Page 101 of Unguarded

“Rosie, I know you know Holden really well, and you love him more than words can describe, but as someone who has known that man for almost thirty years—because we’re old now”—the crowd chuckles—“I can tell you, that man will stick with you through the darkest nights. No matter what hard times life brings your way—because it sure will—Holden will never leave your side. He’ll defend you, he’ll protect you, and he’ll love you until his last breath on this earth.

“I love you both, and I love seeing what Rosie does to the tough bitch that you are, brother. Let’s toast to the happy couple.” I raise my glass of champagne, and the crowd follows suit.

Duke and Sterling hoot and holler into the night. The crowd cheers, and everyone drinks. I walk toward Holden and Rosie, hugging them both.

“Love you, brother,” he tells me, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Love you too.” I lean back, my eyes watering as I grin at my big brother.

I let them go, watching as the band begins to play a slow song. The bride and groom enter the dance floor, holding each other closely. We used big sheets of plywood to create a dance floor under the string lights. Rosie’s belly is still flat, but Holden places his hand over it, leaning down to whisper in her ear as they sway under a blanket of bright stars.

Dolly steps up beside me, hugging me. Her pale blue bridesmaid dress flows around her ankles. The lazy smile on her lips widens when Holden dips Rosie.

“What do you think, Doll? You finally have a sister.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

She sighs. “I know, right? It’s about damn time. I really hope it’s two girls.”

“You trying to outnumber us?”

“Yes! We need more feminine energy around here. Speaking of …” She nods toward Monroe, who is laughing at a joke Pops told.

She’s dressed in a floor-length pastel yellow dress with long, flowy sleeves. It’s not revealing, but it hugs her hips just right. My body heats up every time I look at her.

“She’s not ready.”

Part of me wonders if she ever will be. I put myself out there. I let her know how I feel.

“What makes you say that? I disagree.”

Monroe’s ears must be ringing because she looks up, smiling at me as her eyes trail down over me suggestively.

I smile back, shaking my head and mouthing the word,Pervert.

She clasps her chest in mock shock. We can’t keep our hands off of each other for five minutes.

Maybe we’ll escape to the barn later.

“I told her how I feel. I said the magic words.” I shrug.

Dolly elbows me in the side, hitting the bandage that’s covering my still-healing bullet wound. I groan at the burst of pain, leaning forward.

“Oh shit! Cash, I’m so sorry. I forgot! Are you okay?” She grips my elbow, shrill voice shrieking in my ear.

“Yeah,” I grunt. “I’m good.” I exhale, trying not to look like a sissy for any bystanders who don’t know a bullet grazed my ribs less than two weeks ago. “Now, I look like a little bitch.”

She laughs. “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to hit you there. I was just trying to convey how annoyed I am with you right now.”

I stand up straighter, plastering a smile on my lips as the pain marginally subsides. Monroe’s eyebrows scrunch up in concern.

“What did I do?”

“You think telling her you love her is going to fix all the obstacles in your way? She’s convinced you want to stay on the ranch and never leave. She thinks you hate the spotlight so much that you’d never sacrifice for her career and go with her when she needs you. She thinks she has to choose between her dream and you. And trust me, she’s debating it.”

My eyes cut to Dolly’s face. She’s shaking her head, dark hair tucked behind her ear. Her bottom lip is sticking out in astubborn pout, which has been her thing since she was a toddler with four older brothers.

“What are you saying? That I need to stick my neck out even further and tell her that I want to make a relationship work? Travel with her?”

Dolly nods. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you. The grand gesture, Redford. Remember when Holden branded himself with Rosie’s initials? That’s agesture. That let her know he wanted to make it work, go the distance, despite their differences. You just telling Monroe that you’re in love with her isn’t going to cut it, although that is a start. How did you do it?”

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