Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Junie still couldn’t quite believe any of this was real.
Just this afternoon, she’d been deep in Little space at Rainbow’s Edge, surrounded by her stuffies and crayons.
And now here they were, at The Post to eat with the entire Daniels family.
Not that she hadn’t eaten with them a thousand times.
But now he was acting as her Daddy. And somehow, that made it very different.
The lively noise of conversations bounced off the warm log-and-brick walls.
The Post only opened one night a week because it was run by the American Legion to raise money for their charities.
The people of Wilder were always up to support a good cause.
Not to mention, the steaks were awesome, so finding a table could be hard.
Even though the steak house stayed loud, it wrapped around Junie like a big, chaotic hug that somehow felt safe.
Long wooden tables were packed with locals, laughter ringing up to the rafters.
Tanner kept his big hand on Junie’s lower back as they walked in, guiding her through the crowd toward the big table where the rest of the Daniels clan already gathered.
The steady pressure of his palm sent little sparks up her spine and made her feel claimed in the best possible way.
Tanner pulled out a chair for her at the big family table and sat down right beside her.
He immediately draped his strong arm along the back of her seat like he couldn’t stand not touching her.
His thumb brushed slow circles on her shoulder, and she melted a little inside at the casual possessiveness of it.
Her mind kept drifting back to earlier that afternoon.
The way he’d carried her to the bedroom like she weighed nothing.
The firm, delicious sting of his hand on her bare bottom when she fussed about taking a nap.
And then… the way his mouth had devoured her until she shattered so hard she saw stars.
She could still feel the echo of it between her thighs, a sweet, secret ache that made her cheeks burn every time she shifted in her seat. Heat pooled low in her belly just thinking about it, and she pressed her thighs together under the table, hoping no one could tell.
She snuck a glance up at him. He looked so big and confident sitting there in his worn jeans and button-up shirt, dark hair still slightly messy from her fingers earlier. Her Daddy. The word whispered through her mind and sent another warm flush across her face.
Here in the middle of this loud, loving family, with his hand on her and the memory of his mouth still tingling between her legs, she felt small and safe. Part of her couldn’t believe this was real. But the steady weight of his arm and the way his eyes kept finding hers told her it was.
“Look who finally showed up!” Boone called out.
“Just in time, too,” Chance said with a grin.
Junie blushed but smiled shyly as the table erupted in warm greetings. Voices overlapped, chairs scraped, and someone even let out a whistle. Within minutes, they had pulled her right into the lively banter. When Ruby teased her about stealing Tanner’s heart, all she could do was laugh.
She loved it. Okay, it was a little weird sitting with them as something other than Tanner and Kenzie’s friend.
But it didn’t appear to seem strange to anyone else.
Not a single person at the table acted like it was odd.
They just made room for her like they always had, but this time it was different.
They were so loud and affectionate with each other.
Then again, the Daniels family never did anything halfway.
They teased hard, loved harder, and made you feel like part of the pack the second you sat down.
For so long, she had felt like she was watching from the outside, wishing she could be a real part.
Now here she was, planted right in the middle of them, with Tanner’s arm resting on her shoulder.
He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze like he knew exactly what she had been thinking. She glanced up at him and caught that soft, protective look in his eyes that always made her stomach flutter.
Hank Whitaker stomped over to their end of the long table, faded Legion cap pulled low, order pad in his weathered hand.
“Alright, lovebirds, what are we havin’ tonight?
” He eyed Junie first, bushy eyebrows raised.
“Don’t tell me you’re one of them well-done people, darlin’, ‘cause I don’t deliver that message to Walt.
He’s testy about his steaks, so if you want ‘em well done, you’re gonna have to tell him yourself. ”
“Stand down, Marine,” Tanner said with a lazy grin. “She knows how to order a proper steak. Rare ribeye for both of us, loaded baked potatoes, and we’ll each take two desserts, one for now, one for later. Whatever Sophie’s got fresh back there.”
Hank gave an approving grunt, actually scribbling it down without argument. “Now that’s what I like to hear. Finally, somebody at this table with sense.” He shot Tanner a look. “Took you long enough to bring her around proper, son.”
Junie bit her lip to hide her smile as Hank shuffled off, hollering the order toward the kitchen window where Walt was already cackling about something.
