Page 75 of A Cowboy's Bride
“You should host a party,” Tansy suggested. “I know this great caterer and possibly some awesome people to invite.”
“It’s a great idea,” Petra said, still more focused on Jinx than anything else. “It’s too late for Thanksgiving or Halloween, and too early for Christmas. What kind of party are you going to hold so we can hire you as a caterer?”
“That’s easy.” Tansy met Aiden’s gaze and waggled her brows. “It’s Petra’s birthday next Friday?—”
“Tansy,” Petra complained.
“Oh, I like this idea,” Aiden said, hopping on the train with full enthusiasm. A test run wasn’t a bad idea, and if anything did go wrong, Petra wasn’t going to complain.
Plus, the idea of doing something special for her made him happy.
Petra glared daggers at her friend. “You’re terrible about that cone of secrecy business.”
“Birthdays don’t really fall under the cone of secrecy, though, do they?” Tansy shook her head. “I think not.”
Aiden twisted toward Petra. He caught her hands in his and tugged to get her attention. “We won’t do it if you absolutely hate the idea,” he said softly. “But a bit of a party after all the work we put in isn’t a bad idea.”
She sighed. An enormous, dramatic thing, flopping her hands into the air. “Okay, fine. You may all celebrate my natal day. But there will benopresents, and I get to pick what type of cake Tansy makes me.”
“Deal.” Aiden shook her hand firmly then turned to the rest of them who waited eagerly in the main room. Jinx’s eyes sparkled with happiness, Sasha standing close by her side. “It’s official. You’re all invited back next Friday for Petra’s birthday party, and the official soft opening of the High Water artists’ studio.”
18
Sydney eyed the collection of boxes in the corner of the living room. “Are you planning on running away from home?”
Petra waved a hand. “Supplies for the art studio started to arrive, and since I haven’t been allowed to go into the building for the past week, the stash has been piled here instead of being put away where they belong.”
“Good thing your party is tonight, then.” Sydney leaned back in her chair, extending her fingers toward the lit fireplace. “Are you ready to celebrate?”
“I suppose.” It wasn’t that Petra didn’t want to enjoy the festivities. She completely agreed that a test run for the artist studio was a good idea.
The problem was that strange aching sensation still lingered. “Maybe I need you to prescribe something to adjust my perkiness.”
“Well, if you’re having troubles in the bedroom?—”
“That is not it at all,” Petra assured her quickly.
Sydney nodded sagely. “Ah, so you broke another bed? Or youhaven’tbroken another bed?”
“You’re terrible.” No, the sex was just fine. Aiden was just fine. Heck, things at High Water were better than fine.
Yet something still felt so terribly off.
Petra shook her head, focusing on other things. “Did I tell you that Jinx and I had a nice long talk? Turns out she signed up on the sly for the flute lessons. She’s been practicing in the barn so that none of us would know. She figured it was going to be a Christmas present until Sasha convinced her to jump the gun and play last week.” The sense of pride Petra felt was out of place but undeniable. “She’s good.”
“Spoken like a true mama bear,” Sydney said softly. “I’m glad she’s doing well. I think she’s doingbetterthan well. When I saw her earlier today, she looked a match for any teenager, arm in arm with Sasha Stone. Brilliant matchup right there, have to tell you.”
Petra was still wrapping her brain around themama bearcomment.
Something of what she was feeling must’ve shown on her face because Sydney leaned over and grabbed her fingers. “You need to never play poker. And also, as your friend—and we are good friends—I feel as if the time has come to ask if you know what you’re doing.”
Petra paused for a second. “Regarding what?”
Her friend shrugged. “I’ll continue to support you one hundred percent, but when you told us about coming to live at High Water, it began from a place of desperation and the immediate need to get Jinx out of trouble. It’s now over two months later. We’re no longer in panic mode. Maybe it’s time to reconsider the lies.”
“Jinx is nowhere near ready for me to not be here—” Petra began before Sydney lifted a hand to stop her.
“Of course not. I’m not suggesting that at all.” Her serious expression softened. “It’s not you being here, helping at High Water and supporting Jinx that needs to be fixed. It’s the part about pretending to be engaged to Aiden.”
