Page 25 of 40 and Flirting (with Disaster) (Silver Foxes of Black Wolf’s Bluff #5)
T hree months later
Fall leaves drifted down from the forest of trees over their heads, showering Jamie and Iris in a cascade of oranges and yellows and browns as they made their way through the resort grounds to the massive cobblestone patio designed as an outdoor event space around one side of the main building.
Black Wolf Resort had opened to much fanfare nearly a month ago, and was booked solid for the next year already.
Erin’s crews were hard at work completing the remaining two main buildings before they began construction on a series of cabins dotted among the property.
Iris took in the gorgeous space, now crowded with Erin’s and Carter’s closest friends and their families, officials from town, and locals who had known Erin since she was a little girl—all here to celebrate the arrival of Erin and Carter’s precious family addition.
The official celebration in Black Wolf’s Bluff had been held off until Thad could be included.
Though Carter’s family held a baby shower in New York, only now could Thad get away for the fall break from school to spend a week at the resort.
Erin and Carter stood to one side of the courtyard with their son, little Rayne held securely in Erin’s arms, to welcome the town and introduce their new baby to those who hadn’t met her.
When they approached, Carter reached across Thad to pull Jamie into a bro hug. “Thanks for showing up.”
“Of course.” Jamie slapped the man on the back, then reached down to shake Thad’s hand. “We wouldn’t miss it. It’s too important.”
“We’re welcoming Baby Rayne,” Thad said.
“That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Iris agreed, reaching to give the little boy a hug. The scent of candy and little boy wrapped around her heart. “And celebrating your family. That’s so special. Congratulations, Thad.”
The eleven-year-old beamed. “She’s named after me.”
Erin’s look was just as proud as Thad’s. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way, hon.” She patted the pink-blanket-enfolded bundle in her arms on the butt. “There’s no one else Rayne would rather be named after.”
A small, fussy whimper came from within the blanket. Thad immediately perked his head up. “Does she need a change?”
Carter leaned over, his sure fingers pulling back the blanket to reveal a full head of black hair on the sweetest face Iris had seen in a long, long time. A face that reminded her distinctly of Thad. Brother and sister definitely looked alike.
“Not sure, buddy,” Carter said. “I’m sure your sister is fi—”
That cute face screwed itself into a frown, and a loud cry burst into the air. Carter startled, and the rest of the group laughed with varying degrees of amusement. “And I think that is probably a yes.”
“She’s got lungs on her, that’s for sure,” Erin said, shifting the baby in her arms in preparation for handing her over to her husband.
Carter gathered Rayne against his chest. “Wanna help, Thad?”
The boy nodded, and Carter hefted the baby up to his shoulder, walking her off with Thad following.
“While he’s here, he can’t get enough of being with her,” Erin explained. “He sees her when we come home to New York, but I do wish they could be together full-time.”
“A blended family is rough,” Iris agreed, “but you guys are doing great. And he knows you both love him and that Rayne will too.”
“She already does.” Erin grinned. “She can’t seem to stop smiling and following every move he makes within sight of her when Thad is with her.”
Black Wolf’s Bluff’s postmistress, Lou Rutledge, crowded up behind them, her cats Snookums on a long pink leash. “Erin! Where’s that baby?”
Iris took the opportunity to nudge Jamie in the ribs.
As they’d spoken, the line behind them had grown, unbeknownst to Iris, and it was definitely time for them to move along.
The two of them mingled among the guests for an hour, talking small-town politics, talking horses, talking new books in the library.
Iris felt as if the two of them had somehow integrated into Black Wolf’s Bluff as a couple without even trying, which had totally surprised her when the realization appeared in her head.
No one they ran into asked her about Kirk, no one mentioned him, no one seemed to care that she was recently divorced—a fact that, in a small town like this one, still amazed her. But she was grateful nonetheless.
After they sampled some of Claire’s delicious hors d’oeuvres and helped themselves to individual cups of crème br?lée, Jamie took her empty plate and cup and placed them in a nearby receptacle. “What do you say we blow this joint, huh?”
“Oh?” Iris gave him a mischievous side eye. “Want to get some more unpacking done?”
Iris’s lease on her apartment, which had been short-term to begin with, had just ended.
On a soft summer night only two weeks ago, Jamie had asked her to move in with him.
And her heart had melted on the spot. Wake up every morning to this man?
Go to sleep cuddled in his arms? It had been one of the easiest decisions of her life despite her lack of desire for marriage.
They were committed to each other, both of them knew it, and that was all anyone needed to know.
Would they marry in the future? She didn’t know. But they loved each other and were now living together. That was all the commitment she needed.
Jamie groaned, playfully rubbing at his back. “No, not more unpacking.”
Iris chuckled. “Well then, did you have something else in mind?”
“I did.” Jamie swung to face her, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. Green eyes darkened as she watched. “Michael’s away for the weekend. All the hands are away for the weekend, and I told Marilyn not to come in, in the morning. Which means we have the ranch all to ourselves.”
Surprise quickened her heart rate. “What’s the special occasion?”
“Your first night at the ranch as my partner in crime.”
She pinched his side lightly. “Your ‘partner in crime’?”
“Of course!” He leaned in to nuzzle his nose against hers. “You won’t let me call you wife yet, so what could be better than to have a partner in crime?”
“Well, I did think you were dangerous the first night we met.”
Jamie’s grin took on a wicked edge. “Of course I am. To your heart.”
To your heart. Truer words were never spoken.
She pulled his face down to hers and lost herself in this man’s kiss. When he finally let her up for air, she found herself asking him absentmindedly, “Doesn’t everyone being gone mean we have to feed all the horses ourselves?”
Jamie shook his head, then stole another kiss. When someone across the cobblestone yelled, “Get a room, you two”—sounded like JD—he just grinned and followed up with another kiss. “The animals are already taken care of. Everyone was fed before Harris headed out for the night.”
Bless that field hand. He was fast becoming Iris’s favorite.
“Oh, well in that case…” She hooked her arm through Jamie’s. “Let’s go say goodbye.” They made their way back over to Erin and Carter. Fussy crying could be heard, growing louder as they got closer. Iris felt a whimper rise in her throat in sympathy.
Carter bounced Rayne in his arms, patting her bottom. Erin’s hands were full with a plate and cup, her eyes across the courtyard on Thad, who was hurrying over with a folding chair.
The little boy made it within five feet before tripping on the cobblestone and going sprawling. Carter and Erin both released urgent gasps, both reaching for Thad despite full arms.
Carter seemed to come to his senses first. Passing the baby over to Jamie, he tended to Thad while Jamie propped the dark-hair bundle up on his shoulder, where she immediately quieted.
Jamie’s broad hand sprawled across Rayne’s tiny back, and Iris felt herself melt just like she always did around this man.
A whimper escaped her, drawing Jamie’s questioning gaze. “What was that?” he asked over the commotion of setting Thad straight and getting Erin settled.
Iris winked. “Just my ovaries exploding,” she joked.
Jamie’s eyes went dark and hazy, as if he was imagining exactly what he could do about her response. He proved it when he winked back. “Tell your ovaries to cool their heels and I’ll take care of them when we get home.”
Iris tipped her head to one side, contemplating the possibilities. “And every other part of me?”
Jamie’s grin was downright wicked, the smile she loved, just like she loved him. “You know it, beautiful.”
Her smile stretched her face until it ached, a reflection of every happy feeling exploding in her heart.
She’d never expected to feel like this after the past year.
She’d never expected to find Jamie. But despite the risk, she couldn’t be happier that she’d flirted with disaster and come out the other side, knowing who she was, what she deserved, and exactly where to find it.
With Jamie. Always.