Garrett removed another chair and Kate headed over to the group of guys. “There’s method to my madness. One woman, seven cowboys. I’ll take those odds any day.”
Rafe smiled. “Want cider?”
She batted her eyes at him. “Yes, please, kind sir.”
“Have a seat.” Garrett positioned the chair he brought over so she had a view of the competition.
“Thank you, Garrett. Much obliged.”
Jake produced an open bag of chips. “Welcome to the losers’ circle. It’s better here.”
“I can see that. While they’re running around in a circle, you’re drinking cider and eating chips.”
“Hit it, CJ!” Millie called out and the four women circled three chairs.
CJ abruptly stopped playing when Isabel was perfectly positioned to drop into a chair and Lucy lost out.
Matt stared at him. “Did you just cheat?”
CJ’s expression was serene. “I didn’t just cheat. I’ve been helping Izzy from the beginning. If you can’t give a boost to the love of your life, the mother of your child, the sunshine in your days, the—”
“Okay, okay, I get it.”
“You’d do the same.”
“I would if I could play a guitar.” When Lucy came over, Matt wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I need to inform you that CJ’s making sure Isabel’s in front of a chair before he stops playing.”
She laughed. “Of course he is. We figured that out after the second round. Isabel will win. The real battle is for second place.”
“Eva’s gonna take it,” Nick said.
“Oh, yeah?” Jake puffed out his chest. “Then you don’t know Millie.”
Garrett removed another chair and Millie gave the signal to CJ. Nick and Jake shouted encouragement as Eva, Millie and Isabel circled the back-to-back chairs. Millie grabbed one of them a split-second before Eva did. Jake executed an elaborate victory strut while Nick swung Eva into his arms and showered her with praise for lasting this long.
Millie rose from her chair and faced the group. “I concede to Isabel, since we all know she’ll win with CJ playing guitar. And why shouldn’t she? In about twelve weeks she’ll give birth to the first Buckskin baby born in Apple Grove. Let’s hear it for our musical chairs champion, baby-momma Isabel!”
Kate cheered along with everyone else. She was excited about this baby. Maybe not as excited as Henri, who’d proclaimed herself a grandma from CJ’s side of the family. The men of the Brotherhood would be honorary uncles to little Cleo Marie.
Millie and Lucy would be aunties, along with Eva, now that she and Nick were a committed couple. Kate’s connection was more tenuous than theirs, but this was her adopted family and she’d claim an auntie role, too. She shouldn’t have given up her connection with the group so easily two months ago.
Now that she was back in the fold, all she had to do was keep her relationship with Rafe on an even keel. She could do that, right?
Chapter Thirteen
Playing musical chairs with seven toasted cowboys was a recipe for disaster. But CJ wanted to do it, so Rafe grabbed two chairs and added them to the two still out there.
Nick brought two more. “This would be a lot easier with folding chairs.” He helped Rafe create a reasonable facsimile of a circle.
“I like using these chairs.” Leo surveyed the arrangement. “Once you’re in them, you have a lock on that space. With folding chairs, you can shove somebody off the seat.”
“No shoving,” Nick said. “Millie said.”
CJ took a gulp from his cider bottle. “That rule was for the ladies.”
“Oh, yeah?” Garrett nudged back his hat. “Will you be shoving, then?”
CJ smiled. “I might.” He drained his bottle. “Okay, let’s do this. I picked the tune and Millie’s set to operate the music.”
Matt joined them. “I just asked Millie what the song was. Good choice, bro.”
“What’d you pick?” Rafe wouldn’t mind a change. He liked the truck song, but he liked a lot of other ones, too.
“American Girl, Carrie Underwood. Makes me think of Cleo Marie and Izzy.”
Rafe smiled. “Nice.” Maybe this game wouldn’t be a total snafu, after all.
“Let me get rid of this bottle and we can start.”
“I’m pumped.” Jake spit into the palms of both hands and rubbed them together.
Leo snorted. “What the hell was that for?”
“You’ll see. I have a strategy.”
“Just don’t be grabbing me with hands you spit on. That’s gross.”
“I vote no grabbing at all,” Nick said. “I think we should outlaw shoving, too.”
Jake shrugged. “Fine with me. Won’t affect my game plan.”
CJ came back and after some discussion about the lineup order and whether shoving was allowed, Rafe ended up behind Jake and in front of Nick.
“Hey, guys,” Nick called out. “Are we going the same speed as we did with the women?”
“Nah.” Jake shook his head. “We need to ramp it up. Let’s run around these chairs.”
“The circle’s too tight,” Rafe said, “and so are you.”
“Spoilsport. I’m gonna jog, then. Try to keep up.”
“Okay, Millie,” Matt called out. “Hit it!”
Jake started off at a fast trot. Without breaking stride, he picked up a chair, held it over his head and shouted I can’t lose!
When Millie stopped the music, Jake flipped over his chair and plopped into it, grinning.
A chorus of protests erupted as the rest of them gathered around Jake and tried to drag him out of the chair.
He gripped the chair arms, planted his feet and continued to smile. “Nobody said I couldn’t. This is my chair and I’m keeping it.”
