Take My Kiss (Willow Branch Mountain #3)

Prologue

Colton

“Don’t you clean up nice, handsome!” Aunt Dena grins, leaning in for a hug.

“So do you.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders, towering over her small frame, dressed in a sleek lavender dress. It matches the wedding colors perfectly.

“It’s good to see you, Colt.” She pats my black tie, snickering at me wearing a suit.

It doesn’t happen often. Mostly, weddings and funerals.

“You too. Finally managed to marry off your firstborn, huh?” I smirk, thinking about how Wilder’s the second to last of his five siblings to get married. Not that I have room to talk, considering I’m nowhere near settling down or having kids like the rest of my cousins.

Technically, he and Delilah got unexpectedly hitched in Sin City last year after a drunken night out. Still, he wanted to give her a proper ceremony and reception to celebrate with their families.

My parents, siblings, and I traveled two hours to Sugarland Creek for the weekend, so I plan to make the most of it. We used to visit every summer, but once everyone graduated high school and started working full-time, it became less frequent.

“Yep, ’bout time, right? And soon, he’ll be a twin daddy himself.” She beams, quickly waving to a few other guests as they exit the renovated barn where they said their vows.

Delilah found out she was pregnant a few months ago, which is why they moved up the date. She didn’t like the idea of being six months pregnant in a wedding dress in the middle of summer.

“And then Waylon will be next,” I say.

Wilder’s twin brother is dating Delilah’s little sister, Harlow. They’re sickly in love and will most likely get married in the next couple years.

Aunt Dena flashes a toothy smile. “And hopefully more grandbabies for me.”

I snort, shaking my head. “You sound like Mom.”

They’re best friends and grew up together, but it’s even more comical since Mom married Aunt Dena’s brother, and now they’re both begging for grandchildren.

To be fair, my mom doesn’t have any yet, but I have a feeling between my two older siblings, Warren and Posey, one of them will have kids soon.

“What ’bout you? You’re not gettin’ any younger.” She winks. “Gonna settle down soon?”

My heart races, feeling that familiar ache of loneliness and longing to find my person. It’s not for a lack of trying.

Shrugging, I frown. “Still lookin’ for her.”

After the bride and groom take photos, Wilder brings Delilah over to meet the rest of the Langstons. He talks about her so much, it feels like I already know her.

“This is Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Grady Langston,” Wilder tells her, then directs our attention back to Delilah. “Meet my wife, Delilah Hollis. And our soon-to-be twins.” He rubs his palm proudly across her belly.

“It’s so nice to meet y’all.” Delilah’s smile widens.

Mom’s the first one to wrap her arms around the bride. Hopefully, he warned Delilah that we’re a hugging family.

“Congrats on the marriage and babies,” Mom says. “You’re glowin’, by the way.”

“Ooh, thank you. And I’m almost positive it’s sweat.”

We laugh, but Delilah looks flawless in her lavish cream gown and purple floral crown.

Although she’s not my type, Wilder’s a lucky man.

“And you know Maisie, Bellamy, and Posey from the honeymoon.” Wilder tilts his cowboy hat, directing her attention to my sister-in-law and sisters.

After they got hitched in Vegas, they spent a week at the resort, and that’s when she met them.

“Then my other cousins: Warren, Colton, and Bodie.” Wilder points to Bellamy and Bodie, my younger siblings. “They’re twins, too.”

“I knew it! I don’t care what science says. These twins are your fault.”

Everyone chuckles. It was always funny to me that my mom and her best friend both had sets of twins. Except Aunt Dena had them first, and Mom had them last.

“Maybe you’ll get one of each as I did and get the best of both worlds for your first time,” Mom says. “By the time I had mine, I already had three kids.”

“Three?” Delilah gasps. “And you kept goin’…on purpose?”

Dad pulls Mom closer. “She couldn’t keep her hands off me.”

“Ugh, Dad.”

“Ew.”

“Gross.”

“We’re in public!”

Go figure he’d ick us all out.

Delilah snorts, clearly not bothered. She’s probably used to it being around the Hollis family.

As they continue chatting, my attention drifts behind the bride to the blonde woman with a toddler on her hip, who’s a mini version of her.

She stands next to a brunette in a matching purple dress with a baby cradled in her arms. The little boy who was the ring bearer is next to them.

My eyes focus on the blonde swaying back and forth, smiling and laughing.

Now she’s my type. And hopefully single.

I can’t tell if she’s wearing a ring, but I’m willing to find out.

She catches me staring, but I don’t look away. And neither does she.

My stomach does a weird, fluttery somersault that takes me by surprise. I wonder if she feels it too when she licks her lips and flicks her gaze back to her friend.

