Page 77 of Freeing the Wild
“Must have told her that one before,” Cole mutters with a grin as he stands.
“Awww.Baby.”Ginger meets him to tweak his chin.“You’ve told her ALL of them before.”
Everyone makes their way to the dining room table, where there are already paper plates and napkins out thanks to Jo.
“Taught him everything he knows,” Dean says with a grin, grabbing some pizza and taking a seat.Wade enters from the kitchen and sets a big bottle of that tasty bourbon in the middle of the table.There are a dozen crystal glasses in the center.
“Everyone who wants some, take a glass.”He looks at Ivy and CeCe.“Sorry, ladies.”
I grab a tumbler and watch as everyone pours a little into their own.Haden takes the bottle from Ginger and adds some to my glass, then to his own.
“It’s customary to drink to Wyatt,” Haden explains.“He was the king around here.”
“Still is.”Cole grins.
“Still is,” Haden affirms.
“You know, honey, you look like you know a good toast or two,” Dean says, looking right at me.
“It’s also customary for Papa to put new people on the spot.”Jo winks at me.
“It’s fine, I’ve got it.But the only toasts I know are my daddy’s,” I say.
“I love that!”Dean laughs, pointing his glass at me.“Do your best.”
I think for a second, recalling the toast my dad used to always say.“May we get exactly what we want, exactly what we need, butneverwhat we deserve.”
The table chuckles.
“Hear, hear!”Dean says as he knocks his glass on the table.Everyone follows suit, including me.“If you think those jokes earlier were bad,” Dean addresses Ginger and points to Cole, “you should see what this one is planning for the wedding.”
Cole gives him theshut up, old manface as all the color drains from Ginger’s.
“There will not be a series of cheesy dad jokes at our wedding reception,” she says resolutely.
“Course not,” Cole chuckles.She cuffs him on the shoulder and Nash laughs as he takes a swig of his bourbon.
“Goddamn it’s fun to sit on this side of the fence and watch you try to keep him under control,” he says to Ginger.
Mabel skips over from her spot at the table and holds her hand out to Nash.He looks down at her and smirks, pulling a dollar from his wallet.Then another immediately after.
“Here’s another one if you want to grab me some of that garlic bread at the other end of the table and pop it on my plate.”He grins down at her.
“You realize when you have kids you can’t pay them to deliver you food, right?”Cole laughs.“She’s not the maid.”
“Just trying to help her college fund.”Nash turns his attention back to Mabel.“Right, Mabes?”
“For an extra dollar I’ll bring you some of Nana’s cake after too,” Mabel offers.
Nash nods, handing her another note.“You’re on.”
Cole shakes his head as I lean in and grab a couple of slices to eat from the box.I’m starving after a long, hard day of work.
“So, who’s going to help fix the roof?”CeCe asks, taking a seat across from Haden and I, her almost five-month-along baby bump peeking through the flowy little top she’s wearing.
Jo comes and joins me to my right.My own mama is missingbecause she’s making dinner for her new man friend who owns the local hardware store.
I nudge my chair over a little to give Jo lots of room.As I do, I knock into Haden and the feel of his thigh on mine sends a static feeling right up my leg and through my hips.Images of his face between my legs flash through my mind and my core instantly heats.Simmer down, Cass, at least get through dinner.
