by Lexi Post
When she stepped out, the first thing she saw was Vince, sitting at the table with Hunter. Her heart leapt and she ran to him.
He saw her coming and rose to squeeze her tight against his chest. They stood like that for minutes. She didn’t care what others thought. All she cared about was that he was safe and whole.
He finally released her only to take her face in his hands and kiss her gently.
“Hey, you two. Get a room.” The customer who called out laughed.
She didn’t. “I love you with all my heart.”
“I love you too, Rae. Your heart will always be safe with me.”
She laid her head on his chest, reassured by the sound of his heart beating. She tilted her head back. “Can we go home now?”
He glanced over at Hunter who waved them off.
“Yes. Let’s go home.”
Epilogue
Rachel flipped the pancakes over on her griddle while Crystal set the table. Vince was on the phone with Esteban Otero, giving him a nudge about his Hereford order, and her two guests were still upstairs.
She doubted she’d see Hunter and Adriana until noontime. Those two were up all night getting reacquainted.
She flipped the pancakes onto the stack and placed the plate into the warming oven. Now for some scrambled eggs. While she whipped up her eggs, she grinned. She liked Adriana once she’d talked to her.
When Adriana had shown up yesterday evening in her tight jean shorts, half shirt tied beneath her large breasts, black cowboy boots that matched her shiny black hair, and an old straw cowboy hat on her head exuding steamy sex appeal, Rachel had been taken aback.
Luckily, Adriana hadn’t noticed. Her eyes had been only for Hunter. Once introductions were made, they all settled in for a chat and a chance to debrief as Vince said.
Crystal was under “house arrest” as far as Vince and Hunter were concerned. Rachel just wasn’t sure what to do about her now.
Vince came in and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her cheek. “All done. They want delivery next week.”
She sighed. “Thank you. That withdrawal for my ransom really hurt.”
“I know, that’s why I transferred a hundred thousand dollars into your checking account so you could continue operations.”
She spun around. “Vince Gallagher, you did not.”
“I did. This is soon to be my home too, so I want it to be functioning properly. That is, if you still want me as your husband.”
She wasn’t sure what she thought about the money issue, but he did have a point. It would take some getting used to, having another person to help her.
He turned her back around. “Don’t forget your eggs.”
“Oh shit.” She scrambled them up quickly, adding seasoning and pieces of bacon. When she was done, she put them in a casserole dish to keep warm in the oven while she made toast.
The sound of cowboy boots coming down the stairs distracted her. It couldn’t be Hunter. Adriana stepped into the kitchen, Hunter right behind her.
“Hmm, something smells good. I think we may have a cook who could give Selma a run for her money.” Adriana addressed Hunter, but Rachel felt herself flush.
Hunter had told her how legendary the cook was at Poker Flat, so she knew a compliment when she heard it. “Everything’s ready if you want to sit.”
As chairs scraped back and talk ensued, it reminded her of the days when her own family sat around the kitchen table having a big Sunday breakfast. She loved the feel of the moment.
She glanced at Vince sitting next to her. He held the platter of pancakes so she could serve herself then she passed it on. The thought of having children resurfaced. She did want them with Vince. A couple boys and a couple girls would be nice. The only problem was, she had to take care of Crystal.
Hunter put a forkful of pancake in his mouth and moaned.
Everyone stopped talking and stared at him.
He finished chewing then responded to the silence. “What? Can’t a man enjoy his food? What did you put in these pancakes, Rache?”
Crystal spoke up. “It’s a secret ingredient. We can’t tell.”
Rachel smiled. A little almond extract wasn’t that big of a secret, but if Crystal wanted to claim it as a family recipe, she didn’t mind.
“I think we should have a cook off between Rachel and Selma.” Adriana spoke to Hunter but winked at Rachel.
Hunter shook his head. “Oh, no. We are not going to upset the balance of the resort by bringing Selma competition. She’s already refused to allow another cook in her kitchen.”
“I have no problems with another bartender in my bar. I wouldn’t be here if I did. Now we just need another receptionist, another stable hand, another—Wait. You said last night that Crystal has bankrupted this ranch with her spending, right?”
Hunter choked on his eggs. “I didn’t say it exactly like that.”
Rachel put her hand on Crystal’s shoulder as her sister bowed her head in shame.
“Oh, no.” Adriana waved off her comment. “I’m not saying it to be mean, but what if Crystal worked at Poker Flat?”
“At a nudist resort?” Rachel wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
Hunter picked up on the idea. “The resort is all about second chances. You can’t even work there if you haven’t screwed up before.”
Crystal raised her head. “I’d say this is more than a screw up.”
“Doesn’t matter the size.” Adriana shook her head. “Do you have any skills?”
“She’s great with numbers.” Rachel beamed proudly at her sister.
Hunter, however, scowled. “That’s the last thing she’d be allowed to do.”
Adriana looked at Crystal. “Is there anything else you could do?”
Crystal shrugged. “Besides accounting, all I know is what I did on the ranch before I left home.”
“Hell, that’s perfect.” Adriana smiled kindly. “Jorge needs help with the stable. You could even lead trail rides.”
