Page 86 of Rocky Mountain Devil

“We’ll be out in a few minutes,” Vicki answered waggling her fingers at him as the door closed firmly behind the men. “I love that fire pit area,” she said, turning back to Laurel and Nicole with a smile. “Wait until you see the changes Joel made.”

Laurel didn’t bother pointing out she’d never attended a bonfire there before. Not that she wasn’t welcome, but…

She considered the friendship she’d made that summer with Nicole as a turning point. She’d always been on good terms with everyone in town, but that label ofpreacher’s daughtermade more than a few people shy away from asking her to social gatherings, especially those of a wilder variety.

Nicole’s previous party-girl rep might be gone, but the fact she and Laurel were now tight had made a few people less prone to avoidance.

“Do you want me to put beer bottles in the bucket?” Nic asked, “or are we doing something different?”

“I offered to make Joel something more festive, but he said anything other than beer was wasted on him.” Vicki glanced at Laurel. “And I wasn’t sure if you drank, and I know Troy doesn’t, so I limited our options. Hot cider, wicked or otherwise, and beer for those who are too boring to get into seasonal joy.”

“I do drink, but not much,” Laurel said. “Definitely a lightweight, so if you’re spiking anything, pretend I’m about the size of a pixie, and top me up accordingly.”

Nicole eyed her. “Maybe we need to get you tipsy so we can see what happens.”

“I’ve been tipsy. That’s how I know I’m a lightweight, and trust me, you want to keep it that way.”

“Do tell,” Vicki ordered. “I take it this is part of your wild and wicked past?”

“Would that be during Bible College, or librarian training?” Nicole teased.

A laugh escaped Vicki. “Because both those strike me as wild and wicked endeavours.” She offered a wink along with the words, but Laurel already knew she was joking.

“See, there’s your problem. What you don’t understand is exactly how much mischief the supposedly good people get into.”

Vicki’s smile twisted slightly. “I know exactly how much trouble people assume a person can get into when they’renot, so it wouldn’t surprise me to find out the badness is actually occurring somewhere else.”

“Kind of like a karmic teeter-totter?” Nic asked.

Vicki shrugged. “The world’s gotta stay in balance.”

Maybe there was something to that. It stayed on Laurel’s mind as she joined the girls, obediently carrying everything put into her hands to where the guys had the bonfire blazing cheerfully.

Instead of lawn chairs, long benches with thick cushions were arranged in a circle around the pit. Sitting room for more than a dozen people was available, but the guys had arranged themselves on the upwind side in a semicircle. Rafe patted the spot next to him, tugging her closer as he wrapped an arm around her and held her.

A long sigh of satisfaction escaped him.

She glanced into his contented face. “Happy?”

“This is what I needed. Thanks.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before joining in the conversation, his grip on her sure and possessive.

Good call on her part—giving him a positive dose of family and friends to fill the gap he’d felt that day.

Small talk. Quiet conversation. Laughter and gossip flowed, but it was positive stuff for the most part. Friends who wanted to enjoy a night with people they cared about and trusted.

“When’s the Six Pack gathering?” Rafe asked Joel at one point. “Jesse never mentioned.”

“Today.” Joel poked the fire.

Laurel frowned. “This morning? You had a brunch?”

“No, right now.” His expression grew more sober, but he seemed satisfied. “Vicki and I aren’t going this year.”

Beside her, Rafe tightened like a spring being wound. “Did Jesse—?”

“Oh, it’s not his fault,” Joel insisted quickly. “This was my idea. I know Vicki and I didn’t do anything wrong, but I don’t want Jesse left out of family events because he’s avoiding us.”

Vicki laid her head on his shoulder, her expression a mix of adoration and sadness.