Cowboy After Dark. Vicki Thompson Lewis

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СКАЧАТЬ went as they were supposed to.”

      “I wanted everyone to be surprised,” Grady said.

      “Well, we were certainly surprised.” Lexi linked an arm through Cade’s. “Too bad you boys missed the excitement.”

      Liam noticed the affectionate gesture and was glad for Cade. He’d loved that woman since high school. Rumors continued to circulate about their eventual marriage, but Lexi’s ring finger was bare.

      Ring or no ring, though, her eyes were filled with love when she looked at Cade. “You should have seen Hope stare those boys down,” she continued. “It was epic.”

      “And brave,” Liam added, because Hope seemed uncomfortable with the conversation.

      She glanced at him and shook her head, which made her silky blond hair gleam in the sun. “It wasn’t brave. It was stupid. What if the trailer had jackknifed and dumped the sculpture? Or you two had been hurt? I would never have forgiven myself.”

      “But we’re fine and the sculpture’s fine.” Liam had the urge to wrap a protective arm around her.

      “Maybe the way this turned out is even better,” Grady said. “Now that we have more guys, we can do an unveiling for Phil.”

      “You mean just take off the tarp?” Damon gave Phil a squeeze and released her. “Yeah, let’s do that. I’m eager to see it, too.”

      “Wait.” Grady moved to stop him. “I meant get it off the flatbed with the tarp still on it, and once it’s standing where it should go, then we take the tarp off.”

      “Oh.” Damon paused to adjust his Stetson. “Hmm.”

      Liam understood the impulse behind Grady’s suggestion. His artistic pride was involved, and he didn’t want the crowd gathered here to see the sculpture until it was in a place of honor. But during setup, the piece could be damaged. Even worse, a person could be damaged. Liam didn’t like the odds.

      “Grady, I know what you’re hoping to achieve,” he said, “but I think we could have problems wrestling five hundred pounds of metal off the flatbed while keeping the tarp wrapped around it.”

      “I was a little worried, too.” Herb came over and laid a hand on Grady’s shoulder. “I have a suggestion, son. Since this is a wedding gift for Damon and Phil, how about if they go in the house while the rest of us set it up?”

      “That’s a great idea.” Lexi smiled at Grady. “And while I’m perfectly willing to help, I see this as a manly bonding activity.”

      “Aha!” Cade shoved back his hat. “Perfect timing. What if we make this the first official duty of the expanded Thunder Mountain Brotherhood?” He gazed at Finn and Damon. “You good with that?”

      “Absolutely,” Damon said, “but in that case, I want to be out here helping.”

      “We can let Grady decide if you should or not.” Cade turned to him. “Here’s the deal. Finn, Damon and me, we had a few beers at lunch and sat around shooting the breeze like we always do, reminiscing about all the great times we’ve had and the stuff we got into, and—”

      “Blah, blah, blah.” Damon reached over and knocked Cade’s hat down over his eyes. “Cut to the chase.”

      “Hang on, bridegroom.” Cade repositioned his hat. “I needed to set the scene. Anyway, it occurred to us that since every guy who was at the ranch is our brother, the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood should be inclusive, not exclusive. You and Liam don’t have to go along with that idea if it doesn’t appeal to you, but—”

      “It appeals to me.” Grady glanced at Liam. “How about you, big brother? Wanna be part of the club?”

      Unexpected emotion tightened his chest. He hadn’t thought this mattered to him, but he was incredibly touched. Tucking his thumbs in his belt loops, he rocked back on his heels and grinned. “That depends. Do I get a secret decoder ring?”

      “You bet,” Finn said. “Just pop one off your next can of beer, put it on your pinky and you’re in business.”

      “Then I’m in.”

      “Good.” Cade looked incredibly pleased with himself. “It was mostly my idea, but—”

      “It was not.” Finn rolled his eyes. “Way to hog the credit. If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, it was—”

      “Boys!” Rosie clapped her hands. “We’re getting off track, and I want to see that sculpture. Who’s going in the house with me?”

      Damon glanced at Grady. “Can I stay? I can help you figure out where it should go.”

      “Yeah, let him stay,” Phil said. “He has a good eye. I’m sure I’ll be happy with the placement.”

      “Okay.” Grady nodded. “You’re right. It’ll be better if one of you tells us where to put it. We won’t end up having to move it later.”

      “Then it’s settled.” Rosie motioned toward the porch. “Women, inside. Men, get to work. Call us when you’re ready for the big reveal.”

      “There’s only one thing wrong with this plan, Rosie,” Phil’s stepmother said.

      “What’s that, Edie?”

      “We don’t get to watch all these gorgeous men flex their muscles.”

      That got a laugh. Liam checked Hope’s reaction to the remark and discovered she was smiling. More than that, she was smiling at him. Maybe Grady was right. He should go for it.

3

      ONCE THEY WERE INSIDE, Hope accepted with gratitude the glass of wine Phil handed her. Somehow she kept herself from knocking it back like a shot of whiskey.

      “I’m organizing card games so nobody’s tempted to peek out the window,” Rosie said. “Who wants to play?”

      “Count Hope and me in for the second round,” Phil said. “We’re going to take inventory of beer and snacks for the guys after they finish.”

      Lexi glanced their way. “Need help?”

      “Thanks, but we can handle it.” Phil led the way into the kitchen.

      Hope followed. She hadn’t offered to help organize the food and drinks, but Phil must have guessed she needed a time-out. Plus, she and Phil hadn’t had a chance to talk by themselves all day. Until Phil and Damon left on their honeymoon, Hope was staying in one of Rosie and Herb’s guest rooms out at the ranch.

      That put her at the center of the activity, which had been great for getting to know everybody. Rosie, Herb, Cade, Finn, Damon and Lexi were all wonderful people, but Phil was the one she’d come to see.

      “What did you do with your kitty cats?” she asked as they walked into the kitchen.

      “Once I realized we’d be hanging out here, I closed СКАЧАТЬ