She nodded. Would there be a future for them? She had to admit to herself that she hoped so.
“You need to take care out there on the lake, Hope.”
“I know that, Newman, I’m not an idiot.”
“If you get into trouble just wave and yell.”
“I got this, thanks, Newman.”
“You need to put on your vest.”
“Newman!” Hope snapped. “Walk away.”
“I’m just trying to let you know that anything can happen on the water.”
She’d felt sorry for him minutes ago, but now she was angry. He was an exhausting man.
“I’ve lived here for years, remember. Raised around water, and know what I’m doing. Now go away!”
He gave her a final look that she couldn’t interpret, then left.
“Strange how he loses his nice guyness when you’re around.”
“Not a word, Buster.”
“I don’t need a dictionary to explain what I see, sweet cheeks.”
“You people are weird,” Hope muttered, getting gingerly into the boat. She was then hauled out of it, and a life vest was forced over her head.
“Do it up, or I will.”
“All right already,” Hope said, doing as Newman demanded.
“His crown is certainly slipping,” Ethan said as he and his brother launched their boat.
“Where you guys from?” Hope asked.
“Your man already asked us that, and it wasn’t funny then,” Brad said, and then he gave her a stunning smile.
She turned as she heard a loud sigh, and saw Macy. Rolling her eyes, Hope settled her weight as Mikey got in the front.
“You ladies don’t get too upset when we kick your fine butts.”
Hope heard Annabelle growl at Jake’s words.
“You’re in a muffin boat, McBride. You can’t be serious?” Hope taunted him. She’d never been part of a group like this, but thought she could begin to like it.
Her future was uncertain, but she knew one thing, Newman would be in it in some capacity. Husband or lover, or just friend, he would now feature in her life, because they were going to share a child, and last night, as she lay staring at the ceiling, she’d realized that she also cared about him—which was a good thing too.
He watched her push off as he did the same.
“We are not sitting behind her, Newman. I want to win this, because my sister will give me shit for the rest of my natural life and into the afterlife if I lose to her, so for fuck’s sake, concentrate!”
“You want those dancing lessons bad?”
“Real bad.”
It wasn’t a great distance to row, and the Texans, as it turned out, had a seaworthy and mobile craft, and shot out to the lead. Buster and Jake were on their tail, with Newman and Noah a close third. Turning, he saw Hope and Mikey not far behind.
