Do You Take This Cowboy?. Vicki Lewis Thompson

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СКАЧАТЬ foster brothers in attendance would stand in a semicircle behind the minister.

      Not all of Cade’s foster brothers could make it to the wedding, but at last count at least nine would be standing in that group. Drew couldn’t wait to film this ceremony, which promised to be more visually interesting than most.

      She walked into the ranch house without knocking. People didn’t stand on ceremony at Thunder Mountain, and while the living room was comfy and inviting, the large kitchen with its sturdy oak table was the heart of the house. She found Cade and Lexi sitting there, each with a bottle of beer. Two other open bottles were on the table along with a large bowl of chips.

      Drew figured one beer was for her and the other must be for the man who was half-hidden under the kitchen sink. All she could see were scuffed boots, wear-softened jeans, a silver belt buckle with a kiwi bird etched on it, and a small section of skin that told her he was shirtless.

      “Hey, Drew,” Cade said. “That would be Junior’s legs sticking out from under the sink over there. He says he’ll be done in thirty seconds, tops.”

      She frowned. “Junior?”

      “The name’s Austin, ma’am.” He wiggled partway out from under the sink, wiped his hand on his jeans and thrust it toward her. “Pleased to meet you.”

      “Hi, there.” She walked over, leaned down and shook his outstretched hand. She tried not to stare, but oh...my...God. She had the urge to race back to her truck and fetch her camera. Abs and pecs like that should be captured on film and preserved for posterity. She was also amazed that he could fit those broad shoulders into such a small space.

      On top of that he was blond and blue-eyed. Even his chest hair was blond, although a little darker than the sun-bleached, close-cropped hair on his head. Because of her Italian heritage, she’d spent her life surrounded by dark-haired, dark-eyed people. She had a weakness for men who looked like Austin.

      As they shook hands he smiled. “Really glad to meet you,” he murmured.

      “Same here.” Lord help her, she sounded breathless. He probably got that a lot.

      “Be done in a jiffy.” He released her hand, scooted back under the sink and bumped his head on the pipe. “Ow.”

      “Are you okay?” She leaned down to peer into the cabinet.

      “Yes, ma’am. Didn’t watch where I was going is all.”

      “He’ll be fine,” Cade said. “Junior’s practically indestructible.”

      “The name’s Austin.” His voice echoed a bit coming from under the sink.

      “Why do you call him Junior?” Drew walked over to the table and Cade got up to pull out her chair.

      He winked at her. “Because it’s his name.”

      Lexi leaned over and gave him a light punch on the arm. “He’s all grown up now. Retire the Junior thing.”

      “Yes, please,” came the voice from under the sink.

      “So I take it he was Junior when you all lived at the ranch?” Drew took a sip of her beer.

      “And still is, as far as I’m concerned.” Cade grinned as he went back to his seat. “I don’t care how big he gets, he’ll always be Junior to me.”

      “No respect.” Austin slid out from under the sink and rose to his glorious height, which had to be at least six-three. “I go and sell my truck so I can buy a plane ticket to attend your wedding and this is my reward—still stuck with the same old crummy nickname.” His dramatic sigh made his chest heave in a most arresting way.

      “I call you Austin,” Lexi said.

      “Yes, you do, Lexi, and I appreciate the support.”

      Cade tipped his chair onto its back legs and picked up his beer. “The way I heard it, you didn’t sell your truck to buy a plane ticket. You sold it because you wanted to buy a new one over here instead of shipping your old rattletrap across the Pacific.”

      “Technically, yes, but some of the proceeds went toward the ticket, so my statement stands.”

      “So you’re staying?” Drew hadn’t been clear on that but it was the best news she’d heard all day.

      “Yes, ma’am. New Zealand was great, but I missed Wyoming.”

      “And me,” Cade said. “I know you really missed me.”

      Austin laughed, flashing beautiful white teeth. “Can’t live without you, bro.”

      “And FYI, your beer’s getting warm the longer you stand there working your jaw.”

      “Let me wash up.” He turned back to the sink.

      Much as Drew would have loved to admire the ripple of his back muscles as he scrubbed his hands clean, ogling would be inappropriate. She redirected her attention toward Cade and Lexi. Why was she here, again? Oh, yes. “I think we got some great stuff today. I’ll edit it as soon as I get home and email you a link to a preview.”

      “Good.” Lexi reached for the chips. “I’m really excited to see it.”

      “So am I.” Cade returned his chair to its original position so he could also reach the chip bowl. “By the way, I was impressed that you walked up the steps backward while you filmed that last part. I’m not sure I could have done that.”

      “I know I couldn’t,” Lexi said.

      “My years of playing hockey probably helps. You have to have eyes in the back of your head to play that game.”

      “You played hockey?” Austin joined them at the table.

      “Yes, and I was really, really lucky that I got to. Some parents organized a Montana youth league and my brother and I were both in it. I don’t think that league exists anymore. For three years I lived and breathed hockey. Every night before I went to sleep I recited that famous Wayne Gretzky quote.”

      Austin picked up his beer and reached for a chip. “I don’t think I know that one.”

      “I do, more or less,” Cade said. “Instead of following the puck, you need to anticipate where it will be and go there.”

      “Aha!” Lexi looked as if inspiration had hit. “That’s why you’re such an excellent videographer. You’re always a little ahead of the action. I couldn’t put my finger on why your videos are so much better than others I’ve seen and I’ll bet that’s the secret.”

      Drew’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you. I never thought of it that way but if I manage to pull it off I’m glad.”

      “Montana, huh?” Austin’s gaze had remained on her ever since he’d come to the table. “Where in Montana?”

      “Billings. My parents own an Italian restaurant there.”

      “I love Italian food. Do you like to cook?”

      “God, СКАЧАТЬ