Page 43 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“Are they all married now?”

“No, only Dare and Billie. They got married over the summer. Cowboy and his girl, Sully, got engaged in the spring, and Sasha and Ezra got engaged the morning I ran into you at the hospital.”

“Wow. You guys have had a busy year. Congratulations to all of them. I’m not surprised Dare and Billie are married. Remember how we used to make bets about when something would happen between them?”

He smiled. “Yeah.”

“How did their friend take it? I can’t remember his name. The other daredevil.”

“Eddie,” he said sadly. He told her about Eddie dying and how it had caused a rift between Dare and Billie for several years.

“That’s so sad. They were all so close. I’m glad Dare and Billie have each other now. What about Sully and Ezra? Do you like them for Cowboy and Sasha?”

“Yeah, I do. Very much.” He told her about Sully’s background and how she’d come to the ranch and about how Sasha and Ezra had gotten together. “They’re all really happy. I think they’re with the people they were always meant to be with.”

“I’m happy for them.” She sounded a little forlorn.

“Are you okay?”

“Mm-hm. I just…Do you ever think about what it would be like if my father hadn’t ruined everything?”

“Yeah, I do.” They were both quiet again.

“It’s so unfair. I hate my father for what he did to us.”

“You’re not alone in that, darlin’.”

Doc made his way inside as they talked, and an hour later he was lying on his bed with the dogs, and Juliette was yawning sleepily on the other end of the phone. “I’d better let you go.”

“Sorry,” she said softly. “I don’t want to end the call. I like hearing your voice.”

“I don’t want to, either, but you should get some sleep. We can talk tomorrow.”

“Promise?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond. “Ohmygod, I did not just say that. I’m hanging up before I embarrass myself any further.”

He laughed as the line went dead and said, “I promise, darlin’. Love you.”

Chapter Fourteen

DOC AWOKE TO Sadie licking his cheek, Pickles lying across his legs, and Mighty sprawled against his other side. “Mornin’, Sade.” He kissed her snout and reached for his phone. Mighty gave him the side eye, like he had a hell of a nerve moving when he was so comfortable.

As Doc leaned back against his pillow, Mighty and Sadie settled in, and he opened to the pictures and video Juliette had sent last night. He’d spent half the night looking at them, which had made him even angrier at the bastard who had forced them apart.

He scrolled through the pictures and watched the video a few times, grinning at Lucas’s little-boy voice and Juliette’s and Lucas’s sweet faces. He’d missed so damn much. He thumbed out a text.

Doc: GM darlin. I woke up with three beasts and not the woman I want in my bed. WYWH.

Juliette: I wish I was there too. Three beasts? Sounds kinky.

He took a selfie with the dogs, and Mighty crawled up to his pillow as he sent the text. Doc ruffled his fur. “Claiming your spot?” Mighty licked him as a heart-eyed emoji popped up on his phone. Grinning, he glanced at the selfie. His hair was a mess, and he looked tired, but he was shirtless, wearing only boxer briefs and his lazy dogs.

Doc: You’re into my beasts?

An eye-rolling emoji popped up.

Juliette: Why do you look so hot in the morning when I look like death warmed over?

Doc: Not possible. Send me a pic.