Rachel frowned. “They let nudists ride horses?”
“Yup. It’s the only nudist resort in the country that figured out how to do it.” Adriana beamed proudly. “I’ll call Kendra if you want to try it.”
Vince finally spoke. “Only if she can get counseling as well.”
Rachel knew he thought Crystal should go to jail, but she couldn’t stand the thought of her sister in there. The only thing that had kept him from pushing that idea was the kidnapping and his role in killing five criminals.
Since he and Hunter had used weapons and ammo he’d picked up in Mexico when he’d waged war on the drug lord there, the police thought the warehouse shooting was no more than two criminal elements fighting each other.
But if Crystal was brought up on charges, everything might come out. She turned to her sister. “What do you think about working on a nudist resort?”
Crystal looked at her. “It wouldn’t be my first choice, but I don’t think I’m in a position to turn it down.”
Adriana slapped the table. “Great. I’ll call Kendra after breakfast. You do have to wear a uniform of sorts, basically dress like a cowgirl. But when you’re not working you can go nude.”
Rachel couldn’t help herself. “Do you?”
Adriana nodded. “As often as possible.” She hit Hunter with her elbow. “And with this man as much as possible.” She winked.
Rachel smiled, happy that Hunter had a woman to fill his heart now. Maybe when Crystal was better, she’d find a man to love, too.
When everyone was finished with breakfast, they went about their chores and errands for the day. She stayed behind to clean up. Her sister wouldn’t be dropping in anymore and that bothered her. It would be good for Crystal to get away from the ranch. There were too many memories for her here.
Rachel pushed the button to start the dishwasher then went in search of Vince. He was exactly where she expected him to be, in her home office, her dad’s den. It definitely embraced Vince.<
br />
Wrapping her arms around him from over the top of his chair, she kissed his head. “Everything stable in here?”
He looked up at her. “Everything is accounted for.”
She stood back and he turned the chair to face her. Before she knew what he was about, he pulled her onto his lap. “You seem a little sad.”
“I am. I’m going to miss Crystal.”
He brushed her hair away from her face. “I know, but it’s not like she was here every day and now you’ll have me here almost every day and definitely every night unless I’m on a work trip.”
She sighed. “I know. It’s just that having the kitchen full for Sunday breakfast reminded me of the happy times my family had in there. It feels right when there’s so many people filling that big oak table.”
He brought her lips to his and gave her a gentle kiss. “Then how about we work on building a family of our own?”
Her heartbeat went into double time. “Really?”
He chuckled. “Really. I love you Rachel soon-to-be Gallagher, and I would love to have a couple Rachels filling this house with joy.”
“And a couple Vinces.”
He raised his eyebrow. “Four children?”
She nodded, smiling.
“Then I guess we best get started.” Vince kicked the door to the office closed with his boot, then proceeded to strip off her clothes.
She laughed with joy until his mouth found hers and their bodies became one again…and again…and…
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Read on for an excerpt from Wedding at Poker Flat (Poker Flat: Book 5)
Chapter One
Wednesday
Kendra Lowe absently reached for her ringing phone. “Yes.” Her mind was on the profit and loss statement on her computer screen. Closing Poker Flat for five days for the wedding would hurt their bottom line.
“Sorry to bother you, boss, but I have a woman up here at the garage claiming to be your mother.”
“What?” She glanced at the time. It was almost one in the morning.
“I didn’t know I’d need a security clearance just to see my own daughter.” Her mother’s voice came through Mac’s phone loud and clear. “Remind her she invited me to her wedding.”
“Did you catch that?” Her security guard’s tone held quite a bit of sarcasm, and she couldn’t blame her.
“Yes, I did. Bring her down. I’ll meet you.”
“You’ve got it.” Mac ended the call.
She looked at the small calendar on her desk. The wedding was still over a week away on Thursday. Her mother was supposed to arrive on Monday.
What the hell was she supposed to do with her mother with guests still at Poker Flat?
Quickly, she hit the keyboard and pulled up the reservations. “Well, damn.” Scanning the list of rooms on the resort one more time, she closed it out and rose. Out of habit, she unclipped her dark hair and jammed the brown cowboy hat on her head. Grabbing up her sweatshirt, she strode out of her office toward the floor-to-ceiling glass double doors of the log and stucco main building.
Solar ground lights lit the desert pathways outside as well as the circular dirt area for golf carts when guests came in for meals or events. The area directly outside was empty, everyone in their casitas or at each other’s depending upon their preferences.
Hopefully, none of them would go out for a midnight stroll and drop into the main building like one pair had last night. The last thing she needed was for her mother to stare in horror at a pair of naked guests.
She leaned on one leg and watched the dull yellow lights of a golf cart crest the other side of the ravine and slowly wind down the switchback path that led to a tiny stream bed. It would be a while before they crossed the bridge at the bottom and made it up to the main building.
She hated waking Wade up in the middle of the night, but there was no way around it. At least the new signal booster made it possible to have service now and she could call instead of having to drive over. It still didn’t reach all of the resort, but enough. She pulled out her phone.
“What’s wrong?” His deep voice on the other end settled her nerves far better than any drink could.
