Page 18 of Fires Creek
That afternoon, we strolled into Maverick’s, side-by-side, an unstoppable unit.
We’d been out in the paddocks since daybreak.
I was dying for a cold one and a feed. I guided the three of us into the booth at the back where Teddy and I usually sit.
River squirmed in her seat as she toyed with the menu that sat lazily on the table.
Teddy and I fooling around on the boundary line was both unexpected and incredible at the same time. Boy had I worked up an appetite, and the image of him on his knees for me was burned into my brain on a loop . It was very distracting.
“Oi, Hannah!” Teddy shouted across the diner. “Tell your good-for-nothin’ cousin he sold me a fuckin’ broodmare! Scout went into foal during the storm. We’ve got ourselves a colt!”
Hannah Jensen – along with her trademark blonde curls and cherry lipstick – strolled confidently out from the kitchen.
A warm smile radiated across her plump lips as she chuckled, “Mornin’, boys!
I’ll be sure to sort him out for you. Now, who is this gorgeous lady y’all are keepin’ all to y’selves? ” she asked .
Her thick Southern accent hadn’t faded at all, even though she moved to Australia over a decade ago. I found her tone gentle and soothing.
“This is River Carlisle, she bought Ashwood. River, this is Hannah Jensen, she owns Maverick’s,” I offered, gesturing to the women. Hannah extended her hand to River, and her infectious cherry smile reached River’s as the two women shared an unspoken moment.
“Well, River Carlisle. It’s mighty fine to meet ya’. Hey, do you like wine?” she asked.
“I am quite partial to a cheeky cabernet,” River replied with a slight smirk toying at her lips as she remembered how she got here. Cheeky girl.
“Alright, it's settled. You’re joining our book club!” Hannah announced.
“Book club?”
Jonas shook his head as he interjected, “By book club, she means once a month the ladies have a sleepover here at the diner, get blind drunk, and sing karaoke.” Hannah playfully slapped Jonas’s arm.
“Oh, shush your mouth, Jonas Carter!” Her sweet, Southern accent thickened as she blushed.
“I would LOVE to join the book club!” River announced proudly, as a satisfied smile crept across her face.
“God help us all.” I sighed, pressing a kiss to River’s forehead.
Hannah finished sharing the details of the upcoming festivities with River, gave her a run-down of the families in town, and spilled some miscellaneous gossipy information.
As she turned to leave our booth, her eyes trailed across Jonas and me.
I hadn’t noticed that my hand was lazily resting on his knee, but Hannah had. Of course she had .
“Anything else y’all wanna tell me, aside from being horse grandparents?” she asked, cocking a brow.
“Jonas tried to cook this morning,” I replied with a laugh.
Hannah leaned in closer; her brow still raised in an inquisitive expression as she proudly announced, “There ain’t a single person in this town that’s gonna be mad about you two being happy – however that looks.
Now knock it off and stop hidin’ out!” She placed a kiss on both of our cheeks – her signature cherry lipstick now etched across our skin.
“And you, young lady,” she said, placing a matching kiss on River’s cheek. “You take good damn care of those boys, and they’ll take good damn care of you, okay? Welcome to Fires Creek, honey!”