Rafe glanced at Nick. “Feel like doing a little lifting?”
“As a matter of fact.”
In one swift motion, Rafe took one side and Nick the other one. Before Jake could react, they picked up the chair and carried him, yelling his head off, to the sidelines.
“Keep him there, Millie,” Rafe said.
“Will do.” Millie settled into Jake’s lap. “Kate, you’ll have to run the music. I have my orders.”
Jake laughed. “How do you intend to keep me here, sweet lady?”
“With my feminine wiles.” And she kissed him.
Kate whooped. “Well done, Millie!” She glanced at Rafe. “Nicely handled. I’ll start the music whenever you guys are ready.”
Five chairs and six guys. Garrett was eliminated next, then Leo. Rafe figured out that Kate stopped the music whenever the word heart was in the lyrics. Conscious or unconscious, it was a tell.
By concentrating on that word, which popped up in the refrain, he beat out CJ for a chair. Then Matt. He and Nick circled the last chair.
The word heart was coming. He would be in position and Nick would lose. He quickened his step, got past the front of the chair and was headed behind it when Kate stopped the music.
Nick dived for the chair and threw up his hands in triumph. “I won!” He jumped out of the chair and turned to Rafe. “I can’t believe it!”
Rafe shook his hand and grinned. “Good job, Nicholas.”
Eva hurried over, all smiles as she presented him with a cold bottle of cider, acting like it was a trophy. “For the musical chairs champion. And on only the second time you played, too.”
Rafe carried the empty chair back to the group while Nick basked in his winner’s status. Everybody pitched in to rearrange the semi-circle and CJ picked up his guitar to play another song.
Taking the seat she’d been assigned originally, Kate sipped from a bottle of cider. Rafe grabbed what was his last one of the night and settled in beside her.
She glanced over at him, her voice pitched low. “I thought for sure you had it.”
“Lost focus.” He shrugged. “It happens.”
“Until that last round, it seemed like you knew in advance when I’d stop
the music. Was that my imagination?”
He shook his head.
“Were you reading my mind?”
“You always stopped on the word heart.”
“I did?”
“I know that refrain. I could anticipate when the word was coming up and make sure I was in position.”
“I’ll be damned. Did you really lose focus at the end?”
He met her gaze and smiled.
“You wanted him to win.”
“Yeah. It’s a small thing, but—”
“Small kindnesses are what make the world go ’round.”
The soft light in her gray eyes made his breath hitch. “You’re so beautiful, Kate.” Whoops. Hadn’t meant to say that. He looked away. “Sorry. Lost my head.”
“No need to apologize.” Her low voice had a sexy vibe.
She probably hadn’t intended to sound that way. “But it would be better if I don’t go around saying things like that.”
“I suppose.”
He cleared his throat. “Did you get any response from your aunt about the picture of the marriage license?”
“Yes. She texted back Good start. Eager for pictures of tomorrow’s wedding.”
“I know we’re not supposed to discuss this subject tonight, but I feel a little out of the loop. Is everything set?”
“Except for one thing. I realized while I was making dinner for the guests that we don’t have rings.”
“Yikes. I don’t wear any so I completely spaced that. Any ideas?”
“Not at this late date. I don’t wear them, either. They get in the way for someone who cooks all the time. But Aunt Lilith will expect one of those typical pictures of two hands, each wearing an appropriate wedding ring.”
“We could take a picture of Lucy’s and Matt’s hands. Who would know?”
“That’s a good idea, except the exchanging of rings is part of the ceremony which will be on the video.”
“Which will be done by Red, who makes jewelry.”
“That’s true.” Kate glanced at him. “Does she make rings, though?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll bet she has some. If a person’s into jewelry, they’d be into all of it, wouldn’t they?”
“Makes sense.”
“Let me check with Red in the morning. I’ll have more time than you will. I don’t have to get my hair done.”
“Are you sure? Eva might want to give you a quick trim, maybe add some gel to give you a spiky look for the ceremony.”
He stared at her. “A spiky look? Since when have I—”
“You should see your face.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’d think I’d suggested you show up naked.”
“Gelled, spiky hair is just one step removed from showing up naked, in my case. Which reminds me, I was thinking of wearing my hat. My good one. Nick has one that’s almost exactly like it, so we could have a unified look.”
“You can if you want. But a hat would make the now you may kiss the bride part more difficult.”
“Am I going to kiss you?”
Pink tinged her cheeks. “I think you have to. For the video.”
“Oh, well. A guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.”
“Will you mind it so much?”
“What do you think?”
“I honestly don’t know. Our one and only kiss changed everything between us. You might not want to go there ever again.”
“Or I might cherish the moment. I might be looking forward to one last chance to kiss you, even if it’s only for the video.”
Her breath caught.
He didn’t miss that little intake of breath. “Let’s turn this around. How do you feel about having to kiss me… for the video?”
“I don’t know.” The glow of excitement in her eyes was unmistakable.
“Oh, I think you do. You just don’t want to tell me.” He was on the verge of asking to drive her home. He wanted more time alone with her before tomorrow. He saw something in the depths of those gray eyes, something that gave him hope that they—
“Kate?”
