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39

Blaze

“Pancakes don’t need ketchup, Jake.”

Breakfast at the ranch is the usual barely controlled chaos, the kind I couldn’t do without. The long wooden table practically groans under the weight of pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit, and what seems like an entire vat of syrup.

Luke is jabbering about his latest drawing while Jake tries to convince Violet that pancakes taste better with ketchup. Pokey hops around the table, tail wagging, hoping someone—probably Violet—will “accidentally” drop some bacon.

Dad, seated at the head of the table with his newspaper, fixes his brow in disbelief at the ketchup suggestion.

“Sounds like about the grossest dang thing I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s innovative,” Jake replies, holding up the ketchup bottle. “Sweet and savory, right? Not all of us live in a thought prison.”

“A thought prison ? More like you live in a dumpster,” Blake shoots back with a smirk.

“Boys,” Dad interjects with a slow shake of his head. “Could you manage one meal without squabbling? Or is that too much to ask?”

Luke, sitting beside Sean, takes a bite of his pancake and mumbles, “Jake’s gross.”

Sean pats Luke’s head. “Kid’s got a point.”

“Speaking of gross,” Aubrey says with a grin, “can someone pass the orange juice before Sean drinks directly from the jug again?”

“Once!” Sean protests. “I did it once!”

“Once was enough,” Aubrey counters, narrowing her eyes but smiling.

Beside me, Savannah laughs, the sound bright and warm, and I decide now’s the perfect time to strike, to get the plan that I’d been concocting for the last few weeks into motion.

I lean back in my chair, casually stretching. “You know what I thought would be fun?” I ask. “A double date.”

Aubrey cocks her head to the side, picking up my cue. “A double date? Sounds old-school.”

“Nothing wrong with old-school,” I say. “We’ve been all crazy busy, might be good for a few of us to have a fun night out. On me.”

“On you, huh?” Dad says. “Long as you’re spending your own money—no loans from the bank of pops.”

“Who would you even take?” Jake asks.

“I could take you,” I say to Jake, shrugging, “but then we couldn’t talk about you behind your back.”

“Why does it have to be behind my back?” Jake quips, grinning. “I can handle it right to my front.”

So far, all of my accomplices are playing their parts beautifully . My lovely Savannah has not a clue. She’s just watching, processing it all.

“Right, because what you need is another ego boost,” Aubrey teases Jake.

Savannah narrows her eyes at me, suspicious. “Double date? In the middle of festival insanity?”

“The festival insanity is exactly why we need it.” I say, locking eyes with her. “You’re wound tighter than a guitar string, Hart. This’ll be fun.”

Sav purses her lips. “I don’t know. It sounds nice, but…”

Aubrey catches on instantly, her conspiratorial grin confirming she’s still in on my plan.

“Sean and I are in,” she says, cutting off Savannah. “A break sounds perfect. “C’mon Sav, you know we’ve worked so hard, everything’s under control. And—we deserve a break.” She pauses. “But shoot, what about this dude?” Aubrey sticks out her thumb to Luke, who’s happily munching pancakes, oblivious to the adult conversation.

Emma recognizes her cue. “I’ll handle the mini-Ice,” she says. The little exchange was one we’d rehearsed, carefully crafted to throw off Savannah, make her think this conversation is spontaneous.

“You sure?” Aubrey asks. “I don’t want to impose.”

“No imposition,” Emma replies. “Happy to help you guys have some grown-up vocabulary time for a change.”

Sav shifts in her seat. “I don’t know. Still seems like bad timing.”

Sean leans back, folding his arms. “You’ll like it, Sav. Blaze actually has decent ideas sometimes.”

“Occasionally,” Aubrey mutters, sipping her coffee. "Very occasionally."

“Hey,” I say, holding up my hands, mock-offended.

Savannah sighs dramatically, clearly pretending to be more reluctant than she actually is.

“Fine. But only if we double our work when we get back to make up for it.”

“Deal.” I grin. “Think of this date as our way of thanking Sean and Aub for their help with Brody.”

Emma chimes in with a smirk. “I guess that means I’m getting a new car.”

Jake perks up. “We are?”

Blake leans back, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “Guess I need to find myself a nice girl so I can tag along next time, huh?”

