The guys laughed.
“You know, Dare wasn’t always so good at talking,” Wynnie said.
“That is not true,” Doc insisted. “Dare has always been almost as much of a talkaholic as Birdie.”
“I’m not a talkaholic,” Birdie said. “I just have a lot to say. Which reminds me, Cowboy, I forgot to tell you that you need to come to one of my yoga classes. I found you a girl, and I think she’s wife material.”
Cowboy sighed. “I told you that I’m not looking for a wife, Birdie. Why don’t you bother Doc? He’s older than me.”
“It’s not about age,” Birdie protested. “It’s about being ready to settle down, and you exude all the qualities of a guy who needs a wife.”
“Christ. Here we go again,” Cowboy muttered.
“Her name is Lucy. She’s blond, super cute, and really good at yoga. I mean, the girl is a living pretzel,” Birdie said.
Cowboy smirked. “Now you’ve got my interest.”
Birdie told them all about Limber Lucy, and as the night wore on, they chatted about everything from Festival on the Green and the kickoff for the Ride Clean campaign to music and a new café opening by Birdie’s chocolate shop. The girls were excited that Billie was going to join them for their planning day a week from Sunday, and she was excited, too.
Ezra left to put Gus to bed, Kenny and the ranch hands turned in, and a long while later, the rest of them said their good nights. Sasha hugged Billie and asked if she’d be joining them for breakfast in the morning.
“I don’t know. I might get a hankering to steal a truck,” she joked, and everyone laughed.
“We’d love to see more of you, honey.” Wynnie hugged her. “You know our door is always open.”
“Thanks.” She took Dare’s hand. “I think you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”
DARE DIDN’T THINK it was possible for him to feel more for Billie than he already did, but tonight had shown him otherwise. As juvenile as it sounded in his own head, he’d fantasized about kissing her during paintball hundreds of times when they were younger. He’d imagined cornering her during a game and dragging her into the equipment shed or behind a stone wall. Nothing had been off-limits to his teenage imagination, but even that one stolen kiss on the field today had shown him that nothing came close to the real thing. And that wasn’t all that had his emotions on overdrive. He’d been damn proud of her for telling Kenny the truth about losing a friend, and being with her around his family in the way he’d always longed for—as a couple—did something to him.
He wanted to show her how much it meant to him. To get her in his arms and love her like she’d never been loved before. But his mother and sisters were still gabbing with her.
“Hey, Dare.” Doc sidled up to him with his pups in tow. “Got a sec?”
Dare petted Sadie. “Sure. What’s up?”
“I wanted to apologize for being hard on you the other day at the bar about planning your jump after everything Billie’s been through. I was out of line. That’s not my call.”
“That’s okay. You’re worried about her, and I appreciate that. Besides, I’m used to you calling me on my shit. It’s not such a bad thing, Doc. You got me thinking, and we’ve been talking about it. She’s cool with me doing the jump, but she’s not going to come watch.”
“Do you blame her?” Doc reached down to pet Pickles.
“Not even a little.” Dare glanced at Billie, heading their way, sexy as hell in cutoffs and a Roadhouse T-shirt that hung off one shoulder. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“When I do the jump, can you be with her? Just in case.”
Doc’s brows slanted. “I don’t even want to think about that.”
“Well, she will be, and I need to know there’s someone with her. Can I count on you?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Thanks, man.” He lifted his chin as Billie approached. “Hey, darlin’.” He reached for her.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Doc said. “It’s been a long time since this one’s hung out with us. Get in here and hug me, racer girl.”
“Hug a hot vet? That’s not a hardship.” She walked into his open arms.
Doc looked at Dare over her shoulder with a smug expression.
“Get your hands off my woman.” He tugged Billie to his side. “See you tomorrow, asshole.”
“Later, douchebag.”
As everyone went their separate ways, Dare and Billie headed across the field toward his house. “Did you have fun?”
“I had a great time. I liked meeting Kenny and the others, and I can tell you’re having an impact on him by the way he looks up to you.”
“Thanks, babe. He’s a good kid. I’m really glad you came tonight.”
“I’ve missed nights like this, spending time with people who knew us as bratty kids and love us anyway.”
“What’s not to love? We’re awesome.”
She giggled. “Some of the stories your family told made it feel like I was right back there with you and Eddie, doing all those fun things. I miss so much of what we had, Dare.” She turned to him, her eyes full of hope and love. “I miss being out here under the stars and doing whatever we feel like.”
He tugged her into his arms. “And what do you feel like doing?”
She went up on her toes and whispered, “You.”
He crushed his mouth to hers in a deep, passionate kiss, and she pressed her body against him, awakening the hunger that was always lurking just beneath the surface. She grabbed his head, rising onto her toes again, as if she’d never get enough of him. Their kisses went on and on, her sensual sounds making his body ache for her.
When their lips parted, she looked as drunk on him as he felt and whispered, “More.”
“God, I love you.” He reclaimed her mouth, fierce and rough, kissing her until they were both moaning and writhing. He pushed his hands down the back of her shorts, grabbing her ass. She whimpered, rocking against his cock, and he growled, “I need to fuck you, baby.”
She drew back with a bold look in her eyes. “Come on.” She took his hand and ran into the barn. “Remember our first kiss?”
“I remember you taking a kiss.” He backed her up against the wall and nipped at her neck. “Then calling me names.” He yanked open the button on her shorts and unzipped them, pushing his hand into her panties, his fingers delving into her wetness, earning a sexy sigh.
“Because you didn’t like my kiss,” she said breathily, her hands snaking under his shirt, teasing his nipples.
“Fuck.” He pushed his fingers inside her, and she closed her eyes, a needy moan escaping. “I was confused by the kiss.” He brushed his thumb over her clit, and she went up on her toes. “But a few years later, your mouth was all I wanted.”
“We were both dummies then.” Her eyes opened and narrowed. “I’m so glad we’ve finally smartened up.” She tugged his shirt up and dipped her head, teasing his nipple with her tongue.
He gritted his teeth and tugged his shirt off with one hand, working her faster with his other.