Boone reached across the table with his big hand and snagged the last golden-brown roll from the basket. Tildi’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“Boone Daniels, I swear, if you eat that roll I will—”
“You’ll what, Bluebelle?” Boone grinned, already tearing the roll in half. “Put me in timeout? You tried that last week, darlin’. Didn’t work out for you very well, did it?”
Tildi blushed, but leaned forward, pointing her fork at him like a weapon. “I had that roll picked out the second Sophie brought the basket over. I’ve been eyeing it the whole dinner. You’ve already had three!”
“Two,” Boone corrected, popping a piece into his mouth with zero shame. “And I’m a growing boy. I need my carbs.”
“You’re thirty-eight years old,” Tildi shot back, lips twitching with laughter she was trying to hide. “If you eat three rolls, the only thing growing will be your belly.”
From across the table, Chance snorted into his sweet tea. Joy hid her smile behind her napkin.
Tildi turned to Junie with a dramatic sigh. “Do you see this? My Daddy is a six-foot-two roll-stealer.”
Tanner chuckled beside her and gave her thigh a warm squeeze under the table that sent another flutter to her tummy.
Boone held the remaining half of the roll just out of Tildi’s reach, eyes sparkling. “Tell you what, babygirl. I’ll trade you this half roll for a kiss. Right here. In front of everybody.”
Tildi’s cheeks flushed pink, but she lifted her chin stubbornly. “You think you can bribe me with a kiss after you stole my roll?”
“Worked last time,” Boone said smugly.
Tildi narrowed her eyes, then suddenly lunged forward, snatched the piece of roll from his hand, and popped it into her mouth before he could react.
Boone stared at his empty fingers, then threw his head back and laughed. that big, booming laugh that always filled the whole hall. He hooked an arm around Tildi’s waist and dragged her closer, pressing a loud, smacking kiss to her temple.
“You just earned a spanking, little thief,” he accused fondly.
“But I’m your little thief,” Tildi replied sweetly, chewing with exaggerated satisfaction. “And don’t you forget it.”
Ruby cackled from the head of the table. “That’s my girl. You keep that Daddy of yours on his toes.”
The whole table erupted in laughter. Tanner glanced down at Junie, his eyes soft.
He leaned in and brushed a kiss against her temple, murmuring into her ear, “See that, Cupcake? That’s what we’re gonna be one day. Loud, ridiculous, and completely in love.”
A girl could hope. “Promise?”
“I already promised,” he said, voice low and sure. “You’re stuck with me, little baker.”
She melted at the words, even as a familiar flicker of fear twisted in her chest. She wanted so badly to believe him.
She’d known the Daniels family her whole life.
Had practically grown up on their ranch after her father passed, but this felt different.
Like she’d finally stepped across an invisible line and into the heart of it all.
But the memory of the rodeo she’d gone to all those years ago still lingered like a bruise that refused to fade. The pain from that night had nearly killed her. If Tanner changed his mind now, if he decided she wasn’t enough after all and found someone else… she wouldn’t survive it. Not this time.
She smiled up at him anyway, heart pounding with equal parts hope and terror, and held on tighter to the man who had the power to break her completely.
Trace had Kip tucked securely in his lap, one big arm wrapped around her waist like he had no intention of letting her go anytime soon.
She looked perfectly at home there, her back resting against his broad chest as she chatted softly with Joy.
With quiet focus, Trace cut another generous bite of his perfectly grilled ribeye, speared it with his fork, and lifted it toward her lips.
“Come on, Foxy,” he coaxed, his deep voice more of a rumble. “Just one more bite. You’ve hardly eaten anything tonight.”
Kip turned her face away slightly, pressing her lips together. “I’m really not hungry, Daddy. My tummy’s been a little funny all day.”
“Just a tiny bite for me?” Trace murmured, tapping the fork lightly against her bottom lip. “You’ll feel better if you get something in your belly. Open up, sweetheart.”
With a reluctant sigh, Kip opened her mouth and accepted the bite. She chewed slowly, then gave a tiny, satisfied hum. Trace’s mouth curved into a rare, tender smile. He pressed a slow kiss to the side of her neck, murmuring something low and private that made her cheeks flush pink.
But only seconds later, Kip’s eyes suddenly widened in alarm. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as all the color drained from her face.
She scrambled off Trace’s lap so fast he barely had time to react.
“Kip?” he called, already rising from his seat.
