“I never understood why you didn’t lean on me, Jills,” Jax said.
“Because I would have just brought you down, and you were already having a hard time. But Nick was…” Jillian’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Solid.”
Jax cracked an amused grin. “Always the unbreakable cowboy.”
Nick smirked. Damn right.
Trixie put her hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze, and said, “He is solid, isn’t he? But even cowboys break sometimes.”
Nick scoffed. “Not this one.”
“Our Superman,” his mother said, but there was something sad in her eyes that made his heart twist. She breathed deeply, and a small smile appeared. “Well, the past is behind us, and I’m thrilled that three of our boys have found love. Hopefully one day you’ll all find love as special as ours.”
“Some of us are too busy for love, Mom,” Jax said.
“I don’t mean now, sweetheart.” Their mother’s eyes skirted from Jax to Nick. “But one day a woman is going to knock you off your feet, and then you won’t be able to do a darn thing but love her back, just like your brothers.”
Nick stabbed a piece of meat with his fork and shoved it in his mouth. “Not me. I like my life just the way it is.”
“You never know, Nicholas,” his mother said. “Look how fast Graham fell in love with Morgyn. He was our most meticulous thinker, prepared for everything, studying outcomes and ramifications well before ever making a move. And then along came sweet Morgyn Montgomery with her whimsical lifestyle and infectious personality. Your brother was totally unprepared and instantly lovestruck.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Mom,” Nick said.
“I never do,” she said. “In any case, we have a wedding to look forward to. Trixie, watch your mailbox for an invitation to Zev and Carly’s wedding.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Mrs. B. Thank you.”
His mother couldn’t look more pleased. “Good. Now, please tell us how your business is coming along.”
“Nick said he was going to introduce you to Travis Helms.” Jillian’s eyes sparked with excitement. “Isn’t he tall, dark, and tasty?”
“Christ, Jilly,” Nick muttered. “She went to see him about horses.”
“So? That doesn’t change the fact that he’s the hottest single dad around.” Jillian turned her attention back to Trixie. “All my friends adore him.”
“I met him today, so I totally get it,” Trixie said. “And his little girl, Peaches? Oh my gosh. She’s the cutest!”
If Nick clenched his teeth any harder, they’d crack.
“Right? She’s a doll,” Jillian said.
“He was super helpful and really accommodating. I’m going back to assess the horses tomorrow afternoon, and he’s letting me come by as many times as I need to until I make my decisions.” Trixie took a drink and said, “It turns out he’s into races, too. We’re going running tomorrow morning together.”
“You are?” Jillian’s eyes widened. “Girl, you are so lucky.”
“Why haven’t you gone out with him?” Trixie asked.
Jillian shrugged. “Good question.”
“Travis is such a nice young man. It sounds like you two have a lot in common, Trixie.” His mother looked at Nick and said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if Trixie met a wonderful man and fell in love while she was here? Then she’d be around all the time.”
Trixie feigned wide-eyed innocence. “Yes, Nick, wouldn’t that be great? Then you could see those lovely buckle bunnies every night of the week without me cramping your style.”
Jax stifled a laugh.
Nick glowered at him.
“Don’t get me started about those types of girls.” His mother gave him a disapproving look. “They’ve been after Nick since he was a teenager.”
“It’s that Braden charm,” Jax said. “It’s a curse, really. So many women, so little time.”
“It’s his cowboy pheromones,” Jillian chimed in. “It comes with the territory. Travis sure gives off a delicious scent, right, Trixie?”
Nick stabbed another hunk of meat. “Are you two going to talk about guys all night, or can we get back to Trixie’s business?”
“I’m good with guy talk,” Jillian teased.
His father chuckled.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous,” Jax said with an amused smirk.
“I’m not fucking jealous. I just don’t want to talk about nonsense.”
“Watch your language, son,” his father said sternly.
“What would Nick have to be jealous about?” Jillian asked. “He and Trixie are just friends, and he has more women after him than he can shake a stick at.”
Jax glanced at Nick and said, “If you say so.”
“I thought we were talking about Trixie’s business,” Nick said as calmly as he could, which wasn’t very calm at all. “Do you think we can get back to it?”
“I think that’s best,” his mother said, giving him a curious look. “Trixie, honey, what happens next?”
“I have so much to do between picking out and training the horses, going through the legal steps to create the business, and then actually getting started, my to-do list seems endless. Tempe is going to give me the lowdown on working with hospitals tomorrow, and I’m sure that will lead to a number of other things I haven’t even thought about yet.” She touched Nick’s arm again. “I wasn’t exactly standing on the platform ready to jump when Nick suggested I come here to do the legwork. It was just the nudge I needed.”
She told them about her business plans, passion flowing in her every word, illuminating her beautiful face. Just hearing her enthusiasm calmed the gnarly, jealous beast inside him. Thankfully, the rest of their evening was far less stressful. They talked about Zev and Carly’s wedding. It was going to be at a creek where they used to hang out, and the reception would be at Hilltop Winery, which was owned by their mother’s family.
After dinner, Nick, Jax, and their father did the dishes while their mother and the girls sat out on the patio, their laughter floating in through the screen door.
“You did a good thing, son,” his father said after they finished cleaning up.
“We always help clean up.”
“He’s talking about helping Trixie,” Jax said, and headed out the patio doors.
“Oh. Thanks, Dad.”
His father patted his shoulder. “You seem a bit tense tonight. Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
“Then you’re okay with Trixie going running with Travis?”
Nick leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because Jillian’s right. Travis is as hot a commodity around here as you boys are. He’s been divorced for quite some time. Rumor has it, he’s looking for a wife, and Trixie is definitely the type of woman you bring home to Mom and Dad.”
Tell me something I don’t know. “It’s her life.”
His father nodded. “You’re right, Nick. I don’t know why I thought your lives were intertwined. I guess she’s been staying at your place for so many years, it feels like she’s your girl.” A laugh tumbled from his lips. “I must be losing it in my old age. Come on. Let’s go join the party.”