“You gonna introduce me to your bridesmaids?” I ask Delilah, nodding behind her. With the wedding being later in the evening, the sun has already set behind the mountains, casting an orange glow across the ranch.

She quickly glances over her shoulder. “Uh…sure.”

“Who’s the brunette?” Bodie asks, and I hold back a knowing smirk. She looks at least five years older than him, which is his type.

“That’s Raven. I suppose you want an introduction, too?” Delilah hums.

“I mean…” Bodie straightens his tie. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

She barks out a laugh, glancing at Wilder. “I can tell y’all are related.”

“Are they single?” I ask.

Delilah sighs. “Well—”

“Don’t tell ’em,” Wilder chimes in. “It’ll be more fun to watch ’em get rejected.”

“Hey, now. Whose side are you on?” I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest.

“The side that doesn’t get my ass in trouble.”

“Amelia lives in the ranch hand duplexes with her two kids and just got a fresh start here as a receptionist at The Lodge. Raven’s a new mom and has gone through a lot this past year with her brother and soon-to-be ex-husband,” Delilah explains.

“As far as I know, neither is datin’ anyone at the moment. ”

“Or lookin’ to,” Wilder adds.

“But…she’s available too?” Bodie arches a brow.

“Oh my God,” Bellamy groans, sucker-punching his arm. “She already has one baby to take care of…she doesn’t need another one.”

“We’re twenty-four,” he argues.

Wilder snorts. “She’s thirty-one.”

I knew it.

“And way out of your league,” Posey taunts as her husband stands behind her with his lips twitching in laughter. Silas is used to our sibling banter by now.

“I like older women.” Bodie grins proudly, puffing out his chest. “They have more experience and know exactly what they want.”

“That’s my boy,” Dad drawls, smacking him on the shoulder.

Mom elbows him in the ribs.

“I meant life experience, Ma,” Bodie counters, but the mischievous smirk on his face says he’s full of shit.

His trimmed, thick, black facial hair makes him appear older, but he’s still a big kid at heart. His arm is covered in more ink than skin—which is usually how he attracts girls in the first place—but since he’s wearing a long-sleeve white shirt under his suit jacket, no one can see it.

But I’m willing to bet he’ll roll them up within the next twenty minutes to show them off.

Not that I have much room to talk. My sleeve goes past my wrist, so even in long sleeves, you can see some of my ink. But I’ll be rolling them up as soon as I find somewhere to put my jacket.

“C’mon, let’s get this over with.” Wilder grabs Delilah’s hand and nods for us to follow him.

Bodie and I do, but the rest of our family stays behind. Except, once we’re in front of the bridesmaids, my brain short-circuits.

She’s somehow even more stunning up close.

Wavy strands of honey and golden blonde are pulled into a half-updo with the rest flowing down her back. Ruby red lips and black eyeliner make her green eyes pop in a way that makes me desperate for them to focus on me.

“Ladies,” Delilah grabs their attention when I’m unable to speak. “Meet two of Wilder’s cousins: Bodie and Colton Langston.”

They halt their conversation and stare between us.

“Colt, this is Amelia Calhoun.” She points toward the blonde, then to the brunette. “Bodie, this is Raven Townsend.”

Clearing my throat, I rub my sweaty palms down my thighs.

“Howdy. It’s a pleasure to meet y’all,” I drawl, then hold out my hand, hoping she’ll take it.

Her gaze lowers down my arm until her eyes meet mine, and she wraps her small hand around mine—sending my heart into cardiac arrest at her gentle and lingering touch.

“You too. This is my daughter, Lily.” She hikes the toddler higher on her hip. “And my son, Sam.”

Bending my knees to make eye contact with the small boy, I smile at him. “You were an excellent ring bearer.”

“I know.”

“Sam,” Amelia tsks. “Manners.”

“I mean, thank you.” He grins sheepishly.

“You’re very welcome.” I wink before straightening my spine to find Amelia’s heated gaze on mine.

“This is Bailey,” Raven says, smiling warmly at her baby. “She’s only a few months old.”

“She’s adorable,” Bodie says, leaning over to get a better look since she’s wrapped tightly in a blanket.

“Especially when she’s asleep.” Raven giggles, casually rocking back and forth.

“She’s a miracle baby,” Delilah gushes, admiring her fondly. “I helped deliver her.”

“Wait…” Looking at Wilder, my eyes widen at the realization. “She’s that girl?”

He texted when Delilah and Raven got kidnapped three months ago by Raven’s ex, and she went into labor. Once the police found them and took him into custody, they took the girls to the hospital. That’s when Wilder and Delilah found out she was pregnant with twins.

“Yep.” Raven blows out a shaky breath. “That’s me.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it like that.” I wince, shaking my head. “Your name didn’t click in my head until Delilah said that, and now I feel like a jackass for not realizin’.”