Rope the Moon (Runaway Ranch, #2)(94)

“You can.”

I hold out the spatula. “Taste.”

He does, satisfaction in his expression. “It’s outstanding.”

“Now…the bad.” I cover the bowl of frosting and head for the fridge. Davis moves, following me. I stare into the fluorescent light of the fridge and say, “Fallon’s riding bulls.”

“Christ.”

“She’s all banged up. Black and blue.” I shut the fridge and turn toward him. He looks none too happy. “I’m worried, Davis. She’s working with Pappy Starr, and I don’t think he has her best interests at heart.”

He shakes his head. “I’ll talk to her.” The way he looks out for my little sister like one of his own warms my heart.

“You won’t sway her,” I tell him. “I tried but…”

“What is it with you McGraw women?” He sighs, dragging a hand down his face. “When you don’t listen, you argue.”

“Stubborn.”

“I’ll still talk to her.”

“Talk,” I order. “Not boss.”

“Fine,” he says, but a grin tilts his lips.

Before I can get back to my work, he snags my arm and pulls me back against him. “How’s Squish?”

The raw husk of his voice scrapes along my spine, warming my core.

“Squish is good.”

Davis puts a massive hand on my belly, applying light pressure to move the baby’s feet out of my rib cage. Squish likes Davis’s broad palm on my belly and his rough rumble of a voice.

My baby has some of the best sense I’ve ever known.

I sigh, tilt my head back against his chest. “You’re so good with him.”

He smiles. “You want to put me to work?”

“Nope.” I turn to face him. “I’m done. Just need to frost and assemble it the day of. Besides, you’re one of the worst sous-chefs I’ve ever had.” I pinch his ass and laugh. “But you’re sexy as hell in these Wranglers, Davis Montgomery.”

His eyes flare. “I like this. You, here with me.”

I nuzzle against his throat. “The baby’s coming,” I whisper. “There’s so much to do. I don’t even have a crib for him.”

He makes a growl of disgruntlement in his throat. Tightens his arms around me. “I know.”

“Are you sure?” Hand on his chest, I look up into his eyes. “About us?”

“I’ve never been surer about anything in my life.” A haggard breath shakes out of his tall frame. “I can’t move slow anymore. Not with you. We’ll get you a nursery. Get you everything our son needs.”

Our son.

My eyes fill with tears. “I get to love you,” I say breathlessly. “And that’s all I need.”

I kiss him in that kitchen filled with hope and sunlight and love.

And at least for now, it’s all perfect.





“Wyatt, you snap another flower, I’m going to wring your fool neck.”

Charlie stomps across the floorboards and snatches the bouquet before Wyatt can unceremoniously dump it in a vase. I smother a smile as I watch my brother prowl around the Lodge like some birthday bodyguard.

Wyatt lets out an annoyed laugh and looks at me. “He been actin’ like this all week?”

I lift a brow, hitching fingers through my belt loops, content to watch the madness. “Pretty much.”

Between getting the ranch ready to open to guests in less than a month, and actual ranch work, Charlie pulled together a surprise birthday party for Ruby.

My brother’s gone all out. Everywhere you look, there are flowers and feminine touches to the big masculine lodge. Light yellow streamers and gold twinkle lights. Balloons. Colorful linens with sunflowers. We moved the big table from the chow hall into the main room. The margarita maker sitting on the bar was Wyatt’s idea, an impromptu rental from Zeke’s hardware.

Wyatt swears when the crepe paper gets tangled around his hands. I pull out my knife and slice off the end of a ribbon.

“Look, I don’t know what the big deal is,” Wyatt complains. “Ruby’s had birthdays before. She’s had cake. She’s had flowers.”

“She needs this,” Charlie says, fluffing the flowers with more violence than necessary.

My eyes flicker to Charlie. “Everything okay?”

A muscle jerks in his jaw. “We had an appointment with Ruby’s cardiologist. He still thinks even with the procedure…it’s not a good idea for her to have kids.”

Wyatt’s face sobers. “Fuck. Sorry, man. I’m just a dumb shit who doesn’t know anything.”

“You knew that,” I say to Charlie.

“Yeah,” Charlie says. “I did. We both did. But I think she thought…” He breaks off, brow creasing, then clears his throat. “How’s the cake coming?”

I clap my brother on the shoulder, feeling for him. “Cake will be ready, Charlie. Dakota’s on it. Relax.”

The mouthwatering fragrance of vanilla and sugar fills the entire lodge.

Wyatt looks around. “Where is Fairy Tale, anyway?”

“Sent her out for soil for the garden,” Charlie says.

“You sure she’s comin’ back?”