Page 25 of Bray
Kitten choked on her wine.
Ma turned and clucked over her. Lainey grabbed the wine glass back.
I stormed over and–gently–nudged them both out of the way to rub Kitten’s back. She held up her hand and gasped, “It went down the wrong pipe. I’m okay.”
I wanted to glare at Ma for the choice of words because she was talking about the broken window, not that I’d fucked Kitten so thoroughly that she’d have cum dripping out of her pussy all night.
The idea of it made my dick hard. Again. Now wasnotthe time.
When Kitten caught her breath, she grabbed the wine glass back from Lainey and took a big gulp. Then another.
Ma took the plate Zeb had filled from the snacktray–Ma always set out snacks before dinner to hold all of her children off until we sat at the table–and put it in front of Kitten.
“Hey!” Zeb called out, but in good humor.
I picked up a carrot and swiped it through the hummus and then handed it to her.
Our eyes met. “Thanks.”
Her cheeks were flushed and I knew what was the cause, although a coughing fit would disguise the real reason well enough.
Pops, Shep, and Cam came in through the back door. They removed their hats and set them on the row of pegs beside it.
“There she is!” Pops called. He came over and hugged my girl. He was in his usual uniform of jeans and snap shirt. “I know you’ve been coming here for years, but I’m real glad you’re here with Bray.”
My dad knew what was up, no doubt Lainey spread the word.
“Oh, I, um… thanks,” Kitten said, looking down. She absently grabbed a cube of cheddar and put it in her mouth.
“Boys, wash your hands,” Ma ordered. “Zeb, grab the mac and cheese from the oven and put it on the table. Lainey, take the foil off the ribs. Everyone sit down while it’s hot.”
Everyone started moving because when Ma spoke, we listened. Especially when dinner was ready.
“Where are the others?” I asked as I directed Lainey to sit beside me.
Trig’s, Ellie’s, Colt’s and Molly’s usual seats were empty.
“They should be here any time. Molly’s on shift at the hospital. Trig’s friend is in town for the rodeo and–oh, there they are.”
We looked to the hall as Trig and Ellie came into the room. I hadn’t seen my oldest brother so happy since he found her. Because of her, he’d retired from pro rodeo and was now settled in Devil’s Ditch. In fact, they were having a baby sometime after the new year. They’d announced it at dinner a few weeks ago. We’d celebrated by Ma pulling an ice cream cake meant for Hayes’ birthday out of the deep freezer in the garage.
In the past, Trig had pretty much been away for half the year since I was fourteen, but that was over now. I rarely saw him without Ellie at his side. Other than Zeb going to Missoula for college, we were all staying close to home. I had a feeling, he, too, would settle here and help run the ranch. He was amazing at football, but he wanted to be a rancher.
Ellie held Trig’s hand, but went ahead of him around the table to her usual spot. His hand rested on her backthe whole way and he only sat down once she was settled. At four months pregnant, she was barely showing. But Trig’s overprotectiveness couldn’t be missed.
My mind went to Kitten being pregnant with our baby, which made me see where Trig was coming from with every possessive action.
“Everyone, this is Beau Rivers,” Trig said when a man followed them into the room. “He’s tried to win as many championships as me, but I never gave him the chance.” Trig offered his friend a sly grin while slapping him on the back.
Pops went around the table to shake Beau’s hand. “Welcome.”
Beau was around my age, dark hair. Goatee. He was shorter than Trig, but stockier. I imagined he could hold his own with a cantankerous bull just fine. “Thank you for having me,” he told Pops in a deep, calm voice. “Everything smells and looks amazing.”
His Stetson was in his hand as he nodded his head toward Ma in greeting, then shifted his gaze to Kitten.
Taking my hat that was hanging from the back of my chair, I settled it on Kitten’s head so Rivers knew exactly who she belonged to.
It wasn’t necessary though, because his focus quickly shifted to Lainey.
