Spurs 'n Surrender (Operation Cowboy Book 2)(32)

*



Sitting down in the barn around the old card table felt good, especially following a back-breaking day. After making a lot of progress on the tiny house, he and the guys had driven up to the ranch. There, they’d rounded up the cattle for the night. After that, Brodie had asked them to stay for a game of cards.

The ranch had been a second home to all the boys throughout their growing years. Mrs. Bell had always had a full cookie jar and a high tolerance for mud on her floors. But Wydell was ready to move out of the barn. Brodie and Danica deserved their space. Especially now.

“So…when were you going to tell us about the baby?” Wydell didn’t look up from his hand of cards. Good cards that could win him this game.

The guys around him stilled, and Brodie pushed out a breath. “You caught on, huh?”

“After you’d asked Danica to stay hydrated for the tenth time, it became pretty apparent something was different.”

Boyd clapped Brodie on the back, and Garrett gave him a nod of congratulations. They all raised their beers and toasted to the new little Bell baby and one more number in the population of Los Vista.

“Danica figures the baby was conceived in Denton when we were away.” Brodie’s brow creased.

“Antiquing?” Wydell asked wryly.

“Yeah.” He groaned. “She said we should name it after the town.”

“For a boy or girl?” Garrett asked, swigging his beer.

“Either.” Brodie sighed.

Boyd chuckled and laid down his cards. “What a stigma for a child to bear.”

Wydell chuckled. “As if kids don’t have enough disgust when they learn their parents had sex, now you’re going to saddle the poor thing with a reminder every time it writes its name.” He was happy for his friends, though. It felt as if they were turning a corner, coming upon some bright hope after a time of darkness.

Maybe it would happen soon for him too. As the thought entered his mind, Anya’s face swam behind his eyes. What a little vixen she was, flaunting her free, ripe breasts to him. Only he knew how they tasted, how her nipples puckered on his tongue.

After the game, he didn’t know how he was going to lie on his cot in the back of the barn and get a decent night’s sleep. Not when he was as hard as steel for her.

He had a feeling that, while he’d taken charge in bed so far, she had a bunch of tricks up her silk sleeves that would blow his mind if he let her. He tried to focus on the cards but kept thinking of knocking on the door of her Airstream.

“—Anya did for the Kents.”

He jerked his head up at her name. Looking from man to man, he tried to figure out what they’d been discussing.

“Welcome back, Hard Ass.” Boyd’s amused tone brought a chuckle from the other guys.

Wydell cracked a sideways grin. “You just wish I’d leave permanently because I always win at poker.” He laid down his cards.

“Son of a bitch,” Garrett drawled and folded.

“Shhiiiit.” Boyd followed.

Brodie eyed Wydell, and for a moment he wondered if his friend just might best him this time. But then he grinned and tossed down his bad hand. “Waste of time trying to bluff you.”

“Thank you kindly, boys.” Wydell swept the peanuts in the center of the table toward him, picked one up and split the shell with a squash of his thumb. The nuts rolled out and he popped them into his mouth.

“Your turn to deal,” Brodie said to Garrett.

He gathered the cards and began to shuffle. The talk didn’t return to Anya, though. Wydell crunched a couple more nuts and asked, “What about the Kents?”

“You mean what about Anya.” Garrett gave him a knowing smile. “We all saw you kiss her. You can’t pretend nothing’s going on.”

“There’s not. We hate each other.”

“Hate’s a strong word for someone with that many curves.” Boyd hooked a boot over his knee and popped another beer.

Wydell took in the four cans scattered around Boyd. Concern tightened his lips. Maybe he wasn’t the only one having a rough time dealing with coming home. But overall, Boyd looked okay. No hollows beneath his eyes. Maybe he was just letting loose tonight. He’d be crashing at the Bells’ house, so what did it matter?

“She’s definitely got curves. A man could just…” Garrett broke off at Wydell’s growl. “Ah, so you don’t hate her.”

“No,” he said quietly, washing his peanuts down with a sip of beer.

“I never would have guessed her capable of being so generous with her money,” Garrett said. “I mean, helping the Kents that way. I figured she’d want to get one of those fluffy little dogs you put in your purse, you know? And buy it a diamond collar.”

“Anya has money and has taste, but she’s smart about spending,” Wydell defended.

“But did you see her rings? How the hell does a woman work on a construction site wearing rings like that?” Garrett dealt the cards with lightning speed.

“She wore gloves. It’s not as though she was hammering with two carats on her hands. I think one was her grandmother’s ring.”

Everyone stilled and looked at Wydell. “You seem to know loads about her,” Brodie said.

“It’s just a guess. She didn’t tell me. That ring you’re talking about is a mother’s ring. There are three stones on it. Birthstones.”