Just another reason why she loved him. “Sorry I had to wake you, but my mother just arrived.”
“Now? Today?”
She could envision his warm brown eyes widening. “Those were my thoughts exactly, but it’s really her. Mac’s bringing her to the main building. She’s going to have to sleep on our couch tonight.”
The momentary silence was telling. “No casita available?”
It wasn’t really a question. “No.” She didn’t want her mother in their space either. It wasn’t that she didn’t love the woman. She just didn’t have a lot of respect for her. She had no backbone. Oh, she talked a good game, but when push came to shove, she always caved.
A heavy sigh sounded over the phone. “I guess there’s no help for it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
She smirked. That was so Wade. “I know you are.” He was the one who insisted she invite her mother. Actually, he’d asked her to invite both her parents but she drew the line at her mom. “Too bad we couldn’t put her in the massage room, but I’m sure there are early morning appointments.”
“And that wouldn’t be very comfortable for her.”
“What about Jorge’s office? That has a nice big comfy couch in there. Far bigger than ours.” The lights across the ravine had disappeared, which meant her mother was on her way up. “Do you know if any trail rides are scheduled tomorrow morning?”
“Hold on, let me check.” The sound of her fiancé’s bare feet on the tile floor came through the phone before he pulled out the chair in their home office. “I thought the plane ticket you sent was for next week.”
“It was.” Which is why she was more than just a little confused. “I don’t think it’s even arrived yet.” What was she going to do with her mother for a week? Poker Flat was a nudist resort and last she knew, her mother wasn’t a nudist. Actually, she sincerely hoped that hadn’t changed. That was a sight she really didn’t want to—
“We’re in luck. No rides tomorrow at all. Looks like the horses have the day off. I’ll get dressed and run our extra set of sheets and a blanket over there. If you can grab a pillow from the linen room, she should be set for the night.”
And that was another reason she loved him. He was one step ahead of her half the time. “I will. Thank you.” She headed back down the hall to the laundry area.
“You know you’ll owe me one.”
She laughed, knowing exactly what he had in mind. “And I’ll be happy to ‘pay’ up.” She grabbed their last new pillow all wrapped in plastic and turned out the light. “I’m looking forward to it. The sooner the better.” As she entered the lobby again, a glow of lights appeared near the ridge. “I have to go. She’s here.”
“Remember.” Wade’s voice held amusement.
Her heart warmed. “I know. You’re all-in. See you soon, Cowboy.” She ended the call and put her phone in the back pocket of her jeans before taking a deep breath.
As the golf cart pulled in front of the main doors, she strode forward, her cowboy boots loud in the empty building. Pushing one large glass door open, she smiled. Truth be told, she was excited to see her mother again. It had been a few years.
“There she is. The queen.” Donna Lowe grabbed the side of the golf cart and unfolded herself from the seat with a grunt. “That was a long ass freakin’ ride.”
Ignoring the usual complaint, Kendra stepped forward. “Hi, mom.”
Her mother, who was more than a few inches shorter than her, finally focused on her and gave her a brief hug, her rose perfume filling the air. When she stepped back, she squinted. “Did you get taller?”
“No, I’m the same height I was when I saw you
last.” Her mother’s normally white hair was dyed a dark red now, but she had two inches of roots showing on either side of her part. She had it cut like a bob, but it was not well done and needed a good combing. Her eyebrows, which had been drawn on, were crooked and very large, making her look somewhat surprised.
The button-down shirt she wore to cover her own large chest was wrinkled and revealed more cleavage than a woman of her age should, but it was still a step up from her usual clothing. Her striped leggings made her skinny legs look even smaller. With her waist as big as her chest, people who didn’t know her might think she would topple over like Humpty-Dumpty.
Her mother wiped her hands on her shirt as if they were sweaty. “I’m shrinking. That’s what it is.” She turned to Mac, who was seriously tall and fit. Not only that but with her black hair pulled back tight and in her black sweats, she was hard to see at night. “You’re gonna bring my sweeties and the rest of my bags now, right?”
Mac shook her head. “Not until Kendra tells us where you’re staying. Like I said, the resort is full.” Mac moved her gaze to her. “Right, boss?”
She nodded. “We are, but I’m sure mom is tired, so we can put her in Jorge’s office for tonight. In the morning, Lacey can work her magic I’m sure.”
“Office? What? You expect me to sleep on a desk or something?” Her mother frowned, clearly expecting the worst. “Why can’t I stay with you?”
“I’m afraid all I have is a small couch and Jorge’s office has a big comfy one. Wade has already gone over there and made it up for you.”
Her mother crossed her arms over her ample bosom. “The groom. I want to meet this man. I didn’t inspect your last fiancé before that marriage and look how that worked out.”
Her chest squeezed at the reminder of what an idiot she’d been. “Very true. I’m sure Wade will answer any questions you have tomorrow. I think we should get you settled in.”
“To an office. Nice way to treat your mother.”
Kendra ignored her mother’s mumbled words. She had no doubt her mom would be thrilled with the accommodations once she saw them. “Mac, why didn’t you just bring her bags down on the cart?” She’d noticed there was only one bag on the back.