“Jade,” Chloe called and waved her over to the food tables.
“Boss!” Bob called to Chase from the fire pit. “I sent Mitch and Thatch to man the main gate. They’ll switch off hourly, starting with Reno and Faro, then Hank and Rafe. Ready to grill?”
“Duty calls,” Jade said.
“Yeah, dammit,” Chase grumbled with a grin.
He squeezed her hand and reluctantly let the stunning beauty go. At that point, it got busy. The band struck up the first number and would play until ten. Aromas from the grill soon wafted across the ranch, and people began pouring in, packing the tables with food. The swept floor in the center of the barn boasted some early dancers—brave because they were completely sober. Cash arrived with his ten guests, and they blended in like they’d been born to ranch life. Cash told Chase that Chloe had bemoaned the fact no handsome, single dude rancher was among them with or without dark blond hair. Grilling side by side with Bob at the moment, Chase chuckled and flipped a couple of burgers.
Jade soon showed up at Chase’s side with three bottles of his favorite beer from his stash in the barn’s fridge. She explained that Chloe had sent her saying he, Bob, and Cash deserved it as they were the official grillers. Chase offered her the first taste of his beer. She took a sip and made an adorable face. He chuckled and encouraged her to have a second swallow. She did so and nodded that it went down easier. He tipped the bottle to his mouth as she left to join Chloe, Rachel, and Teresa at the serving tables.
“You’re gonna burn those T-bones watching that girl,” Bob said.
“He doesn’t care,” Cash said with a laugh and clinked his bottle to Chase’s.
Chase chuckled. He turned the steaks over and glanced back at Jade. Her smile dazzled even from a distance, even when it was directed at people she didn’t know.
Time flew, as it did every Memorial Day weekend celebration. But never had he wanted to dance with a woman like he did with Jade. On and off the dance floor. The current tune was a fast one, and he saw Ragsdale sidling up to Jade again. Ragsdale hadn’t taken the hint. The man pointed to the dance area, but Jade shook her head. Chase smiled. He was starved, maybe she was too. He carefully selected and grilled two steaks, medium for her and medium rare for him. What a great night.
“Cash, ready to take my spot with Bob?” Chase asked, taking two perfectly cooked steaks off the grill and sliding them onto plates.
“Thought you’d never ask,” Cash said. “You know I’m a better griller than you.”
Chase laughed. “I know you’re full of sh—”
“Hi, Chase,” said a woman with shoulder-length brown hair.
“Allison.” Dammit. He thought not returning her call had sent a clear message not to come to the celebration. He should have warned the ranch hands and had them send her on her way.
“Medium well?” Allison asked, with a glance at the steak. “The way I like it?”
“I’ll take mine bloody,” Kendra Desmond said. “Hi, boys.”
“Hey,” Cash replied with a smothered chuckle at Chase’s predicament.
“Here ya go,” Chase said nonchalantly, handing each of the women a plate. Did these women know each other? He guessed not as Allison shot Kendra a sideways glower.
“Chase, when you get a minute, I want to talk to you,” Allison stated.
“Cash, same for you,” Kendra said, looking at Chase before she did Cash.
“I just took over for Chase,” Cash said to Kendra while nodding at a cute redhead walking toward him. “So it’ll be a while.”
“I’m busy, Allison,” Chase said, scanning the potluck tables. It took a moment to find Jade among the crowd. The band was at the beginning of a slow song when he saw Ragsdale take Jade’s arm and jerk his thumb at the dance floor. She pulled her arm from Ragsdale, and as he made another grab for her, Coop came up on her other side and stumbled. Jade instantly grasped Coop’s arm. As she stepped forward to steady Coop, Ragsdale slunk backward. Chase saw his grandfather point to a picnic table. As Jade escorted him there, Coop said something to her. Jade smiled and nodded before heading toward Rachel and her iced tea. “Cash, grill me up a couple filets, one medium and one medium rare. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“You got it,” Cash said.
“Thanks.” Chase stepped away from the fire pit. As he made his way to the picnic table, Allison followed him. “What’re you doing here, Allison?”
“I’ve missed you,” she said, holding her plate with one hand and grasping his arm with her other hand. “A lot. I remembered the Memorial Day picnic and thought we might share a beer and a dance.”
“Last time I saw you, you tore off this ranch, saying we had to get married or you were done. What’s changed?”
“To be truthful, I just broke off my relationship with a guy named Garrett and—”
“And there it is,” Chase said as Coop waved him over.
“I ended it because Garrett isn’t you,” Allison assured him.
