Liam thought she was several notches above pretty, but if he said that, he’d give away too much. “She is.”
“She seems nice. Yeah, she tried to get us arrested, but I can understand. We were a little intimidating coming up the drive full throttle.”
“I suppose.”
“But now that the dust has settled, you have a golden opportunity to get something started while you’re both here in Sheridan.”
“Maybe.” Liam thought so, too, but he was still adjusting to the new reality. He’d shifted the possibility of Hope to another time and place, but then she’d appeared right in front of him, literally, and now he had to decide how to respond to that. He didn’t think she was quite as glad to see him as he was to see her.
“Think about it. We’re all involved in the wedding. It’s the classic time for fun and games.”
“Does that mean I can expect you to get horizontal with a bridesmaid?”
“Nope. Casual hookups don’t appeal to me the way they used to.”
Liam got a kick out of that. His little brother was growing up. “But they’re perfectly fine for me?”
“Hell, no. She’s from Cody. If things work out, you could keep seeing her after the wedding.”
“And if they don’t work out?”
“You quit going into the hotel lobby after dropping off clients. She doesn’t seem like the type who would stop sending you business.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
“Then what are you worried about? I’ve never known you to hesitate once a woman catches your eye—which she has. You winked at her. That’s one of your moves.”
“It is not.”
“Sure it is. You give them a little wink to test their reaction, find out if you have a shot. I’ve seen you do it a hundred times.”
“Did I ever mention that you’re a pain in the ass?”
“She blushed when you winked at her.”
“I know.” And he’d seen a flicker of sensuality in her gray eyes. But something about her was closed up tight. He’d felt a hint of that whenever he’d stopped to see her at the hotel. The feeling was stronger today. He sensed that if he approached her like he normally would approach a woman, she’d reject him.
“I say go for it.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“Okay.” For no reason Liam could see, Grady was cracking up.
“What’s so funny?”
“You just drove past the driveway.”
“Damn it! Why didn’t you say something?”
“I wanted to find out if you were as gaga over this woman as I think you are, and sure enough, you’re toast.”
“Am not.”
“But you missed the driveway, bro. That’s not a Liam sort of thing to do.”
Gripping the wheel, he blew out a breath. “Means nothing.”
“I beg to differ. Thank God I came back from Alaska in time to see my big brother lose his cool. When you first mentioned her, I heard something in your voice, and now that I see you with her, it’s confirmed. You’re twitterpated.”
“I’m what?”
“Twitterpated. An old prospector I used to drink with loved that expression. I’ve been waiting for a chance to use it, so thanks.”
“You make me sound like some starry-eyed fool with his tongue hanging out.”
“Nah, you’re not that obvious...yet. I figure we’ll all be invited to stick around after we unload the sculpture, so you can engage in some casual conversation, make some inroads, get her digits so you can message her.”
“I don’t want to push.”
“Since when is asking for a woman’s phone number pushing?”
“Normally it’s not, but with Hope... I don’t think it’s that simple.”
“Only one way to find out. And FYI, the driveway’s coming up again.”
“Yeah, I see that. Thanks.” Liam checked for traffic, but fortunately there wasn’t any. He swung wide and stomped on the gas. His truck protested all the way up the hill, but they made it—along with the trailer.
When he pulled in front of the cabin and turned off the motor, he heard the women cheering as they came down the porch steps toward them. And yes, he picked Hope out of the crowd and imagined that the color in her cheeks was due to his demonstration of superior driving skills.
Grady smiled. “Sweet.”
The sound of engines revving prompted Liam to glance in his side mirror. “Just in the nick of time, too. Here comes the cavalry.” He drove forward a little more to make room, but two pickups were coming up, and they wouldn’t both fit. He couldn’t give the guys any more space without heading down the other side of the drive, and he didn’t trust his emergency brake to hold all that weight. The second pickup slowly backed down to the street.
Liam and Grady piled out to greet Damon and Damon’s best friend, Cade Gallagher, who had arrived in the lead truck. Cade had been the first foster boy Rosie and her husband Herb had taken in, but Damon had been added soon afterward. Consequently they shared a special bond.
Damon’s brown eyes flashed with amusement as he grinned at Liam. “What a fustercluck, huh?”
“Shit happens.” Liam was so glad to see his foster brothers that the screwed-up plan didn’t matter anymore. They both looked tanned and fit, as if life was treating them well. “I’ve missed you two jokers.”
“Same here.” Damon gave both Magee brothers a hug, and so did Cade. Most of the foster boys had come from difficult situations, which caused them to cherish the connections they’d made at Thunder Mountain Ranch.
About that time, Rosie’s husband, Herb, walked up the driveway with Finn O’Roarke. Finn towered over Herb, but the older man walked with a proud dignity that made him seem larger than life. He, too, seemed to be flourishing as a result of his work with the academy students. He was the only father Liam had ever known, and seeing him always caused a surge of love and gratitude.
Finn had been the third boy Rosie and Herb had brought to the ranch. He, Damon and Cade had dubbed themselves the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood that first year. Some who’d arrived afterward had been jealous, but Liam never had been. Then again, he’d always had Grady.
More hugs followed, and Finn explained that his fiancée, Chelsea, had encountered some last-minute work issues. She’d be flying in the next day. Finally somebody
