Chapter Twenty-Four
Ty couldn’t stop smiling as he leaned back against the bar and watched Shay dance with Callie and the other girls.
Kolby grinned at him. “You look happy, bro.”
“That’s because I am.”
“Not that long ago, we’d lose you the minute we walked into Chico on a Saturday night like this and not see you again.”
Ty made a face. “Yeah, but those days are behind me now. And to be fair, things had changed for me even before I met Shay. For the last few months, I’d been hanging out with you all more than I was chasing tail.”
Tanner reached across the bar from where he was standing behind them and slapped the back of Ty’s head. “Yeah, you’ve been next to useless as a wingman for a while. I should have known you were headed down the same path as Kolby and Wade.”
Ty turned in his seat to grin at him. “I didn’t know it myself, but I was hoping.”
“What about you?” Kolby asked Tanner. “Any sign of you slowing down?”
Tanner shrugged. “I want to say no – I’m still having fun.” He chuckled. “And just think about all the ladies I’d leave disappointed!”
Ty laughed. “It’s true. And besides …” He frowned, not sure that he should say what he’d been thinking.
“What?” Tanner asked.
“Nothing.”
“Go on, say it. It’s not like you’re going to hurt my feelings, is it?”
“I dunno. I just – don’t take it wrong. I was just thinking that Shay fits in so well with everyone. She feels like one of us – like she could have been friends with the girls even if I never met her. And … well, the kind of girls you usually go for are … different. I was thinking about the profiles you saved for me on that dating site.”
Kolby nodded his agreement. “I hate to say it, Tan, but he’s right. The kind of women you go for wouldn’t exactly be at home on the ranch, would they?”
Tanner laughed. “That’s not why I go for them, is it?” He frowned. “I … shit, this sounds bad, but I go for them because they wouldn’t fit in with us. You know what I mean – the kind of girl who’s looking for a night with a cowboy, with the bartender, isn’t someone …” His frown grew deeper. “Shit! Isn’t someone … am I being totally judgmental?”
Ty exchanged a smile with Kolby. “Yeah, you are. But while you’re judging the women, you might want to take a look in the mirror.”
Tanner let out a short laugh. “You were right there with me for a long time – don’t go getting on your high horse.”
Ty held his hands up. “I’m not. I’m not denying that I was right there with you. I’m just grateful that I’m not anymore.”
Tanner nodded, and then moved away from them to serve a girl who’d approached the bar. From the way he flirted with her, Ty wouldn’t be surprised if she turned out to be the flavor of the night.
Kolby elbowed him. “Have you seen Trav this weekend?”
“No, I heard that he was back and still looking at land. What do you know about it?”
Kolby shrugged. “Probably no more than you do, but I thought he would have caught up with you by now.”
“What for – what does he need?”
“He said he was going to talk to you about Shay.”
Ty frowned. “What about her?”
“Don’t look like that – nothing bad. I probably shouldn’t say anything, I might not get the details straight, but do you know what he’s planning?”
“Just that he wants to buy a place with some cabins – a place where people can come and stay to decompress for a while when they need it.”
“Yeah. He’s been talking about it since I was still working with Cash and Mav and him. One of his buddies shot himself a couple of years back – he couldn’t handle being back in the civilian world. Trav’s had it in his head ever since that if guys had a place where they could go and just … be for a while, it might help. You know how it is, staying in a cabin out here with elk and deer for company is a lot different from trying to fit back into life in a city someplace.”
“Yeah, or even life in a small town,” said Ty, thinking about Shayna’s dad. “What does he want with Shay?”
“He just wanted to talk to her. He knows that she’s working her way toward being a therapist and he’s going to need some help if he sets up a place like that – not that he’s going to make it into some kind of therapy center – more of a bolt hole. I don’t know the details, only that he said he was going to talk to her.”
“We’ll have to see if we can get ahold of him before he leaves.”
“Are you doing lunch for everyone tomorrow, or is that going to come to an end now that you have Shay?”
“I was thinking about skipping it and hanging out just the two of us, but she knows that’s what we usually do, and she thinks I should still cook for everyone.” He smiled. “She was worried – she didn’t want to be the reason that we all stopped getting together.”
