“You think you’ve got the energy for them?They’re training for a long winter trek, so they’re doing miles and miles of backcountry skiing every day.I will never complain about novice customers ever again,” I commented.
Lincoln chuckled.“I’ll take them.Can’t be harder than carrying gear in the field for hotshot firefighting.”
Conversation moved along and somehow turned to Kendall and me.Her blush sent what was now a familiar sizzle of electricity through me when Lincoln looked from her to me and said, “About damn time.”
“What do you mean?”she pressed.
“You and Jude,” Haven offered from my side.“It’s not a secret, so of course we filled Lincoln in as quickly as possible.We had bets on it.”
“You had bets on us?”My gaze arced around the table in disbelief.
Haven’s shrug was unabashed.“Absolutely.Since high school.But then we forgot about it.Lincoln wins, though.”
My mouth dropped open as I looked amongst my brothers.
“What was your guess, then?”Kendall asked, brows hitching up and eyes narrowing.Kendall, a little sassy and saucy, only revved my body’s engine even hotter.
Lincoln glanced at the calendar my mom kept on the wall.“I said it would be after Jude turned thirty.Everybody else thought sooner.”
“I cannot even believe you had bets on us.”Kendall let out a sputtering laugh.
Chloe happened to walk in, catching the tail end of our conversation.“First time I saw you two together, I knew it.I can totally believe they were betting on y’all.If I’d known, I’d have thrown some money in the pot.”
“Chloe, this is Lincoln.”I gestured between them.
“Long-lost Lincoln,” she drawled with a smile.
Lincoln’s eyes narrowed as he studied her.The air had a snap and a crackle to it.“Nice to meet you, Chloe.What brings you here?”
“I help your mama manage the place.”
“Oh, you’re the admin lady.”
“She is my executive assistant,” our mom corrected.“Chloe has been amazing.With a little help from Elsa with hiring her, Chloe’s made magic here.”
“Magic,” Elsa echoed.
Chloe rolled her eyes.“You don’t have to say I’m magic.I will take the compliment of efficient and organized, and maybe a little bossy.”
“We all do what Chloe says,” I offered.
“So who wants those college boys tomorrow?”she asked.
Lincoln lifted a hand.“Already offered.”
After a while, we gradually filtered out of the kitchen.Lincoln walked outside with me.“Where are you staying?”he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, are you staying here, or going back to town with Kendall?”His gaze held a sly gleam.
I rolled my eyes.“I was planning to go with Kendall.”
“Cool.Can I stay in your room for the night, then?”
“Of course.”I gestured vaguely.“Ever since we got the new place built, as I’m sure they’ve told you, it’s a little…”
“Haphazard,” Lincoln finished for me.
