Page 105

“Where?”

“Patience.” He grabbed her hand and interlocked their fingers, giving her arm a tug. “You’ll see him shortly.”

She wasn’t sure if she had any patience left. Not after having to skip last weekend to attend that damn baby shower. During the party, she managed to plaster a smile on her face, but her thoughts hadn’t been in the same room. They had been up here on the ranch.

They woke her up last Saturday morning to share via video what the two of them were doing without her. She wasn’t jealous, of course, but more like envious of what she was missing out on: spending time with her men.

Though none of them had said it out loud yet, every week it became more obvious that a deep connection and strongbond had formed. Because of that, her heart ached every time she left the ranch to drive home on Sunday evenings and she missed them every day when she was back in Carlisle. She swore Buttons did, too.

Of course, they called during the week, texted and video chatted with each other, but it wasn’t the same as being here in person. However, last weekend that video call was one for the books.

Watching Dayne first fuck Heath, then Heath do the same to Dayne, had taken a big chunk of time out of her morning, but it had been worth running behind. Especially since she also got involved while watching and listening. She tried not to distract them, but she couldn’t help but participate in her own way.

While it had been fun, and even satisfying, she had wished she could climb through her computer screen. Since winter was almost upon them, she was afraid her time up on the ranch would be limited even further due to foul weather. That might mean more video sex and less in-person intimacy.

That possibility—and most likely, reality—was depressing.

He led her through his wing and into the main portion of the farmhouse where Dani was splayed out on the couch watching TV. Immediately, Buttons jumped up and joined her with her little butt wiggling and her tongue darting out in an attempt to lick Dayne’s sister’s face.

“Do me a favor and keep an eye on her, sis?” Dayne asked.

Dani scooped Buttons up into her arms and finally allowed tongue-to-cheek contact.Gross.Cara loved her dog, but she also was aware of where that tongue had a habit of going. Unfortunately, those places certainly weren’t sanitary.

Dani laughed at the dog’s lapping tongue. “Of course. Ifit was up to me, I’d never give her back. Isn’t that right, myliddlewiddlelove bug?” she cooed, using a baby voice.

Dayne drew his thumbnail across his forehead while shaking his head. “You’re ridiculous.”

Dani glared at him and made a shooing motion. “Go away now.” She turned her wide, pleading eyes to Cara. “Can she sleep with me tonight?”

“Sure.” Despite how oversized his custom bed was, with three adults—two of them being large men—taking up so much real estate, there wasn’t a ton of space for an extra body. Not even one as small as Buttons.

Dayne tugged on her hand again. “Let’s go.”

“If she becomes a problem, just?—”

Dayne pulled her outside before Cara could even finish. “She’ll be fine.”

“Dani or Buttons?”

“Both. C’mon. Heath is waiting.”

She expected Dayne to escort her over to The Mane Event Hall and upstairs to Heaven.

But that was not where he took her.

Chapter Twenty-Five

They walkedhand-in-hand around the sprawling lodge and down toward the huge lake.

The moon’s reflection on the eerily-still surface of the water created a huge white ball. Cara glanced up and, as always, was amazed that out here, unlike in Carlisle, no light pollution marred the cloudless sky. The stars appeared as twinkling diamonds.

Absolutely stunning.

Just like the man now leading her down the slight embankment to the lake.

Just like the man waiting for them, sitting on the ground near the crackling flames in one of the lake’s fire pits.

No, not directly on the ground. On a large blanket.