Wrapped #2
They were two of my favorite people here, having been together since the fall when he’d finally admitted who he really was, a billionaire heir posing as a ranch hand. He’d collected his inheritance since then—lucky S.O.B.—and now the two of them were building a life here together.
“Who can blame her? Look at this kid? Handsome fellow. Sage and I need to get married first though before babies enter the equation.”
“Which will be when?”
“I’m working on a plan.” His eyes twinkled. “My lawyer is drafting a prenup, too.”
“That sounds romantic.”
“It will be, trust me,” he chuckled, but a motorcycle’s roar broke into our conversation and disturbed the peaceful evening.
The big old chopper’s engine grew louder, coming up the hill. Someone had put a small fortune into rebuilding it judging by the chrome, even as dusty as it was. I shifted Stetson in my arms and covered his ears. He wailed at the scary noise until it growled to a stop at the top.
“Who the hell is this?” Carter scowled, spine straight. I’d forgotten he’d had a run-in before with some of our local biker gang.
When the dude dismounted and took off the helmet, he shouted over. “Jake McCall? That you?”
I instantly recognized him. “Hey, stand down, guys. That’s my old buddy, Cash, from the Navy,” I explained.
Cash came right over and we shook hands.
“What are you doing here?” I grinned. To Carter, I explained, “I’ve been through hell and back a few times with this guy on various missions. Most of which we’re not authorized to talk about.”
“That’s right. We were never there. We didn’t see or do anything.
” Cash laughed loud and boisterous as always.
“You said to look you up in Montana if I was ever passing through. Here I am. I asked around town where I’d find you.
What a pretty ranch.” He eyed a woman approaching, wiggling his brows. “Beauty all around.”
Only the woman was Autumn, running over to us in her cut-off denim shorts, cowboy boots, and a tee tied at her waist. I took an eyeful of her—but so did Cash. My jaw ticked.
“Well, hello darlin’. I’m new in town. Care to show me where people here have some fun?” He cranked up the charm, smoldering at her. He always had more game than most men did.
“I’ll take the baby off your hands.” Autumn’s cheeks turned pink, ignoring him, and pulling the baby from me into her chest.
“Are you married with a kid, Jake?” Cash asked, eyes wide.
“No. We’re just friends,” Autumn supplied a little too fast for my taste, then she hurried away back to the women.
“Good. I’ll keep that in mind,” Cash commented, eyeing her backside a little too long, before turning toward my disapproving face. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
I couldn’t move or speak, practically seeing red by the way Cash came on to her.
Carter jumped in, my wingman like usual. “It’s complicated, but I think Jake has his eyes on her, so I’d back off if I were you. I’m Carter by the way.” The two shook with firm grips, sizing each other up.
“Hands off the single mother. Message received.” Cash stepped back, nodding my way. “Let me guess. You’re still shy around women?”
“Not all women,” I found my voice coming to my defense. “How long are you here for?”
He’d been called the playboy of our unit for a reason, but the guys had one rule. We always put friendship before women. So I shrugged it off. He didn’t know my feelings for Autumn. Hell, I needed to sort those out myself.
“Don’t have any plans. If you know where I could pick up some short term work and a place to stay, I’d appreciate it.”
“Ever worked on a ranch?”
“No, but I spent some months with a logging outfit over in Washington. Can swing an axe pretty good.”
“I can take you over to meet the ranch foreman, Ash Rhodes, if you like. He can talk to you,” Carter offered, thumbing to the other side of the fire ring.
“Thanks. And Jake, let’s catch up soon.” He pointed at me as they headed off.
Seeing him brought up memories of missions won and lost, of things I’d seen that couldn’t be unseen.
All of it a dark cloud that was hazardous to stay under too long.
So my eyes searched the hill until they landed on the brightest spot, Autumn and the baby.
Stetson fussed in her arms, yawned, then put his head down. He’d be asleep soon.
These days, working on the ranch, being outdoors, and yes, the faces of the two of them, brought some peace to my world.
She tucked him in tighter under her chin, resting her cheek on his soft head. When her eyes met mine, lingering there without a word, I knew the look. She was ready to head home, and I’d take her. Because it wasn’t just what a friend would do. It was what I did.
I strolled up, catching some of the conversation floating around her.
“Ivy, I just don’t see why we need a seating chart at my wedding. It’s in the orchard, two weeks from now. A simple country wedding, that’s it,” Daisy protested, shaking her head.
“But you agreed. This is a prime matchmaking opportunity for certain singles we know. So it’s assigned seating,” Ivy retorted.
“Right, Autumn? I mean who would you rather sit with, the pastor’s table with his wife and their church friends, or Jake’s table?
Although, that Cash is kind of a cutie. Maybe I should invite him—”
“Jake’s table will be fine,” Autumn insisted.
“Yep. She’ll sit with me.” My response came out gruff, all pairs of eyes turning my way.
“What about me? Who am I sitting with?” Poppy inquired.
Ivy consulted her notes. “Knox’s brother just informed us he won’t be bringing a plus one. How about I seat you with him?”
Poppy gasped, clapping her hands in front of her. “Did I ever tell you you’re my favorite sister?”
“Please don’t get your hopes up about Maddox. You’re a little young yet for him, and he’s a playboy and a hockey player,” Daisy shot back.
“It’s dinner at your reception, not like we’re going to be married tomorrow,” Poppy snorted and rolled her eyes.
Amidst their arguing, I leaned down close to Autumn’s ear. “Ready to leave?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Ladies, I have to go. Need to get Stetson down for the night. See you at the wedding.” She rose expertly without waking the baby and followed me to the truck. On the way, I gathered the diaper bag, and waved at Cash, who had a beer in hand, still talking to Ash.
“I’m happy for Daisy and Knox, but wedding discussions were getting intense tonight.” Autumn yawned. “Thanks for the save, Jake.”
“You’re very welcome.”
“And for driving, bringing us here, changing a diaper. Hope the guys don’t give you a hard time about that,” she chuckled.
“Let them. I don’t care. I’d change a hundred diapers in front of them.”
“You’re too good to me, Jake.” She gazed up at me at the passenger door as I opened it for her, hair in a messy bun and baby dribble on her tee—didn’t matter; I could get lost in her blue eyes if I let myself go there. “You really impressed the girls—and me.”
“I promised to watch over you. Even if it means diaper duty.” I understood the mission, the promise to Trig, but there was something more building under the surface.
“Right. Duty.” She nodded with a strange look on her face. I could question it, but Stetson stirred, crying awake.
I pulled him into my arms, gently rubbed his back, and shushed him, slowly getting him calmed down and into his seat. She climbed in the front and buckled up.
“You have a way with him,” she observed with another yawn when we got on the road. “I’d even say he’s got the big SEAL wrapped around his tiny finger.”
I peered back at Stetson through the rearview mirror. My life had certainly taken a turn the minute they showed up in it, but I was right where I wanted to be.
“I’d say you both have me wrapped around your fingers,” I finally admitted, only no response came back from her. A quick glance confirmed… she’d fallen asleep.