“I’m on it, buddy,” I reply, shaking my head. “As a matter of fact, I have a feeling that your love story will come up pretty soon.”

Blake narrows his eyes, leaning forward. “And how would you know that?”

Blaze smirks, his tone dripping with amusement. “A little bird told me.”

Blake turns to Savannah, eyes narrowing in mock curiosity. “Savannah, what did you say your sister’s name is? Sabrina?”

“In your dreams, cowboy.” Savannah rolls her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

And just like that, it’s set.

Savannah doesn’t know it, but she’s in for one hell of a surprise.

***

Later, in the Airbnb lobby, Savannah sizes everyone up. She’s in a casual but classy sundress, her sharp eyes narrowing when she spots Aubrey and Sean in jeans and sneakers.

“What’s with the wardrobe downgrade?” she asks. “Aubrey usually outdoes me on date nights.”

Aubrey shrugs. “We all need downtime.”

The airfield is quiet except for the hum of the chartered jet waiting for us. Savannah glances at Aubrey’s two backpacks and smirks. “What are you bringing? Half the ranch?”

Aubrey laughs. “Pregnancy perks—more stuff.”

Sean says, “You mean snacks.” Aubrey smacks his arm lightly, and I shake my head, grinning.

Onboard, the conversation shifts to the festival, and Savannah casually mentions auctioning off the Ice brothers for charity.

Sean groans. “Count me out.”

I grin. “Relax, only single guys are eligible. I volunteer Jake.”

Aubrey’s lips curl into a sly smile. “Perfect. And speaking of Jake, I think it’s time to start gossiping about him. I’ll go first—last week, I caught Emma’s friend Piper checking him out. Matchmaking potential?”

I chuckle. “Then let’s make sure Piper brings her piggy bank to the auction.”

Aubrey laughs. “I hope she wins. Piper’s cute, and she likes hockey. Sounds like a perfect fit.” Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she adds, “Maybe we should auction Emma, too—for gender equality, of course.”

Sean’s growl is immediate and low. “Over my dead body.”

The plane erupts into laughter. Aubrey squeezes Sean’s arm, grinning. “You’re lucky you’re cute when you’re overbearing.”

The conversation shifts, and I wait for the perfect moment. Then I drop the bomb.

“Margot Robbie is going to perform at the festival.”

Everyone stares. Savannah blinks, clearly caught off guard. “What? The Australian singer?”

“Yep. My agent pulled some strings,” I say, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “Figured if Blake couldn’t have Savannah, maybe Margot’s the next best thing.”

The group bursts out laughing. Savannah blushes, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Thanks,” I reply, leaning back, satisfied. Her blush lingers, and I let myself enjoy it.

The hum of the plane engines and the quiet conversation in the cabin create a comfortable rhythm. I lean back, close my eyes and try to nap—figure I'll need all my energy later.

***

The plane lands smoothly, and as we step out onto the tarmac, the Vegas skyline glitters in the distance.

“Dinner in two hours,” I tell Sean and Aubrey. “Get some rest. I'll text you the place.”

Savannah glances at me as we climb into the limo. “You’re annoyingly secretive, you know that?”

I grin, leaning back in the seat. “And you love it.”

Her eyes narrow playfully, but she doesn’t argue.

The limo glides to the Bellagio, its towering glass exterior reflecting the lights of the city. As we step out, Aubrey hands Savannah one of the two backpacks.

“What’s this?” Savannah asks, surprised.

“I packed for you,” Aubrey says casually.

Savannah opens it, finding clothes and essentials for an overnight stay. “You knew about this?”

Aubrey winks. “Pregnancy perks—Blaze tells me everything.”

Savannah glares at me, but there’s no real heat behind it. “You two are impossible.”

“You’ll thank us later,” I say, guiding her toward the entrance. "I hope."

Our two-level suite is all polished luxury. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the Vegas Strip, and a tray of champagne and chocolates sits waiting on the table.

Savannah surveys the room, arching an eyebrow. “Setting the bar a little high, huh?”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Her teasing retort gets lost as I close the distance between us. The tension that’s been building all evening ignites and she pulls me into a hungry kiss.

She starts molding herself to me, as we make out like two teenagers. Then, she pulls away, reaches down, and takes my hand in hers before she tugs me toward the stairs.”I want to go to the next level,” she teases.