Page 85

Beck inhaled sharply.

“Did you look up the marriage laws of Montana before you kicked off this week’s fun game, Bodhi?”

“No, sir.”

“I did,” Beck said. “When Ashni told me our news—ouch.” She must have stepped on his toe. “I want to tell everyone,” Beck objected.

“Not here. Not now. Not like this.”

“Sorry, it just popped out. I can’t believe I didn’t burst with the news days ago.”

“What did your Google search tell you, Beck?” Bodhi’s mom demanded icily.

“No wait time.”

“So,” Ben Ballantyne asked, “who’s up to play a game I’m calling the Ballantyne Bash Bride Game?” Ben and his three daughters shot the whiskey and clinked the glasses back down on the tray hard.

“Winner takes all.”

*

Bodhi felt thebang of the four glasses all the way to his toes, and his heart thundered in response. Their granddad was calling them all out in the most public arena there was.

Not cool.

But neither was his game idea even though he’d had good intentions.

And Bodhi didn’t want to back down. But his decisions going forward weren’t only his to make.

He looked at Nico, not Bowen or Beck because this decision had nothing to do with his cousins.

“What’s the prize?” Bodhi asked, sounding far cooler than he felt.

“Full vested partnership in the ranch, no buy-in.”

A ripple ran through the crowd. As an offer, it was in the millions.

“What if we all got married tonight?” Bowen asked quietly.

“I can divide three ways. Or two.”

“What do you think?” Bodhi asked Nico. “I know I mentioned we could wait for a while and I could court you, but would you be willing to wed tonight?”

“Yes, and it’s good I bought a new dress,” she said, and Bodhi nearly blinked at the way her eyes sparked. “Let’s do it.” She tossed back her whiskey. “And since we’re all here, sisters,” she said to Langston and Ashni, “why not make it a triple?”

She stepped up, taking Bodhi with her. “Bring on the judge.”

“You’re crazy,” Bodhi mouthed. “And I’m crazy in love with you.”

He knocked back his whiskey but held on to his shot glass. “We may want another at the end of the night.”

Nico looked at Langston and Bowen, who conferred, her pale hair gleaming in the light. “Have you two decided?”

“We’re all in.” Langston tossed back her whiskey shot and stepped up holding Bowen’s hand. He tipped his glass back and shot Bodhi a WTF look.

“Us too.” Ashni handed Beck her shot. “You’ll need to drink for two now. You look like you need it.”

“Ash, are you sure? I know you said we could marry at the courthouse, but…”