“Brody,” Gunner bellowed.
“Payback is hell. Now we’re even. You leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone,” Brody said.
Gunner turned—all the guys were in the hallway. Half of them were videoing him. Gunner nodded. He’d call a truce for now. But once the store was open, it would be open season again.
Tonight, Marcus and Chelle both had friends staying over with them. The kids had beamed when she’d told them the plans.
Rachel got to have a fun evening while the kids had friends over too. Clara, Regina, Meg, Beth, and Jesse had come over to hang out and crochet. Clara and Meg were helping Rachel make somemore of the cats. Beth was making hand-crocheted blankets, and Jesse was learning from her.
She’d giggled, laughed, and talked while they worked on crafts together. When Meg had mentioned Bluff Creek Crafts & Things had times people could meet to craft, Rachel added to her list of things she wanted to do in Bluff Creek.
“So I heard the kids were trying to convince you to get an animal,” Regina said softly.
Rachel appreciated her keeping it quiet.
“Oh my gosh, do you know how many times I’ve heard the same facts about loneliness and how pets help alleviate it?” Rachel whispered back.
“It’s still too chilly right now to get a new animal that you’d have to take outside to pee,” Beth replied.
“I have to admit that this morning wasn’t my proudest mom moment when Marcus would not shut up about getting two so they could be friends. I basically said that until we’d been here at least two months, we would not even discuss it. Of course, it could have been because I was in theshower with the music on and thought I might get maybe five minutes to myself,” Rachel said.
“I think that’s a good way to do it. You didn’t say no but gave them a timeline for when you will be willing to discuss. If I wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed with all the love the guys and Baron were showing my boys, I would have screamed when Baron bought them German Shepherd puppies that first Christmas. But everyone helped with them, and my boys had done without for so long that I was ecstatic the way the men in the MC embraced all of us. You can always take one of the farm animals for an overnight. The bunnies are good for something like that,” Regina said.
Rachel finished her cat, adding the nose and eyes. She put it in the pile and picked out some different color yarn.
“I love your idea for the cats and everything else. Do you and Gunner need help getting all the books on the shelves? I’d love to help,” Jesse said.
Beth snickered, “Oh, but don’t expect her to work too fast. If her kids are all at home, she’llprobably read the back of each book before putting it on the shelf.”
“Well, of course. I adore the twins and Hank. Finding time to read a book, let alone peruse the synopsis, doesn’t happen very often. The girls just started walking and they are so fast. Now, not that they need to reach for anything because if they make a sound, Hank is there trying to get them whatever they need,” Jesse said.
“Aww, he’s such a sweet older brother,” Clara said.
Jesse giggled. “Can you imagine how he’s going to act when they start dating? He and Cannon will probably run off every boy who comes over.”
“Oh yes, they will. Think about my Ariel. War and Baron were even keeping tabs on her as an adult,” Regina said.
“How’d that turn out?” Rachel asked.
“Oh, she’s married to Pit, the Saint’s Outlaw MC President, but War didn’t make it easy,” Regina said.
Rachel enjoyed the conversations and crafting with the women. Gunner’s text about Finn’s pinkhair making him think about the pink cats she was making had her smiling.
“Oh, that smile has to be about a man,” Meg said.
“Gunner sent me something to think about for the shop,” Rachel replied. She liked these women but what she and Gunner had was new. She still had the issue to deal with. Beth had updated her that the plan was in motion, but no updates were available yet. She only hoped it worked out the way she wanted.
She wasn’t sure what she’d do if it failed. For once in her life, she was going to hope for exactly what she wanted—not just take whatever life handed her and live with it, keeping a smile on her face. Beth had told Rachel that she needed to dream. Rachel decided that was what she was going to do—dream of a life here at Bluff Creek with a certain chef. A chef who she wouldn’t mind licking more than the beaters from his creation he let her lick a couple of days ago.
Chapter Fourteen
Gunner held Rachel’s hand as they walked into Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar for the party. Since Broken Hearts Brewing had a huge Valentine’s event planned, Bluff Creek had decided to have a night out in Dodge City two weeks before their grand opening.
The kids were having a huge sleepover at the gym with Baron, Regina, Hope, Locks, Meg, Rascal, and Clara overseeing the party. Since the kids from Nelson’s were attending too, Hennessy and Ellie’s older kids were helping babysit along with Deborah. They had a bounce house, movie marathon, and crafts planned.
Gunner planned on using this time to dance with Rachel and see if she was ready for more.
They’d spent this week much like last week—working together and spending evenings as a family.