She didn’t answer, just bolted toward the Little Ladies’ room at the back of The Post. Trace muttered a sharp curse under his breath and dashed after her, long strides eating up the distance.
Junie’s stomach twisted with worry. She leaned closer to Tanner and clutched his hand. “Is she okay?” she whispered.
Joy turned toward them, her expression one of someone who knew a secret.
“She’s been feeling sick for several days now.
She keeps brushing it off and saying it’s nothing, but she hasn’t had much of an appetite.
” Joy rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
“And master veterinarian Trace has no clue what could possibly be wrong.”
Kenzie gave her a knowing look and nodded. “Ruby’s been giving her ginger tea every morning to settle her stomach, but it hasn’t been working very well.”
Chance looked up from feeding Joy a bite of steak, his voice calm but serious. “If she’s still feeling sick tomorrow morning, you let me know. I’ll phone Doc Bradford and have him come out to the ranch to check on her.”
Joy smiled at her husband. “I will. Thank you, Daddy.” Then she shot a covert wink across the table at Kenzie.
Chance gave her waist a gentle squeeze, then glanced across the table at Tanner.
“Speaking of stubborn creatures… I need you to side with me on the name for that new foal. Joy wants to call him ‘Marshmallow’ because he’s all fluffy and white.
I keep telling her that’s not a proper name for a future cutting horse. ”
Joy sat up straighter. “He’s sweet and soft! Marshmallow is perfect.”
Junie tilted her head, thinking for a moment. “What about Frost? It’s still white and strong, but it has a little softness to it too.”
Tanner grinned and squeezed her hand under the table. “Frost,” he repeated, nodding. “That’s the perfect name. Strong, clean, and a little sweet. I’m with Junie on this one.”
“I like it too. It’s a great name.” Joy swung her head back and forth in thought. “What do you think, Daddy?”
“I actually kind of like it,” Chance responded.
Joy clapped and bounced on her seat. “Frost it is then, thanks, Junie, I’m pretty sure you saved my as—”
“Joy!” Chance cut her off.
“My assets,” Joy protested, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I was going to say my assets.”
“Oh, good save,” Kenzie said, giving her a thumbs-up.
Kenzie sat next to Seven, who had one arm draped possessively over the back of her chair like he had every right to be there. The second the horse naming talk died down, she reached behind her and shoved his arm off.
“For the last time,” Kenzie snapped, “keep your arm off my chair.”
Seven didn’t miss a beat. He simply rested his arm right back where it had been, his voice smooth and unapologetic. “After the stunt you pulled last night, you’d better hope it stays on this chair, Tigger.”
“It’s Kenzie or Tiger.” Kenzie crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.
“You should have just let me spend the night with Poppy when we dropped her off. And you had no business waking Boone up and tattling on me. He’s my brother, not my Daddy.
I’m only agreeing to be grounded for a whole week because I have things to do at the ranch. ”
Boone’s deep growl rumbled from further down the table. “He was perfectly right in informing me. And you got off easy, Tiger.”
Seven leveled Kenzie with a steady, no-nonsense glare. “At least you aren’t eating standing up right now. Which is exactly what would have happened if I’d dealt with you myself.”
Ruby’s sharp voice cut across the table like a schoolmarm’s ruler. “That kind of talk has no place at the table. Especially not in a restaurant. Y’all know better.”
The group immediately quieted.
“Sorry, Miss Ruby,” Seven muttered. He looked properly chastised, but Junie caught his lips twitching as he stared at his plate.
“Sorry, Ruby,” Kenzie echoed, cheeks flushed.
Boone gave a sheepish nod. “You’re right. Won’t happen again.”
During a lull in the conversation, Tanner leaned in close, his lips brushing Junie’s ear. “You doing okay, Cupcake?”
She nodded, eyes bright. “I like this. Being here with you… with everyone. Though, I feel bad about getting Kenzie in trouble.”
“Good. But don’t worry too much about Kenzie.
She is right about Boone not being her Daddy.
But we all still look out for her.” He pressed a kiss to her temple, voice dropping to that low, swaggering tone only for her.
“You know, I like you being here, too, little baker. And I’m gonna make sure everyone knows it. ”
Junie shivered happily and leaned into his side as another round of laughter roared from the other end of the table. She didn’t laugh along this time. She just sat there with a quiet, contented smile, Tanner’s hand warm and steady in hers.
For the first time in years, everything felt exactly right.