Page 97 of A Rancher's Vow

Dustin snickered, walking past Tucker to the makeshift table to deposit his armload. “Ginny is still pregnant. Sitting down, having fun.”

His brother-in-law glared at him. “You shouldn’t find this so amusing.”

“And yet I do.”

“Ass.”

Dustin scooped an enormous slice of pizza onto a plate and shoved it at Tucker. “Eat. You’ll need your strength soon enough. You’ll have to keep smiling as everyone says what a beautiful baby you have, when we all know newborn humans look like crumpled old men.”

“God.” Tucker stomped off to rejoin the others.

Snippets of conversation mixed between the masculine voices of the basement and the higher lilt drifting from upstairs, and Dustin found he wore a grin most of the time. Getting to see Charity with the rest of them was sweet.

Getting to hang with all his brothers—also sweet.

He dropped the final ball in the pocket and let loose an evil laugh. “We win again.”

He raised a hand to Walker, and they high-fived each other.

“You’re cheating.” Caleb eyed them, gaze narrowing. “I don’t know how, but you’re cheating.”

“It’s our far younger eyes and steadier hand-eye coordination. Just hard cold facts,” Walker drawled.

Caleb let out a snort. “Again. This time, Tucker and Walker, me and Luke.”

“Perfect. That leaves Dustin free to make a beer run.” Luke slapped Dustin on the back. “This century, bro. You were gone so long last time I wondered if you’d snuck out for a quickie with Charity.”

“Damn, good idea.” Dustin ducked under his brother’s swing and took the steps two at a time.

As he reached the top, the already lively room exploded with howls of laughter. All around the table, the women held their stomachs or had hands raised to their lips, delight spilling into the room like sunshine.

“What’s up?” he asked Charity as he crouched beside her chair.

She pointed at the table, unable to speak through her amusement.

The snowman candles he’d glimpsed before were now wilted forms of their former glory. With misaligned eyes and tree limb arms sticking out in awkward directions, they were nothing that could grace an elegant table.

“Cool. Zombie snowmen,” Dustin offered.

Ginny howled even louder, one hand cupping her belly, the other pointing at him. “Yes,” she got out between gasps. “Oh my God, we’ve got a new winner. Zombie snowmen for your perfect holiday décor.”

The laughter turned out to be the final straw.

Suddenly, the basement emptied, and the guys were all upstairs, unable to stay away a moment longer. Together they appreciated the disaster of the craft, sliding more chairs together so conversations could continue and expand.

Charity pulled Dustin with her to the kitchen counter. “More food, stat. I saw nacho chips. Let’s make a couple of trays.”

He nodded even as he stole a kiss. “Nachos will always make me think of germ-sharing.” He leaned in close and spoke softly as he brushed a finger over the dip at the base of her neck. “And the flush you get right here when you come.”

“Dustin,” Charity warned, but her eyes danced.

The evening ended before eleven. Ginny got Tucker to help peel her out of her chair. “You guys can stay, but I’m going to bed. My watermelon is tired.”

“We all should call it a night,” Luke suggested, trying not to look at Kelli, but failing spectacularly. Or at least to Dustin, who knew his brother was already obsessing about the coming baby and how to make Kelli slow down.

“It’s been fun, though.Adults onlytime needs to be a regular event in the family future,” Tamara suggested, stretching out and yawning. “Come on, Señor Stone. Take me home to bed.”

“What is it with everyone hinting that I’m old?” Caleb grumbled. “I’m not old.”