Page 121 of Bailey

“Yes, we do,” Reeves said.

“Oh, Stockton brought Hannah.” Bailey pulled in a breath and met Reeves’s eyes. “Let’s go say hello.”

“He looks a little lost,” Laney said just as Reeves found the man immediately inside the entrance. His father, Graham’s brother Eli, entered too, and Reeves let himself get swept up by Bailey’s hand in his.

They crossed the room to her cousin, and she once again leaned in to embrace Stockton, leaving Reeves to his own devices. He looked at the pretty brunette he’d only listened to Stockton talk about.

“Howdy,” he said. “I’m Reeves Dur⁠—”

Her eyes widened, and all of her nerves fled. “You’re the Teton Mountain Man.”

Reeves grinned at her. “Only when the camera is on,” he said. “Today, I’m just Reeves, Bailey’s boyfriend.” If he had his way, he’d be her fiancée soon enough, but they still had plenty of things to talk through, and Reeves didn’t want to rush anything.

He extended his hand toward her. “I think Stockton said your name was Hannah? He’s been fairly quiet about you.”

“We’ve only been dating for a couple of months,” Stockton said, having finished his hug with Bailey. “Hannah, this is Bailey’s boyfriend, Reeves. And my cousin, Bailey McAllister.”

“It’s so great to meet you,” Bailey gushed, and she skipped the handshake and went straight for the hug. Hannah didn’t seem to know how to handle that, but she did okay and patted Bailey awkwardly on the back.

Bailey stepped back and smoothed her hands down the front of her shiny, almost foily, silver dress. “All right,” she said. “I need a drink, and since I went over the bar offerings, I happen to know there’s something fruity and tropical over there calling my name.”

She beamed around at everyone. “Reeves? Stockton? Hannah? Who wants something to drink?”

“I do,” Reeves said, because this party had a full soda bar too. “Let’s all go get something to drink.” He wouldn’t know even ten percent of the people here, and six months ago, he’d have been terrified to even consider attending this party.

Now, he held his head high, took Bailey’s hand, and stepped willingly into the gathering crowd separating him from the bar on the other side of the room.

He felt stronger than ever, and he knew a lot of that came from the woman at his side. Plenty of people looked at her, and Bailey handled their gazes with grace and sophistication. She hadn’t even been back in town for a year yet, but everyone seemed to know her…and love her.

Reeves didn’t mind being her arm candy, because he knew that they were so much more than that. Behind her closed door, she’d peel back the layers of her makeup, jewelry, and clothing, and Reeves would get a different version of her—the soft, slow, small town version of herself she only gave to him.

They joined the line to get a drink, and before Bailey could get swept up into another conversation with another stranger, Reeves leaned over and touched his lips to the soft spot below her ear.

“I love you, wildflower,” he whispered.

“I love you too, Reeves,” she said, and he would go anywhere, in any sized crowd to hear her say those words.

CHAPTER

FORTY-FIVE

“Let me help you, sir.”

Jerry Young looked over to the young man—well, younger than him, at least—reaching for the walker Jerry had been trying to reach. This man seemed to have extendable arms, and he grabbed the walker and pulled it out in one fluid motion.

“Thank you,” he said, trying hard not to make his voice too grumbly. He wasn’t upset by getting the help, just the fact that he needed the walker at all. But Cecily had said if he didn’t use the walker, she’d make him sit in his wheelchair.

No, thank you.

He simply needed to get inside the bowling alley, where this quarter’s Young family birthday party would take place.

“Sure,” the young man said, and he looked vaguely familiar to Jerry. He probably went to church with him, or had seen him at the grocery store. Something.

“You’ve met Jerry Young,” a woman said, a smile in her voice.

Jerry switched his gaze to Bailey McAllister, and he definitely knew her.

“He’s Bryce’s grandfather.” Bailey wore the grin on her face as she linked her arm through the tall cowboy’s. He beamed down at her, and Jerry had seen his grandson look at the woman the same way. Many years ago, sure, but Jerry recognized two people in love when he saw them.