He glanced up as Millie and Jake came toward them. What lousy timing.
“We’re heading home,” Millie said. “You must be exhausted. How about if we give you a ride?”
She stood immediately. “That’s a great idea. Thank you. I’ll get my jacket.”
He stood, too. “I’ll get it.”
“No worries. I’ll grab it on my way out.” She flashed him a quick smile. “Let me know what Red says. See you tomorrow.”
And just like that, she was gone. Leaving with Millie and Jake made sense. Her cottage was only slightly out of their way. But she’d agreed damned fast, as if she’d wanted to escape.
Maybe the simmering heat in his body wasn’t going on in hers. But her eyes said differently. And her rapid departure could mean that she didn’t trust herself to stick around.
Two months ago, she’d wanted to have an affair. Was he a fool not to revisit that idea and see what happened?
So what if she’d said he couldn’t stay the night? She had no idea how she’d feel after they’d made love. It might cause her to do a complete one-eighty.
Or not. She was stubborn. But so was he.
Chapter Fourteen
Her wedding day. Kate was awake and roaming the house turning on lights long before the sun was up. The ceremony wasn’t until four, a long nine hours away.
She had nothing to do until ten this morning, when the Babes, Millie and Isabel would gather at Henri’s. Henri had given her the day off as a kindness. But work was her therapy and she could use some right now.
Cooking a big breakfast would occupy the time, except she wasn’t hungry. Coffee would be good, though. She made a pot and got out the brownies.
Fetching a blanket and putting on her slippers, she set herself up on the porch with a mug of coffee and a plate of brownies. She never had brownies for breakfast. She’d never come out to the porch in her nightgown to watch the sunrise, either.
Considering what this day had in store, she might as well start it this way. Wrapped in her favorite blanket, a light blue one that was incredibly soft, she snuggled into the roomy contours of the Adirondack chair and sipped her coffee.
This chair creaked a lot more than the new ones Leo and Garrett had brought back from Great Falls. Millie had told her this one and its mate had been on the porch when she’d moved in ten years ago. She’d repainted them at some point and they needed it again—in Millie’s opinion. Kate didn’t mind the shabby chic look of faded green paint.
By the time she’d finished a brownie, the sky had lightened to a dove gray and the porch light winked out. A few little birds chittered in the tree near the porch. Up the hill, all was dark in Henri’s two-story.
Gravel crunched. Footsteps. She made a guess before a figure emerged from the shadow of the trees near the parking area. “Hey, Rafe.”
“Hey, Kate.” He moved closer and peered at her. “Why are you out here?”
“Felt like it.”
“How come?” He came to the bottom of the steps, his hands in the pockets of his sheepskin coat.
“Needed some air.”
He nodded as if that made sense. “I smelled coffee so I figured you were up. Thought you’d be inside, though.”
“Want a cup?”
“Yes, ma’am, if you don’t mind.” He climbed the steps.
“Help yourself. I’m all tucked in, here.”
“I see that.” He looked amused. “Need a refill?”
“Sure.”
Crossing the porch, he went inside. Soon he was back, a mug of coffee in one hand and the carafe in the other. She held out her mug and he poured the contents of the carafe into it.
He glanced at the empty carafe. “Should I make more?”
“Not unless you’re staying for a second cup.”
“I’m not. I have barn duty in a little bit. I just… needed to get out of the bunkhouse and my feet took me over here.”
; “Your feet operate independently from the rest of you?”
“Sometimes. Don’t yours ever do that?”
“No, and neither do yours. Don’t blame this on your feet. What’s on your mind?”
“You.”
“What a surprise. Not that it matters in our case, but it’s supposed to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the day of the wedding.”
“I’ve heard that, too. Mind if I sit down?”
“Be my guest. Help yourself to a brownie.”
“Thanks. I will.” Settling into the chair on her right, he put the carafe on the small table between them and picked up a brownie. He took a bite, chewed and swallowed. “I’ve missed these.”
“I’ll bring some to poker night.”
“You’re going to play?”
“Leo invited me. I figured it would be okay with you.”
“Yes, absolutely. Glad to have you.”
“Especially if I bring brownies.”
“I’d be happy for you to come even if you didn’t bring brownies.”
“That’s nice to hear. I’ve missed poker with you guys. Getting back to our weekly games will make things feel more like they used to. For me, at least.”
He finished off his brownie and sipped his coffee. Then he looked over at her. “Do you think things will ever be the same?”
She met his gaze. “Of course not. That’s impossible. People change. Attitudes change. But we can do our best and—”
“Two months ago you had a suggestion and I rejected it.”
Uh-oh. She’d been one-handing her coffee, but she needed two for this discussion. She looked away and dragged in a breath. “You were right to reject it. That suggestion was all wrong for you. I understand that, now.”
“Do you still want me?”
Damn. If he kept this up she’d spill her coffee for sure. She didn’t dare turn her head in his direction. “That doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does. You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.”
Maybe she was getting hysterical, because she had to swallow a giggle. “What a romantic thing to say.”
Strong-Willed Cowboy (The Buckskin Brotherhood Book 5) Page 8