Page 193 of Ride the Sky

Charlie lifts a beer bottle to his bearded lips. “Now that y’all got the death-defying stunts out of the way, you two know what you’re doin’ next?”

“Ain’t sure.” I wrap an arm around Fallon. “My girl doesn’t plan. Maybe one day we’ll have to when we have babies—”

Fallon presses a palm to my chest. “Whoa. Let’s take it one step at a time, Romeo.”

I just grin at her. I think about Fallon twenty-three hours a day; the other hour, I’m thinking of how our kids would look. If that ain’t obsessed, I don’t know what is.

“You don’t want kids?” I ask.

Her eyes soften. “Fine. I’ll take a kid. Or two.”

I grin around the table. My family. My friends. My wife. Too damn perfect for words.

That’s when I notice Reese and Ford, locked in a hushed conversation.

“Y’all want to share it with the group?” Davis asks, and all heads whip to Reese and Ford.

Ford rolls his eyes at his twin, wraps an arm around Reese. “We’ve been talkin’—”

“Ford, not now,” Reese says, trying to shush him.

Fallon and I share an amused look.

“Hell, why not now?” Ford says in a loud whisper to Reese. “They’re all going to find out anyway.”

Charlie frowns. “What’s goin’ on with you two?”

Ford’s expression is soft as he looks at his wife. “Tell ’em, Birdie.”

Reese’s gaze finds Ruby and Charlie. She folds her hands in her lap like she’s at a business meeting. “We wanted to talk to you both about something. So, Ford and I were talking and…” She takes a deep breath then says, “I wanted to offer to be your surrogate.”

Ruby’s jaw drops.

Hell, everyone’s does.

Fallon grips my hand, squeezes hard.

Ruby and Charlie sit frozen, stunned.

“If you want us to.” Reese plays with the gold necklace around her throat. “I know it could be messy mixing family with…well, this, and I know my past might be an issue—” At that, Ford flinches, shakes his head and holds her tight. “But if you can’t find someone, and still need someone, I’m here.”

Charlie, still looking dazed, asks, “Really?”

“Really,” Ford says, expression serious. “We’ve thought about it long and hard. It’s not the beers talkin’.”

“But what about you two?” Ruby’s voice is wobbly.

“Hell, Fairy Tale, we ain’t even been married a year. We ain’t ready for babies yet.” He shrugs. “’Sides, it don’t seem fair we get a family before you two do.”

Charlie and Ruby share a wet, wide-eyed look.

Ford continues. “We know money’s tight with the ranch and the flower shop. We’re family, brother. We want to do this for y’all. Because we love you.” He clears his throat, blinks hard. The muscles in his jaw and throat work as he finds the words. “There ain’t no two people in the world who deserve it more.”

My throat closes up. Everyone at the table is fighting back a wave of emotions. Including, Fallon. She doesn’t bother to stop a tear from slipping down her face.

A choked sob comes from Ruby. “Really?” she breathes, hands clasped to her heart.

“Really.” Tears brim in Reese’s emerald eyes. “It would be an absolute honor, Ruby. If you’ll let me.”

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