“No one would blame you if you didn’t want to do it.”
“That’s the thing, though. I do. Back at home, she used to spend Sunday afternoons with her family. I’ve taken her away from that, so I want to share my family with her instead.”
Kolby grinned. “I’m glad. I know Callie looks forward to our Sundays.”
“It was just her and her mom growing up, right? Same as Shay.”
“Yeah, but her mom’s still around. In fact, she keeps trying to persuade her to move up here. And Travis is all over that idea.”
Ty laughed. “I forgot about that – he took a real shine to Callie’s mom.”
“He did. I keep hoping that maybe … It seems like we’re not the only ones meeting women and settling down with them – the older guys are doing it, too. First there was Deacon with Candy. Then Ace and Ari. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Trav might be able to make something work with Retta. Callie would love it if her mom came to live here – especially if she had a guy in her life who she was happy with.”
“I guess we’ll just have to see how it pans out.” Ty was less interested in the conversation now. He’d spotted a group of guys who’d moved in on the girls on the dance floor.
Kolby followed his gaze and scowled. “Shit. Callie’s not going to stay out there while those assholes are bothering them. She’s gotten more relaxed about coming in here, but if one of them recognizes her …”
Ty was already down from his stool and headed for the dance floor. He had to laugh when he looked back over his shoulder and saw that Kolby was right there with him – and Spider and Luke were only a couple of steps behind.
As they got closer to the dance floor, he could see Laney giving one of the guys an earful. Frankie stood beside her, and he reckoned that unless they were drunk or stupid, the guys would beat a retreat. Callie had started to walk away, and Shayna took a step to follow her.
Ty started shoving people out of his way when he saw the guy closest to Shay grab her arm. A look of panic crossed her face, and he shouted her name, wanting her to know that he was almost there. She didn’t hear him over the music, but her expression changed. Her jaw set, and she looked so determined it almost made Ty pause.
She twisted her arm out of the asshole’s grip and tried to make a break for it. He grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms around her middle. Ty saw red. He was almost there, and when he got his hands on him …
Shay stamped down on the guy’s foot and elbowed him in the gut, but he didn’t let go. Then she dropped to the ground, taking him by surprise. He scrambled to get hold of her again, looking for all the world like he’d just fumbled a football, but Shay had already rolled away.
And Ty was there – throwing a punch.
The guy staggered backward holding his nose, and his friend stepped forward.
Ty glanced to make sure that Shay was okay. She was – Callie was helping her to her feet.
The second asshole swung for him, but Ty dodged his fist easily. He jabbed him in the ribs, and he stepped back, holding his hands up.
“What did you do that for?” he asked, jerking his head toward his friend, who was still holding his face.
“He grabbed my woman.” Ty glared at him and at his friends, who’d gathered around. They looked like they were regrouping, and that was fine with Ty. He looked around at them and beckoned. “Who’s next?”
Kolby grabbed his shoulder. “Leave ‘em, Ty. They’re not worth it.”
Ty glared around at them again and they started to back away.
“Go on,” Laney told them. “Get your sorry asses out of here.”
They turned and made their way off the dance floor, and Ty hurried to Shay.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” He closed his arms around her and looked down into her eyes.
She nodded and clung to him, and he could feel that she was shaking.
Ty wanted to go and rip the asshole’s head off, but staying with her was more important.
“I’m okay.”
He ran his hand over her hair. “Sorry I didn’t get there sooner.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “You did great. Those self-defense classes with Alexis paid off.”
She let out a shaky laugh. “I guess so. I need to call Booker and thank him for helping me practice. That poor kid had bruised feet for weeks because I couldn’t manage to stop short when I practiced stomping.”
Ty chuckled. “I bet he’d tell you it was worth it. He adores you. And I like him even more now that you told me that.”
“Are you okay?” she asked as she reached for his hand.
He looked down at his knuckles. “I’m fine. What do you think, do you want to get out of here – did they ruin it for you?”
Her little arms tightened around his waist, and he felt himself relax.
“We can if you want to go, but …” She smiled up at him. “I’m fine, honestly. And now that I finally have you out here on the dance floor …”
She raised her eyebrows, and he grinned and started to move her to the music. “You want me on the dance floor, all you have to do is holler. I only stayed away because the girls said that you all wanted to do your girl thing.”
