My eyes narrowed at my blonde friend. “Huh?”
Logan only smiled at me. “I think you now owe us the name of your second born.”
“Why?”
Logan turned to the whole table. “Should we tell them? Briggs didn’t know it, but we were building Shelby’s cabin for him to stay in while he was working for me.”
Briggs blinked. “Wait, what?”
Logan grinned and nudged his wife. “Then Tessa here had the idea for Shelby to work for the ranch, convinced that she might provide a bit of a thorn in our cowboy’s side.”
“I didn’t know for sure,” Tessa broke in, beaming. “But I figured it was worth a try.”
“All it took was five seconds of seeing them together shooting guns that first day, and we all knew.” Kelsey smirked at me.
“Wait. I had to live in your basement, and the new girl got the cabin?” Briggs broke in, his mouth open in mock astonishment.
Shelby flushed, hiding her face in her hands while Tessa sighed and motioned to the two of us. “It was a sacrifice well spent.”
Kelsey pointed to the six-month-old in her lap, attempting to grab at her folded cards on the table. “Cade and I were kind of busy, but we did make the group chat and kept everyone informed of any new developments with the two of you.” She pointed at us both. “If there was any kissing, I knew about it.”
“That’s kind of creepy,” I said, a broad smile on my face.
“The make-out session in the rain last night? Maybe turn the porch lights off next time.”
She looked so proud of herself I couldn’t help it. “So that’s the only one you know about?”
Kelsey’s and Tessa’s faces dropped—exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
I leaned forward conspiratorially. “Because I could tell you some stori?—”
Shelby’s hand covered my mouth before I could set the record straight, making the entire group laugh.
“As for me, I was just an innocent who fell for Shelby’s charms in spite of getting hit, pushed, tackled, and then tossed to the side,” Briggs stated nobly. Then he grinned at all of us as he tossed his cards on the table. “Also, I fold.”
“Aww, that’s just her way.” I smiled, squeezing the redhead closer to me. “You weren’t man enough to take it.”
I grunted as Shelby elbowed me softly in the ribs.
“Last round,” I said. “Place your bets.”
Logan raised it. Cade matched. I raised it once more. The two guys scowled at me as they both added more money to the pot. When the last card was drawn and placed before us on the table, I grinned.
An ace.
“Show 'em,” I said, waiting impatiently for them to show us their cards. This would be the last game of the night.
Cade had two pairs. Respectable but not enough. Logan narrowed his eyes at me before he threw down a full house.
Ever so slowly, I stood, pulling Shelby up with me. I threw down my two aces with a flourish, and combined with the two already on the table, I had four of a kind. Before the guys could register it, I grabbed the wad of cash in the middle of the table, along with Shelby’s hand, and we flew toward my cabin to a chorus of shouts, laughter, and even a “Freaking Jake” thrown in there.
“Next time, come ready to play,” I called out. “Now get out of here! Send Sophie inside before you leave!”
And then we snuck inside my cabin, where I proceeded to kiss Shelby Tucker senseless.
34
SHELBY
