He chuckles.
“You know what I mean!” I insist and reach for the radio, turning up the country song that’s playing.
Bronco and I don’t talk for the rest of the drive. But I don’t mind that much because even being in silence with him is nice. Just his presence brings me comfort and warmth.
When we arrive at the ranch, I take a deep breath of the fresh air and breathe a soft sigh of relief. My problems always seem a million miles away when I’m at the ranch. “This place is magic.”
He grunts and says something under his breath that I miss. But I’m pretty sure he said it is now, which doesn’t really make any sense.
Menace bounds over to me, eager for cuddles. I reward him with lots of petting and croons, grateful that he’s always so enthusiastic about seeing me.
“Let’s grab some dinner before all the good burgers are gone,” Bronco says and leads me toward the back of the property where a lot of the men are gathered around a campfire. There aren’t any women here, but no one says anything to me about crashing their guys’ moment.
Instead I settle into one of the two open chairs. Menace sits right next to me, licking his lips like he can’t wait for a burger of his own.
Cord and Flint are across from us. I think they’re arguing about which one of them could wrestle a bear with his hands and win. Actually, I think it’s mainly Flint doing the arguing though judging by the amusement in Cord’s eyes, it’s exactly the kind of silly conversation he needed.
I expect Bronco to take the empty chair beside me, but instead he moves closer to the fire and claps Ridge on the back. He says something in a low tone that I don’t catch, because my attention is back on Cord and Flint.
Flint is the one who brings me into the conversation. “Be real here, Lauren. Which one of us do you think would win if we were wrestling a bear?”
Cord lifts his head, and now they’re both focused on me.
Ridge saves me by settling into the chair next to me with a noisy sigh of contentment. He crosses his ankles and gives me an assessing look. “How’s the auction going?”
“Pretty good,” I answer. “Cord is already taken, and Flint is on the auction block now. Someone keeps upping the bid. She must really want you.”
“Or she’s just desperate,” Cord points out.
Flint shrugs. “Desperate works for me.”
“Probably the only way he’s ever gotten a date,” Ridge adds which earns him a flipped bird from Flint.
Ridge nudges the cooler between us with his boot then opens it. It’s filled with sodas and beers. “What can I get you?”
“I’m good with a water, thanks,” I tell him.
When he passes it to me, I take a long sip and roll the edge of the wrapper underneath my thumbnail. The other guys on the ranch have already agreed to have their photos taken tomorrow. The only one I haven’t had a chance to talk with yet is Ridge. He’s one of the older guys here, a silver-haired fox with a blue gaze that never seems to miss anything.
“What do you think if I put you on the auction block?” I ask him.
“What do you think if I make a sizeable donation to your cause?” He offers in return.
“Come on, some sweet girl wants to win that pretty face,” Flint teases.
“You never know. You might get lucky,” Cord adds.
“To be clear, we’re not encouraging hook-ups,” I point out, not sure if that helps the cause in Ridge’s eyes or not. It’s hard to read him. What is it with these tough, macho military men? Do they take a special course that teaches them how to school their expressions so well?
“Color me disappointed,” Flint drawls. “Are you saying if I get some sassy little vixen who wants a ride on the Flint Express I can’t rock her world?”
“The Flint Express?” Cord chuckles. “Sounds like it should be a credit card.”
“Unlimited rewards with every ride.” Flint waggles his eyebrows.
Ridge snorts. “If I agree, does that mean the idiot over there has to shut up?”
“I’ll make him stop calling it the Flint Express,” I promise.
