“Just think about it, Issy,” I tell her.
“Where’s my little man?” Oscar’s voice echoes through the backyard, breaking up the wedding conversation. He rushes over, scooping up his nephew from Isla’s arms. He has turned into the biggest teddy bear over little Easton, it’s so sweet.
“Seriously, that’s the hottest thing in the world. Dammit, Ragnar.” I swoon, watching him cuddle the tiny bundle in his oversized hands.
“The boys are in the man cave,” Sienna tells Oscar.
“Mind if I take him in there?” he asks, pointing to the man cave. Isla nods.
“So ... Valentine’s Day, then?” I smirk, turning back to the wedding talk, making Isla groan.
“Happy birthday, D. Sorry I’m late. Work’s been a bitch,” Jackson apologizes as he hugs me. When he steps away, I still.
“Did you bring me a birthday gift?” I ask, looking over at the handsome cowboy who is standing behind him. He’s wearing a black cowboy hat with sandy brown hair curling underneath the brim. He’s tanned as if he’s been working out in the sun all day, and piercing blue eyes peep out beneath his hat, narrowing on me as he gives me a quick look up and down. Is he a gay cowboy? Birthday wishes do come true if he is. He's dressed in a blue checked shirt that molds to thick arms, there’s a large brass belt buckle with a horse on it, he’s wearing a pair of tight denims thatare trying to hold tree trunk legs, capped off with a pair of well-worn cowboy boots.
“Um, maybe?” Jackson answers cautiously. “This is one of my best friends, Charlie Nash, we served together overseas.”
He’s a military cowboy. Gay angel in the sky, you really did listen to my prayers.
“Thank you for your service,” I tell him.
“Happy Birthday to you, sir,” Charlie answers in a deep, throaty voice that sends shivers to my balls. And he called me sir. Sir! Never wanted to get on my knees as quickly as I did then.
“I’m trying to convince him to move to LA from Montana and come work for me,” Jackson explains.
“They are going to devour him in LA, he looks all sweet and wholesome.” I look him up and down again. I would be one of the first people to devour him, given the chance.
“I can assure you I am neither sweet nor wholesome.” Charlie smirks, that deep voice doing nasty things to my mind.
“Are you sure he isn’t my birthday present because he seems like everything I wished for when I blew out my candles tonight,” I say, biting my bottom lip.
Jackson looks between me and his cowboy friend.
“Charlie, this is Derrick, and if you hadn’t guessed, it’s his birthday.” Jackson leans forward and stage whispers to me. “Please don’t scare him off, I really want him to move here.”
“Your friend doesn’t look like he scares easily,” I comment, raising a brow.
“I don’t,” Charlie answers.
“I give up,” Jackson says, throwing his hands in the air.
“Jackson, you’re here. Oh my god, Charlie, I didn’t know you were coming,” Finn says, breaking up my flirtation with the mountain man. “You’re looking good, Charlie. Last time I saw you …” Finn doesn’t finish that sentence, and I watch Charlie and Jackson stiffen.
“Jackson said you had a baby, congrats, man,” the deep-voiced cowboy says.
“And he got engaged too,” I add.
“Wait, what? You got engaged?” Jackson repeats.
“Yeah. I finally proposed to Isla, just at home.”
“And he tried to hide it from us, but you couldn’t hide that rock.” I chuckle, nudging him.
“Not from you anyway,” Finn teases. “Charlie, what are you doing in LA?”
“I’m trying to convince him to come work with me,” Jackson answers for him.
“Not sure LA is for me,” he answers with a shrug.
