Just Wes.
If only it were that simple.
Two hours later, Wes parked near the front of the house and cut the engine, the quiet settling in around him, interrupted only by the sound of a dog barking in the distance.
Remington lifted his head from the passenger seat. Caleb had insisted Wes could bring his dog, and Wes had been all in favor of that.
“Stay.” Wes reached for the door.
The dog remained in place as Wes stepped out, then circled around and opened the passenger side. The Doberman hopped down and paced to Wes’s side, steady and alert.
Wes grabbed the small bundle of flowers from the seat—nothing elaborate, just something he’d picked up in town—and headed toward the house.
The smell of grilled meat hit him, and his stomach grumbled.
For a second, he paused at the base of the steps.
Then the door opened before he could knock.
Naomi stood there, a baby tucked against her shoulder. “You made it.”
“Hope I’m not too early.”
“You’re right on time.”
He held out the wildflower bouquet. “These are for you.”
Naomi blinked, clearly not expecting that. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know. I wanted to. My mom taught me to never show up empty-handed. Flowers are generally better received than my cooking.”
Naomi chuckled, and she shifted Grace to take them. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Wes nodded then glanced at the baby. “She looks content.”
“For now. We’ll take it. She’s been awfully gassy lately.” Naomi stepped back. “Come on in.”
Wes entered, Remington following at his side.
“All our guests have already eaten, so it will just be family and friends tonight,” Naomi explained. “And when I sayjust, you know what that means.”
“It means you have a big family with lots of friends.” Wes grinned.
“Exactly,” Naomi said.
The next few minutes was a flurry of introductions.
Millie Anderson was Caleb’s girlfriend. Wes remembered her from church when he was growing up. She’d been several years ahead of him in school, however.
Then there was Sheriff Micah Sutherland, who was apparently dating Naomi.
Wyatt King, the youngest of the King brothers, was there, with his girlfriend Kori Hutchins, a lawyer in town.
Hadley Chase was also there—she was a King cousin and local veterinarian. And so was Max Kincaid, who helped run the kennel here on the property.
Ruby King—the matriarch of the family—apparently couldn’t make it. She had to take Luke’s children to some practices an hour away.
Then there were the dogs. Hamilton, Caleb’s husky. Good Boy, Naomi’s yellow lab. Thunder, Wyatt’s search and rescue dog.
