My fingers ran down his arm in comfort. “Thank you. I’ll be right back.” I hurried away to my room, thinking of what the surprise could be. It had to have something to do with the picnic basket.
I had a few dresses that I pulled out of the closet. They were all soft fabric with pastel colors except for the black one. I didn’t think black would be the right choice, so I pulled on the purple dress that had clouds on it. My hands brushed down the front of it as I looked in the mirror on the closet door.
I looked cute. I let my hair down and fluffed up my curls around my face, suddenly nervous. This surprise was sounding like a date. My first one.
“Bridget! Hurry that adorable butt, and get down here!” Lucas’s voice made me jump, and I hurriedly rushed out of my room.
“I’m sorry!” Stepping in the doorway, I brushed my curls back from my face.
“Wow, Darlin’.” Lucas whistled as he came to stand in front of me. “You take my breath away.” He cupped my face as he looked me up and down. “So beautiful!”
It felt like he was going to kiss me when he was yanked backward by James. “Oh no, you don’t. She’s mine for this afternoon. No distracting her.” He held Lucas in a headlock and ruffled his hair.
Lucas groaned and fought James back. “I give up. Let me go, you oaf.”
With a laugh, James released him and turned to grab the picnic basket off the counter.
James turned to me, a soft but shy smile brightening his features. “We’re going out together, Bridget. Alone. Will that be alright?”
He was so considerate of me and my feelings. It was the sweetest thing I’d ever experienced. These three men were the most incredible thing that had ever happened to me. Karma must have finally been coming back to me after so many shitty years.
“Just us?” I looked down, my face turning red. “I’d like that.”
“Perfect. You two enjoy yourselves! I’m going to go help destress Noah with a blow job.” Lucas gave me a saucy wink as he passed.
My mouth parted, and I watched him saunter off.
Oh, Lucas.
Life would never be boring around Second Chance Ranch, that’s for sure.
CHAPTER23
James
My heart was beating abnormally fast as Bridget tightened her hold on my arm as we walked toward the barn. I hadn’t talked about my family with anyone for years, not that the pack hadn’t tried. It was just hard to talk about my past trauma. Especially when it pertained to my sister.
And her death.
“How are we going to carry the picnic basket on Sage?” Her soft voice filled the quiet around us.
We entered the barn, and Sage, hearing her name, lifted her head over her stall door to greet us. Bridget reached out to her, rubbing her nose, and my heart skipped.
My two girls.
Sage had been my horse since the first time I came to the ranch as a kid. Noah and I met when we were ten years old and became fast friends. I spent so much time here when we were kids. Despite Noah’s dad being a royal asshole, we’d had no shortage of adventures out on the ranch.
I’d been there with him when his mom died.
Just as he was there for me when Ashlei died.
My heart skipped a beat at the flash of her name in my mind, and I let out a deep breath and focused on Bridget and answering her question instead.
“I’ll tie it to her saddle. We aren’t going too far.” I kissed Bridget on the cheek, savoring the feel of her soft skin beneath my lips. “I’ll get her ready to go. Hang tight.”
She took the basket from me as I hurriedly went through saddling up Sage. The horse whinnied at me, nipping at my collar and pushing her nose against my jacket pocket.
She wanted a treat.