"Yeah, sure."
"It's not a problem, is it?"
"No, it's just...If Cash was going to give Libby a ride anyway, there was no need for me to come tonight.I didn't understand it from the beginning."
Travis chuckled."That's Cash for you, huh?He has his reasons for the way he does things, but half the time the rest of us don't understand until it's too late.But it wasn't so bad, coming to hang out with us, was it?"
Emmett smiled."No — and in fact, that’s probably why he did it, wasn't it?He knew damn well that if he asked me to come and hang out with the guys, I would have said no.So, he asked me about giving Lib a ride home.Because he knows I'll do whatever I can to help out."
He glanced over at Travis, who was giving him a strange smile."Yeah, I guess that's it.But whatever the reason, don't get mad at him, will you?"
"Come on.Of all the stunts Cash has pulled over the years, this is hardly the worst — and have I ever once gotten mad at him?"
Travis laughed."Nope, you haven't."
"If I wanted to be mad at anyone, I could be mad at you right now."
"Why’s that?"
"Because if I wasn't giving you a ride up there, I could have turned around and gone straight home."
"Well, damn.I'd say I'm sorry, but..."Travis grinned.
Emmett had to laugh."But you're not sorry at all."
"Not even a little.Apart from anything else, I get you to myself for the next ten minutes or so.I've missed you."
Emmett couldn't help laughing."I've missed you too, you big softy."
Travis chuckled."And I love you."
Emmett rolled his eyes."Okay, I'll say it.I love you, too."
"Aww, damn—you'll make me cry.You haven't told me you love me in years, you know."
"Yeah, I have."Emmett frowned when it hit him that he probably hadn't—he hadn't hung out with the guys like this in years.He sucked in a big breath and blew it out slowly.Tonight had been good.It'd done him good.He'd have to call Cash and thank him—tell him that he'd been right to play puppet master.Cash always enjoyed hearing that.
Chapter Seven
Harper smiled as she watched Shelley and the others send their texts.It had been a wonderful evening.These women were different from her friends back in New York, but if she were honest, she maybe felt more at home with them.
Her friends in the city were people she'd met through work — editors and agents, people in the publishing industry.She’d known them for years, and she had a lot in common with them.Perhaps too much, she realized as she looked around at the women.
Of course she loved that she got to spend time with Shelley, who’d been her best friend since they'd met in college.And she'd always been interested to hear about Shelley's career as a lawyer.Ari was another lawyer, or at least she used to be before she moved to Montana.She was sharp and insightful.
Candy worked in the bakery.She was maybe the most motherly one of the group.Like Harper, she'd grown up in the foster care system and never had kids of her own.But while Harper had never looked back after she escaped the system at eighteen, Candy had gone on to become a foster parent when she was married.She’d been a foster mom to Spider and Rocket, who owned the bakery where she now worked, and now all these years later they were still a real family.
Candy had found a way to be a mom.
Harper looked away.Then she smiled again as she watched Retta – Retta was a sweetheart.She was quieter, but Harper had a soft spot for her.
And then there was Libby — who was from Montana and had grown up here in the valley.From what Harper knew, she'd lived here her whole life.
As if she felt Harper's eyes on her, Libby caught her gaze."Look at them all texting their men to come get them."Her smile faded."Wait — how are you getting home?"
Harper laughed."Cash, apparently.He said he was going to hang out with the guys this evening, so he'd give me a ride home afterward since—" She caught herself before she gave away where he was living."Since he has to pass the cottage on his way home."That wasn't a lie.She didn't like to lie.
Libby frowned and looked down at her phone."Looks like you're coming with me then."
