Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)(76)

He’d come to Fool’s Gold temporarily, but had fallen in love with both Montana and the town and had decided to stay. Fayrene remembered the triplets’ wedding, with Montana and her two sisters marrying the men of their dreams. Fayrene was hoping a little of that marriage magic would wear off on Ryan.

“Why don’t we go outside,” Fayrene said. “The evening is so lovely.”

The heat of summer had started to fade and nights had grown cool. But in this hour, the temperature was perfect.

She and Ryan got their guests seated. Montana insisted on holding Caramel, who immediately flopped onto her back for a tummy rub and a snooze. While Ryan offered drinks, Fayrene pulled out her dip and slid the accompanying pita crisps onto a serving plate. She joined her guests outdoors.

Ryan handed Simon a beer, Fayrene a glass of wine and Montana a glass of lemonade. He took a beer for himself and settled next to Fayrene.

“This is so nice,” Montana said with a smile. “Quiet. I adore my daughter, but once she learned to talk, she never stopped.”

Simon’s smile was full of pride. “She’s a smart girl.”

“Which means she takes after you.”

“You’re smart.”

“Uh-huh. I think we all know who has the brains in the family. That’s fine. I’ll take being the heart.”

“You have mine,” Simon told her.

Fayrene felt the need to look away. Being around Simon and Montana was like watching something so intimate as to be private. Their love was a tangible presence in the room.

Montana nuzzled Caramel. “And then there’s this little girl. What a sweetie.”

“I’ve enjoyed looking after her.”

Montana stroked the dog’s cheek. “I’ll bet you have. When do you return her?”

“When Mayor Marsha is back.”

Montana looked at her. “She’s back already. I’ve seen her around town.”

“I didn’t know that.” Fayrene frowned. “I’ll give her a call in the morning.” Not that she wanted to give up the sweet girl, but still. Caramel wasn’t her dog. How strange that the mayor hadn’t been in touch with her when she arrived home.

“We could get a puppy,” Montana told her husband.

Simon shook his head. “We’re going to have a new baby. We already have Skye and our other pets. Isn’t that enough?”

“I guess. But puppies are fun.”

“There are other ways to have fun.”

Simon’s voice wasn’t all that suggestive, but Fayrene had a feeling he wasn’t talking about playing board games. She glanced at Ryan to see if he was picking on the passion and caring radiating from this couple. She smiled, thinking this had been a very good idea. When dinner was over and their company left, she was going to guide the conversation back to—

“Oh, no!”

Montana spoke loudly, then groaned. She started to stand up. At the same moment a huge gush of fluid soaked through her chair and dripped to the ground.

Simon was on his feet in an instant. He took Caramel from Montana and passed her to Fayrene, then looked at Ryan. “We’ll need to borrow a couple of towels, please. Montana, look at me. How long have you been having contractions?”

His wife shrugged. “A few hours. They were pretty minor so I thought we’d have time. They just got stronger.”

“Then we’re going to the hospital.”

Ryan returned with an armful of towels. Simon wrapped one around Montana’s middle, then guided her back into the kitchen and toward the front door.

“I’m so sorry about the mess,” Montana called over her shoulder. “And for missing dinner. I’m sure it would have been delicious.”

Then they were gone.

Fayrene stared at the mucky puddle. Whatever it was, it wasn’t water, she thought and turned away.

“I’ll get the hose,” Ryan said.

She nodded and carried Caramel inside. Once she put down the little dog, she walked over to the sofa and sat down. So much for a romantic evening, she thought glumly. At this rate, she was never going to get her proposal.

* * *

SAM WATCHED DELLINA pull up the zipper on her skirt. She tucked in her blouse, then reached for a brush.

“I’m so late,” she told him. “And it’s all your fault.”

They’d spent the night together and when her alarm had gone off that morning, he’d silenced it before pulling her into his arms. Now they were both running behind, although his morning was a lot less pressing than hers. He didn’t have clients to attend to.

“Want me to apologize?” he asked, tucking his hands behind his head and watching her pull her hair back into a ponytail. She put on earrings, then disappeared into her closet to dig for shoes.

“No.” She reappeared with navy pumps in her hands and a smile on her lips. “I had a good time.”

“Me, too.”

He always did. She was easy to be with. His recent conversations with Jack and Taryn had made him wonder if he was making a mistake. If he should break things off with Dellina before they got too serious. He’d come over the previous evening to discuss that with her. But somehow going out to dinner and then staying with her had made more sense.

They enjoyed each other’s company. They had fun together. Nothing about that was bad. He knew how to keep his feelings at a distance. As for Dellina, she knew his past and understood the rules. She wouldn’t push him. He believed that. So why not enjoy what they had.