Sadie heard us talking about a cinnamon roll,” Birdie said, petting her.
“I snuck her a piece,” Gus exclaimed. “Are you coming to Trunk or Treat?”
“All that free candy?” And a chance to see Crew? “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“I’m gonna be a ninja! Will you sit next to me at the table?”
“Will you share the good stuff with me?” Birdie teased.
He nodded wildly.
“Then yes!”
“Yes! See you at the table!” He sprinted across the room, hollering, “Sugar! Dad! Move over! Aunt Birdie’s gonna sit next to me!” Sugar was what Gus called Sasha.
Birdie’s gaze drifted back to Crew. As if he felt her looking at him, he looked up, and his jaw tightened. She gave a little smile, but needing to hide her feelings hurt, so she turned away before it could show. If she couldn’t go to him, she’d seek comfort where she could.
She headed for her father, who was sitting at the middle table with her mother and a few of the ranch clients and more ranch hands. She called out a round of hellos as she approached the table.
“Hey, darlin’,” her father said, motioning for her to lean down and hug him. His arms circled her, and he kissed the side of her head. “We’ve missed you the last couple of weeks.”
“I’ve missed you, too, Dad.”
She hugged him a little longer than usual, thinking of all the times he’d held her without prying about why she melted into him like a little girl seeking shelter.
Her mother’s hand landed on her back, rubbing it gently. “Are you okay, honey?”
Birdie closed her eyes, soaking in her comfort, too. While her father was the strong, silent type, willing to wait out any plea for help, her mother always asked. There was a reason she was so good at her job. She could look at Birdie from across the room and know something was off.
They both could, even though they showed it differently.
For half a second, Birdie thought about telling them the truth about her and Crew, how wanting him felt right and wrong in ways she didn’t know what to do with and admitting that it hurt to have to hide her feelings.
But just because they believed he deserved a second chance didn’t mean they’d approve of her being with him.
“Yeah,” she finally said. “I’m good.” She hugged her mother.
“Carly and Zev stopped by last weekend,” her mother said. “They told us their news about the baby and their new treasure-hunting expedition.”
Birdie’s smile didn’t falter. “It’s exciting, isn’t it? They’re going to be amazing parents.”
“It is exciting,” her mother said. “But, honey, are you worried about Carly leaving the partnership?”
“No. I’ve got this,” Birdie said too easily, and went for an escape. “And speaking of babies, I’m going to grab some food, and then I’m stealing Hazel for some cuddles. Love you guys.”
She headed for the buffet, acutely aware of Crew’s close proximity as she neared his table. She told herself not to look at him, which made her feel like everyone could see how hard she was trying not to look at him.
Apparently it didn’t matter what she was trying to do, because her legs didn’t get the message, and she stopped beside him, her heart hammering against her ribs. “Hey, new guy,” she said playfully. “Are these animals treating you right?”
Crew’s jaw clenched, but his eyes sparked with heat and restraint, his fingers tightening around his fork like he needed something to keep himself from reaching for her.
Hyde barked a laugh. “He’s still standin’, ain’t he?”
“You say that like you could knock him down,” Birdie shot back, eyes raking over Crew shamelessly. “He looks pretty darn solid to me. Let me see those muscles.”
Crew’s head tipped slightly, eyes narrowing in warning.
She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she couldn’t resist. “Don’t be shy. Let’s see the big guns.”
“Might as well show her, mate,” Taz said from across the table. “She’s relentless when she wants something.”
“He’s right, I am. I’ll just check for myself.” She slid her hand over Crew’s biceps.
His muscles tensed beneath her touch, and boy did it feel good to finally touch him again. The flames in his eyes intensified, rooted her in place, her fingers curling around his hard muscles.
Someone coughed, snapping her from her reverie.
Panic flared in her chest, and she yanked her hand away, hoping nobody noticed.
“He’s solid, all right,” she said quickly.
“Better not dick around with this one, Hyde. He’ll knock you flat.
” It took everything she had to saunter away like her pulse hadn’t gone feral.
“Hey, Birdie!” Sasha hurried over, catching up to her right behind Crew.
“I heard Carly’s leaving the shop,” Sasha said. “Are you okay?”
Why was everyone asking her that? “Yeah. Why?”
“Because she said you’re taking over the finances, and that’s not really your thing. Why don’t you ask Quinn to do the books?”
Birdie was already irritated about letting her control slip with Crew. She didn’t need this on top of it. “Believe it or not, I’m fully capable of running the business I’ve poured my heart and soul into for the past decade.”
Sasha’s eyes widened. “Birdie—”
Birdie was halfway to the buffet, chiding herself for snapping.
It wasn’t Sasha’s fault she’d wanted to climb into Crew’s lap and ride him into tomorrow.
She stole a glance over her shoulder. Sasha was heading back to Ezra and Gus, and nobody was looking at Crew any differently.
Thank God. If she made things harder for him, she’d never forgive herself.
She talked herself off the ledge as she filled her plate and then sidled up to Lucas at the drink station.
“Hey, Birdie.”
“How’s my favorite almost-grown-up human?”
He flashed the crooked smile that looked so much like a younger Doc, it was uncanny. “Fine. How are you?”
“Fantastic,” she lied. “How’s Layla? Everything good?” Layla Braden was his girlfriend.
“Yeah. We’re going shopping for costumes for Trunk or Treat this weekend.”
“How fun. What are you dressing up as?”
He shrugged. “Whatever she wants.”
“Look at you being a smart boyfriend.” Birdie filled a glass with iced tea, then leaned in and whispered, “You still got those condoms I gave you?”
Lucas turned red. “Yes. And I haven’t touched them.”
“Attaboy. Don’t rush it. Sex leads to even more emotions, and trust me, that’s messy and complicated.
Plus, I’m pretty sure Layla’s dad would castrate you if he found out.
If you think my brothers are overprotective, you should hear the stories Layla’s aunt Savannah told me about Layla’s dad and all those Braden uncles she has. ”
Lucas looked horrified. “Yeah…um…like I said, we’re not doing that.”
“Good.” She flashed a grin, patting herself on the back for scaring him just enough to hopefully help him make smart decisions.
Lucas headed over to the table, but Birdie saw Simone standing a few feet away, thumbing out a text. She came up behind Simone and said, “Tell Marshall I said hi.”
Sparks had flown between Marshall Dutch and Simone at Dare and Billie’s wedding, and they had been texting ever since.
Years ago, Marshall had come to the ranch a broken man after losing his wife and daughter.
Now he was a Dark Knight in Upstate New York and the founder of Annie’s Hope, an emotional wellness center.
“We’re talking about Annie’s Hope,” Simone said.
“Sure you’re not talking about Marshall’s hope?” She waggled her brows.
“Yes,” Simone said. “I told you we’re just friends.”
“I don’t know, Simone. None of my guy friends look at me like that big, broody, tatted man looks at you. Is he still trying to get you to work there?”
“Yeah, but he knows I’m not done with my master’s yet. He’s just leaving that door open.”
“If you ask me, which you didn’t, but you should, you don’t have to be done with your master’s to take a little trip to New York and strut through that door to see what else he’s offering.”
“As if I’d ever do that,” Simone said.
Birdie shrugged. “I’m just sayin’, life’s short. Eat the forbidden fruit.”
“I think I’ll stick to the less complicated foods. Good to see you,” Simone said, and headed over to the buffet.
Birdie made her way over to the table with the rest of her family and put a hand on Sasha’s shoulder. “Sorry I snapped, Sash.”
Sasha smiled up at her. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t do the financial work. I just thought Quinn might be an easier route.”