She snuggled closer to him. “And we did, and I enjoyed it. I don’t remember the last time I had a night with the girls. But we’ve never had a night out, Ty, and I …” She gave him a guilty little smile. “I didn’t even know if you would dance.”
He laughed as he spun her around. “You’ve got no worries there, sweetheart. I’ll dance with you all night long if you want me.” He cupped her cheek in his hand before sliding his fingers into her hair. “At least, I’ll dance with you till they shut the place down. Then I’ll take you home – and you know what we’ll be doing all night long.”
He loved the way her whole body trembled against him. “We don’t have to dance for too long.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see how long we last. And Shay, anytime you want to come out, I’ll bring you. I didn’t want you to feel like this was one more thing that you have to fit into your schedule, but I’m happy to bring you out, show you off …” He held her gaze for a moment then winked “Get you tipsy and take you home.”
She laughed and held him tighter. “You don’t need to get me tipsy. I’m more than willing.”
~ ~ ~
The next afternoon, Shayna kept wishing that she’d worn a long-sleeved shirt. Ty kept scowling whenever he spotted the bruise on her arm where that idiot had grabbed her last night. It was nothing, it didn’t even hurt, but Ty was all growly about it.
She hoped that manning the grill at their family lunch would be enough to distract him. She’d hung out with him for a while, but when Kolby and Callie had arrived, Callie had asked her to come and sit.
She glanced over to where Kolby now stood with Ty.
Callie laughed. “Damn, girl! That man looks like he’d kill for you.”
Shayna smiled. “Doesn’t he? He’s mad about my arm.”
Callie took her hand and looked at the bruise. “Well, crap – you can’t blame him! Or … does it bother you?”
“No!” Shayna glanced over at him, and when he caught her gaze, his scowl turned into a smile. “I think it would if I felt like any of it was directed at me. Or even if … if he couldn’t switch it off, you know?”
“Yeah, I do. Kolby gets the same way. He gets mad at anything that makes life difficult for me, but he doesn’t cling to it.” Callie laughed. “I can still make him smile, even when he’s fuming.”
“Yeah, that,” said Shayna. “If being angry was more important to him than being happy with me, then I wouldn’t like it – but that’s not how it is.”
“They’re good guys.” Callie smiled at her. “And the two of you are good together. Have you figured out what you’re going to do here yet? Kolby said that you’ve been helping Tanner with the horses and helping out at the lodge.”
Shayna laughed. “I have. I’m doing much the same as I used to do at the lake.” She turned to look up at the mountains. “It’s just more beautiful here.”
“Does that mean you’re going to stay? I hope so.”
“I think so. I … you know why I came – because of that creepy guy at home. I talked to my family on Friday, and they said that there’s no sign of him. He might have left town. I might be safe to go back …” Her words trailed off.
“Would you want to go back – even if you knew for sure that he wasn’t there anymore?”
She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly as she looked around. She’d already come to love the ranch. She loved Ty’s family. She loved the work she was doing here. Riding with Tanner and Laney beat mucking out stalls – even if she did miss Booker. And serving behind the bar at the lodge was fun, especially since Ty was always popping out from the kitchen to check on her. She missed Davin and Alexis, she missed the lake and seeing people around – people she’d known her whole life but …
She met Callie’s gaze. “I don’t want to go back – I just wish I could bring some of my people here with me.”
Callie nodded. “I hear ya, girl. I wish I could bring my mama here. I miss her. Not that I got to see much of her when I was in Nashville either but …” She shrugged. “I guess we’ll just have to keep each other company, you and me. Have I told you how happy I am you’re here?”
Shayna laughed. “You might have said it once or twice last night.”
Callie grinned. “It wasn’t just the wine talking – promise.”
“I know. And I know for sure that I’ve already told you how happy I am that you’re here. I mean, I can’t believe that you’re … you know … Calypso Rayne! I hope that doesn’t sound wrong.”
“It doesn’t. If you want to know the truth – I love it. You’re happy to be friends with me because I’m me. The bit about me being a country singer is what doesn’t gel, right?”
