Penny smiles.“Nice to meet you, Jace.”
“Likewise, Sunset,” he says with a grin that makes me shove him off me.
“Nope. I’m the only one who calls her Sunset. She’s just Penny to you.”
I jab a finger at him, and he bursts out laughing so loud people start turning to look.
“Damn, my brother’s fallen hard and fast!” he hollers.
I growl again, but Jace just smirks like I didn’t just threaten his life with a look. Then he glances left.“Is that my baby sister?” he shouts, drawing more eyes.
Grace’s cheeks flame red as she walks over, hand in hand with Caleb. My eyes immediately lock on their joined hands, teeth grinding.
“You touching my sister?” Jace booms, glaring Caleb up and down.
“Jace, stop it!” Grace chides.
Caleb, poor kid, just stands there stunned.“Jace Hawthorne?” he blurts, turning to Grace.“The famous bull rider Jace Hawthorne is your brother?”
Grace groans. Caleb faces Jace again, extending his hand.“I’m Caleb, big fan, man. And yeah, I, uh… sometimes touch your sister.” His face goes pale the second he realizes what he said.“I mean…”
“You have a death wish, boy,” I growl.
Jace just stares him down, arms crossed, not even glancing at Caleb’s hand.
“What I meant,” Caleb stammers,“is I hold her hand… and kiss her sometimes. That’s it.” He looks like he might pass out.
“Jace, cut it out!” Grace snaps.
Finally, Jace smiles, slow and wicked, before shaking Caleb’s hand.“Nice to meet you, Caleb. You ever touch my baby sister other than to hold her hand or kiss her, and you’ll find yourself in the arena staring down a bull. Clear?”
Caleb nods so fast it’s almost funny and drops Grace’s hand.
Grace waves behind us, calling over Cassie, our next-door neighbor’s kid and her best friend. Cassie walks up shyly, avoiding eye contact. That girl’s always been quiet, it still baffles me how she and Grace get along like sisters.
“Hi,” Cassie murmurs, voice soft.
“Hey, Cassie. Long time no see!” Jace grins.
Her cheeks turn bright red, eyes dropping to her boots.“Six months.”
Jace’s grin widens.“You counting, Cassie?”
Cassie goes crimson. The girl’s had a crush on him since they were kids racing bikes down the hills. And Jace knows it. The bastard loves to make her blush, even though he’s not into her, he lives for the rodeo and his buckle bunnies.
Grace notices Cassie’s discomfort, leans in, and whispers something in her ear. Then, suddenly, the two of them bolt across the square toward Mom.
Jace laughs, gives chase, and catches Grace first, scooping her up and spinning her around until the crowd bursts out laughing.
“I missed you, little sis!” he yells, ruffling her hair while she squirms.
Caleb stands beside me, grinning.
“I didn’t,” Grace says once he sets her down, brushing her hair back, but there’s a smile creeping across her face.“Well… maybe just a little.”
They both laugh, hugging tight. Those two, only three years apart, always acted like twins growing up.
Penny looks around, taking in the glow of lights and the swirl of people.“Is that your mom over there?”
