Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(110)

Marin sighed. “Yes. And that is so totally hot in a guy.”


“No lie.”


“So you and Boone didn’t even…?”


“Kiss? Nope. But I have to ask…” Sierra fought a blush. “What was it really like? With you and Mitch?”


“It hurt the first time. Then the next time it didn’t hurt, but it didn’t feel that great either. I kept hoping it would get better, but honestly, I don’t get what the big deal is.” She grinned. “But I bet it would be awesome with Boone.”


“Marin!”


“Oh, don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”


Her dad walked into the room and she was happy for the interruption.


“How are you feeling?” he asked.


Sierra looked at Marin. “Much better now.”


“Glad to hear it. Good to see you again, Marin.”


“You too, Mr. Daniels.”


“Please, call me Gavin. You girls need anything? Drinks? Snacks?”


“Can you stay a little longer?” Sierra asked Marin.


“Sure. It’s not like I’d rather be doing homework.”


“Thanks, Dad, pizza rolls would be good.”


“I’m on it.” He cut to the back staircase.


“You know, Arizona, your dad is kinda hot.”


“Eww!”


A beat passed. “Know who else is hot?”


“Who?”


“Boone West.”


Sierra sighed. “I’m never gonna live this down, am I?”


“Nope.” Marin smiled. “Because you’ll have me around every day to remind you.”


“Awesome.”


“Admit it. You missed me.”


“I really did.”


Chapter Thirty-Two


Late February…


Gavin scanned the crowd at Ziggy’s. With more than half the damn men wearing black cowboy hats, he wandered through the entire bar before he saw Dalton, sitting at a table in the corner, far from the action. He took the chair opposite him. “Hey, Dalton.”


“Gavin. Glad you could make it.”


“I was surprised by the invite.”


“Well, we haven’t had a chance to catch up…” Dalton sent him a sheepish smile. “I’m fresh outta drinking buddies, now that Tell and Georgia got hitched, so since you ain’t hitched either, you were selected.”


Gavin grinned. No bullshit. He liked that. He ordered Crown and water from the cocktail waitress after she finished flirting shamelessly with Tell. “Vi told me Tell and Georgia flew to Vegas. Did you go?”


“I stood up for Tell. I never turn down a chance to go to Vegas. That said, I wouldn’t get married in Sin City on Valentine’s Day, but that’s what they wanted. From there they flew to Acapulco. I hung around a couple days after, played some cards.”


“Did you win?”


“I won big enough one night they upgraded my room at the Hard Rock to the high roller’s suite. Immediately all sorts of lovely ladies volunteered to help me celebrate.”


Gavin laughed. Dalton, like the rest of the McKays, had the rugged good looks women seemed to go for. He was a strapping guy, easily several inches taller than either of his brothers. Broader too. That baby-face was deceiving, according to Vi. Dalton McKay liked to fight. And he liked to win.


Once the drinks were on the table, Dalton lifted his glass for a toast. “To the last two single McKays standing.”


After Gavin drank, he felt the need to point out, “Since Rielle and I are in a relationship, technically I’m not single.”


“Technically you’re not a McKay either.” Dalton laughed. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. So it’s serious with you and Rielle?”


“Wasn’t something either of us expected, but it’s…” He wanted to say she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but that sounded sappy, so he said, “Good. We’re taking it day by day.”


“Sierra is cool with it?”


“She seems to be. Sierra’s been a bit of a humble Tigger since the accident, if you know what I mean.”


“I’ve been there, as you well know.”


He looked Dalton in the eye. “I don’t hold that intervention with Ben against you, Dalton. You did what you thought was right. You were looking out for someone you cared about.”


Dalton turned his lowball glass on the cocktail napkin. “It sure opened my eyes about a lot of things.”


“Mine too, to be honest. Anyway, Sierra and Rielle get along well. They like each other and spend time together, but I don’t force the issue. Might sound obvious, but I’m Sierra’s parent, Ree is not. It’d be easy to put expectations on her since we’re living together and because she’s a woman who’s been a single parent. We’re still figuring out boundaries.”


“How did Rory react to Rielle being in a relationship with you?”