Page 96 of A Rancher's Vow

When they came up for air, Tucker’s cheeks were flushed.

“Okay, small adjustment,” Ginny announced, hand resting on her belly. “Ladies—head to the kitchen. Guys, downstairs. Stay in your corners for the evening, and we’ll pretend the other sex doesn’t exist for the night. Except Dustin—you’re our gopher between the sexes.”

“Why him?” Tucker complained.

Ginny glared at her husband. “Because I trust him not to hover over me every three seconds reminding me to get off my feet. Nowget.”

Like the parting of the Red Sea, the groups divided in two directions.

Only there was a lot more kissing that took place before the guys vanished down the stairs. Ivy had tucked herself into the corner of the room, and Walker paused, kneeling as he lifted her chin with a finger then gently pressed their lips together.

Caleb straight forward scooped Tamara into his arms and kissed her possessively. Luke whirled and then dipped Kelli, a long, hot kiss that made Charity’s cheeks flush.

Dare wore a long suffering smirk. Dustin’s foster sister folded her arms over her chest then shook her head as she looked around the room. “There are far too many PDAs happening right now. Very inconsiderate of you, considering I left mykisseeup north.”

A rather breathless Tamara adjusted her neon-green glasses then linked fingers with Caleb and raised a brow at Dare. “I imagine Jesse would be here in record time if you called him.”

Whatever Dare responded back was lost as Dustin stepped into Charity’s line of sight, a heated expression on his face. “Stop watching everyone else pucker up and get your lips ready for me.”

Charity caught her lips in her fingers and tugged them—right, left, up, down. “Like this?”

He snickered then cupped her neck, sliding in close, brushing his nose along hers. “Perfect.”

Their lips made contact, and itwasperfect. Sweet yet hot, new and yet already so familiar. She could have stood there all night with his mouth on hers. The soft caress of his thumb on her neck a contrast with the panic-inducing yet sweet thrill of being included in the whole family.

The desire for this to be real grew with every breath she took.

It wasthe best and strangest of evenings.

Being designated the go-between, Dustin got in time playing pool, then was sent off to grab another round of beers from the kitchen fridge, next to where the women were gathered.

Every time he was upstairs, his sisters-in-law and sisters ordered him around with great enthusiasm as they got him to fetch things from top shelves, open jars of uber-sweet treats, and otherwise handle physical labour.

He didn’t care. In some ways it was like getting permission to briefly enter a world he’d always been forbidden to be a part of. Also, the ladies did not fuck around when it came to having a good time.

They had him move an oversized comfy chair closer to the main table so Ginny could have her feet up and still be in the middle of the action. Multiple trays of cheese-filled, gooey snacks magically appeared and were shared. Bubbles in tall glasses made it look as if all of them were having fancy drinks when he knew damn well most of it was nonalcoholic.

“The pizza for you guys will be ready in five,” Dare announced. His foster sister eyed him, gaze dancing to where Charity was helping Tamara assembly-line some craft involving cute snowman candles.

“I hope you made enough. Your husband isn’t here, but I promised to eat a few slices in his honour.”

“Jesse is probably eating pizza right now and feeding it to my babies as well.” She smiled. “Some things never change. He still cooks like a cowboy.”

“Straight from the box to the table?”

“If it can’t be microwaved, toasted, or grilled, it can’t be good.” She slid in closer. “So… Charity.”

“So?”

Dare grinned harder. “She’s adorable and gorgeous.”

“Yeah. Plus, she’s got enough backbone to give you a run for your money.” He leaned in close. “Thanks for not accepting my proposal all those years ago.”

She laughed out loud. “You’re very welcome.”

Charity glanced over, brow raised in question. Dustin winked, then loaded up with the pizza and headed back downstairs.

Tucker was waiting for him, leaning on the wall at the base of the stairs. “Everything okay?”