“You’re in love with her.”
I don’t even hesitate. “Irrevocably.”
My brother blows out a breath. “I love her to pieces. She’s great.”
“Good. Let’s keep her alive tonight.”
“Let’s keep them both alive until we’re old as fuck.” He nudges me with his shoulder, and then we move to opposite sides of the vehicle to open the doors for our girls.
“It’s safe,” I say to Lena, offering her my hand. She has a wrapped package in her lap. “When did you grab that?”
“It was in the back.” She grins at me, and then boosts up to kiss my jawline. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
Ryker moves to the front, leading us inside, and I hear him give instructions for where to seat us to the hostess.
Finally, we’re in the back of the room, in a booth, with the girls tucked safely against the wall, and I take a breath.
I won’t breathe completely easy until we’re back on the ranch, but for now, this works for me.
“What can I getcha to drink?” the waitress asks as she approaches. She does a double take at Ryker and me, and then a slow smile spreads over her lips. “Hey, fellas.”
“Hey, Sarah,” Willow says with a fake smile, making Ryker and me share a grin.
Willow is territorial as fuck. It’s adorable.
But then Lena’s hand lands on my arm and she tips her head onto my shoulder, also fake smiling.
“Oh, uh, hi, Willow,” Sarah says.
“You know myhusband, Ryker,” Willow says. “This is my friend, Lisa.”
“And this is my boyfriend, Gideon,” Lena says, not batting an eye at the fake name that Willow gave her.
I love these girls.
“Of course, we all grew up together,” Sarah says. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Two filthy martinis for us,” Willow says, pointing to herself and my girl.
“Water for me.”
“Same,” Ry says, and then Sarah’s gone. “That wasn’t obvious at all, Trouble.”
“Sarahalwayshad a crush on you guys,” Willow says, rolling her eyes. “And I’m not convinced that she really cares that you have a ring on your finger, but she won’t fucking flirt with you while I’m sitting right here.”
I lean over and kiss Lena on the head, breathing in her oranges. “What do you want to eat, baby?”
“I want a burger and onion rings. But I need you to get french fries so I can steal a few.”
“Deal.”
“Oh, can we do the same?” Willow asks Ryker, who just nods and sets his menu aside. “Good idea. Okay, before the food gets here, Gid needs to open his present.”
“I need a drink first,” Lena says, and just then, Sarah returns with all our drinks. We place our food order, and Lena takes a few sips of her martini. “Oh, that’s good.”
“They used the good gin,” Willow agrees with a nod. “Okay, presents.”
