Page 194 of Ride the Sky

Ruby sits there crying, noddingyes.

“Baby, you’re killin’ me,” Charlie gruffs, looking all kind of tortured. He looks at Ford and Reese. “What she’s tryin’ to say is…yes,” he says, sounding dazed. “Let’s do the damn thing.”

Dakota brings her hands to her face.

Ruby bursts into tears. She launches off Charlie’s lap and flings her arms around Reese. Her smile is so bright, she’s the beam of the sun. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

They stay locked together, a mixture of sobs and squeals.

Fuck. There’s not a dry eye at the table.

Dakota lets out a hiccupping sob.

Davis sits there, moist eyes, a muscle pulsing in his jaw. He stares into his beer like he can will it to sober him up.

“Goddammit,” Fallon mutters, waving a hand in front of her eyes. “I hate all of you.”

Charlie gets to his feet. “Thanks, man,” he croaks, pulling Ford into a big hug.

Ford’s own voice breaks as he pounds Charlie on the back. “Anytime, brother.”

We all gather to offer our congratulations.

Beside me, Fallon slips her hand into mine and squeezes.

The night, this life, has never looked better.

“Look at us,” I muse, leaning on the bar top. We’re at the bar, waiting on the girls who escaped to the bathroom for a makeup check. “We’re all married bastards.”

Ford arches a brow. “You mean, suckers.”

Davis shrugs. “When you know, you know.”

Charlie laughs. “You ready to join the club, Beef?”

Beef slides us a mountain of beers. “Ain’t sure what Sheena and I got in our future, but I’m ready to find out.”

My future’s strutting across the bar floor, looking sexy as hell in tight jeans and a white tank top. She’s followed by the rest of the women, and I wonder if I look as pathetically in love as the rest of my brothers when they see their wives coming.

Ford slings an arm around me and leans in conspiratorially. “Y’all realize we’re lucky bastards, and the second they come to their senses, we’re all fucked.”

“Nah, man.” I crack a grin. “Cowboys get the girls.”

Charlie lifts his beer. “Gettin’ smart in your married ways.”

Fallon slides under my shoulder.

“You wanna dance?” I ask.

She looks up, and I catch that wicked smirk. “With who?”

I growl, trapping her in my arms against the bar top. “Not funny.”

Fallon leans in, kissing my lips. “To be honest, I like to piss you off just to hear that Southern drawl.”

Dakota, leaning back against Davis, laughs. “Check out Tripp.”

We all watch Tripp hit on Sheena across the room.

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