“Yes, that.”
“In my old life I used to feel like people wanted to be friends with Calypso Rayne, but they really didn’t give a shit about me, the person.”
“That must suck.”
Callie laughed. “It does. Oh, but wait – you know Tori!”
“I do! She may just be the sweetest person on earth.”
Callie laughed. “You might compete with her for that title, but yeah. She’s a doll. I was going to say that she was the only real friend I had in Nashville.” She looked around with a smile. “And look at me now – I have all these brothers and sisters-in-law, and a whole bunch of friends. Not a one of them could care less about what I do. They don’t care if I keep singing or if I never work again once the baby comes – as long as I’m good to Kolby, they love me.”
Shayna glanced at Callie’s flat stomach – had she just given away more than she realized?
Callie laughed when she caught her looking. “No, I’m not pregnant.” Her smile faltered a little. “I can’t have kids. But we’re going to adopt, the mom is seven months along now. She doesn’t want to keep the baby, so when he or she is born we’re going to step in and become the parents from day one.”
“Wow!”
Callie laughed. “Yeah, it might sound crazy but …”
“It sounds amazing! I’m so happy for you. This is me volunteering myself for babysitting duties.”
Wade grinned as he approached them with two bottles of beer in his hands. “I noticed that you ladies didn’t have a drink, so I came to offer.” He held out the bottles, and she and Callie took them.
“Did I hear you offering babysitting services?”
“Of course! Mateo and Maya are awesome – I’d be happy to watch them for you any time. You and Sierra deserve a night out.”
“It’s not night times I’m thinking about.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Sierra finally started painting again. And when she can, she gets lost in it. But I know she holds herself back because she’s afraid that she’ll be so lost in her work that she might forget to pick the kids up from school.”
“What time do they finish? I can go get them.”
Wade nodded slowly. “It’d work out perfectly if you went for them after you close the lunchtime bar service down.” He frowned. “Would you want to, though? What about all your other work – schoolwork and that.”
“It’s fine. I have time. And honestly, Wade, I’d love to meet them from school and spend a bit of time with them. And if it means I’m helping in the tiniest way to get Sierra painting again …” She glanced at Callie. “Have you seen her work?”
Callie laughed. “Seen it? I fell in love with her paintings from the first time I laid eyes on one. I’ve bought three so far. If you can help her produce more, I’ll owe you.”
Shay hoped her smile covered how uncomfortable she felt. She needed to get over it. She’d looked up Sierra’s work online when Ty had told her that she was a famous artist. Her paintings sold for millions – and Callie owned three of them!
Wade seemed to understand what she was thinking. He smiled but before he got the chance to speak, Ty appeared at his side.
“You doing okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m great. Is there anything I can do to help?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, landing a kiss on her lips. “Just needed one of those to keep me going.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest.
“Aww, you guys are adorable together,” said Callie.
Wade laughed. “I wouldn’t dare call you that – but seeing you together makes me happy.” He caught Shayna’s gaze. “I don’t want to put my foot in it – do you want to tell Ty what we were just talking about?”
Ty gave her a puzzled look. “Oh, yeah – just that I’m going to be helping them out by picking the kids up from school.”
He frowned – but that didn’t surprise her. He was trying to get her to do less while she kept finding more and more things to do.
She grinned at him. “It’s not like it’ll be hard work, is it? I love those little guys!”
“I know. But do you even know where the school is?”
She laughed. “I don’t. But I’m sure it won’t be hard to find.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “I know. I just … you know.”
She tightened her arms around him. “And I appreciate you looking out for me.”
She loved the way his eyes seemed to twinkle as he looked down at her. “Just don’t take on too much, okay?”
She nodded happily. She wasn’t doing anywhere near as much as she used to do at the lake.
“It won’t be every day,” said Wade. “I’ll talk to Sierra and let you know.”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”
Ty kissed the top of her head. “I’d better get back to the grill. You okay?”
“I’m good.”
Callie sighed beside her as they watched him go. “Girl, we got so damn lucky. Not only did we get ourselves two hot men, but we also landed ourselves in the middle of this family. I used to dream of having a family like this when I was a kid.”
Shayna nodded. “Yeah, I did, too.”