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‘Who?’ Amber demanded, scanning the dance floor.

‘Oh, sorry, I forgot about the game!’ Robyn said with a wave of her hand. ‘I was just thirsty!’

The girls moved on to the next question and Robyn wondered where the boys had gone.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Fox

Fox felt kind of good in his outfit. Liberated was the only way he could describe it. He didn’t feel like a dad of two, local of Honeybridge. He felt like a cowboy, who needed a drink and to blow off steam with his friends.

Etienne had taken the theme to the extreme, wearing chaps over his jeans. Walker was showing off his shoulders by wearing a leather waistcoat with nothing underneath. Alex had the whole ponytail thing going on which increased his cowboy vibe without any effort at all. Fox followed the line-up as they crossed the dance floor to find their booth, passing the girls on the way. He’d been looking for Robyn ever since they’d come in the door, and when his eyes found hers and caught her already looking, it knocked his breath from his chest. She looked like a total knockout. The theme must have been something to do with disco; they were wearing more sequins and glitter than he’d ever seen outside a craft shop. But even in the quick glance he stole of Red, the bralette and miniskirt hadn’t been lost on him. And the flash of her abs between the two hit him in the gut. She looked amazing. Their gaze held for a moment and then he reluctantly followed the guys.

Their booth was decorated with a banner that declared it to be the Last Rodeo, and the walls were hanging with cowboy hats and lassos. The men pulled up stools around the saloon bar and took the first bottles of beer from the ice bucket as Alex called for attention.

‘Here’s to you, Et. May you and Isabella always have our best wishes.’ Alex raised his bottle. ‘Mine for you is everlasting love.’ He made eye contact with Etienne who smiled his thanks and they both drank.

Walker went next, lifting his bottle. ‘Mine for you is mind-blowing sex.’

The two men grinned.

‘Definitely got that,’ Etienne said before they both drank.

Fox raised his bottle. ‘Mine for you is to have a healthy, happy family.’

Etienne knocked Fox’s shoulder with his fist.

‘If my children end up being half as cute as yours, I’ll be happy.’

Fox swallowed over a lump in his throat. These men had helped raise his boys. He knew they loved them almost as much as he did. He held his friend’s gaze and nodded his thanks before they both lifted their bottles. The first sip of beer was cold and refreshing, and Fox felt a buzz of excitement as he drank.

Etienne looked at each of his friends in turn.

‘And mine for you is that you all feel as happy and certain about a woman one day as I do now.’ He raised his bottle and they all drank again.

An hour later, they’d chewed the fat, done some shots, and Fox was feeling good.

Etienne was buzzing, literally vibrating, with excitement about his wedding and it was infectious. Alex was optimistic too about his relationship with Amber and her son Jayden. Both of them wanted to live together and it looked like soon Alex would be moving out of Walker’s spare room and into Amber’s house, for good. They clinked bottles over that.

‘Let’s face it, I messed it up once,’ Alex said. ‘I’m not letting them go a second time.’

Walker tried to hide a yawn by glancing away and pushing his hair back from his face.

‘Sorry, buddy, are we keeping you up?’ Alex nudged him with his elbow.

Walker laughed. ‘I was on nights last night and then Gabi arrived this morning – so what can I tell you? I didn’t catch up on any sleep today.’ Fox noticed the shadows beneath Walker’s eyes for the first time, and the slightly dazed look on his face, which he guessed was nothing to do with the beer.

‘But she’s literally only here for the weekend and then I don’t see her until she finishes filming at Christmas, so I’m making the most of it.’ He shook himself like a dog, trying to energise himself.

‘So she’ll be back in time for the wedding, right?’ Etienne asked.

‘No way she’d miss it,’ Walker reassured him.

‘Right, game time,’ Alex said, clapping his hands together and standing to rouse everyone. ‘Tonight, Etienne Martin, welcome to your episode of Mr and Mrs.’ He took a small bow, enjoying his role as compère.

‘I have a series of questions to ask you to find out just how well you know your fiancée, Isabella Tucci.’

‘Intimately, believe me . . .’ Etienne said with a mischievous smile, playing for laughs. Alex ignored him.