Free Forever Cowboy (Montana Brides Book 5) by Leeanna Morgan Page B

“Why are you feeling sorry for yourself?”
    Gracie looked over the top of Emily’s head. “Don’t look now, but Alex is heading over here. He doesn’t look happy about something.”
    Emily pushed against Nicky’s arm. “Move it, sis. I’ve got to use the bathroom.”
    “No you don’t.” Nicky grinned. “You’re just trying to get away from Alex. I’m not moving.”
    “If you value being my sister you’ll move your size six body now or I’ll jump over the top of you.”
    “Why can’t you admit that you still like him?”
    “Because I don’t like him. He annoys me and makes me want to…”
    Alex stood beside their table. All five-foot-eight inches of pure ornery bull staring straight at her. His gaze flicked across to Gracie. “Trent’s been trying to call you. He’s still at the ranch. One of the heifers went into labor a couple of hours ago and they’re having problems.”
    “Poor man’s got more pregnant females around than he can cope with.” Gracie sighed. “Did he say how long he’d be?”
    “No idea. Doc Johnson’s gone out to see if he needs a hand.”
    Emily looked between Gracie and Alex. “But Doc Johnson’s a human doctor. Why is he helping Trent?” Alex turned his head toward her. She felt her face flaming redder than the cherry bobbing in her drink.  
    “The vet wasn’t available.”
    Emily stared at him. He wasn’t making much sense, but then she’d always had a hard time understanding how his brain worked.  
    Alex nodded at Gracie. “Trent said to check the batteries on your cell phone.”
    “I swear that man is going to worry me into an early grave.” Gracie unzipped her bag and glanced at her cell phone before waving it in the air. “One fully recharged cell phone and no husband in sight.”
    “At least someone listens to what a man has to say.” Alex sent a pointed look in Emily’s direction.
    “Only when a man makes sense,” Emily replied. “And painting the ground floor orange is not what I’d call sensible.”
    “It’s called Goldfish and it’s a hundred times better than Bordello Red.”
    Nicky looked between Emily and Alex. “You two sound like an old married couple.”
    “Drink this.” Emily pushed her drink across to her sister. “It might unfuddle your brain. There’s a really good reason why I stopped dating Alex two years ago. He’s totally color blind and thinks he knows everything there is to know about interior design.”
    “I give up,” Alex said with a snarl. “The painters arrive at seven o’clock sharp on Monday morning. If we haven’t agreed on a color before then I’m telling them to paint the walls white.”
    “You wouldn’t dare.”
    Alex took a step forward, leaning his arms on the table. “Lady, the way I feel right now I’d just as soon paint the whole building white.”
    Emily pinched her lips tight and didn’t say a word.  
    “With black stripes and yellow dots,” he added with a smile that bordered on downright dangerous.
    “Shoo.” Gracie waved her arms in front of Alex’s face. “Cody just walked in and he needs male company. He broke up with Jacinta a few days ago and he’s feeling sorry for himself.”
    Alex pulled an envelope out of his back pocket and handed it to Gracie. “Happy baby shower.”
    Emily didn’t care if Gracie thought her brother was the second most amazing man on the planet. For three weeks he’d been driving her insane with all of his talk about drywall and circuit boards. As soon as they got to the really exciting parts of the remodel, like choosing paint colors and light fittings, he’d decided to keep making most of the decisions.
    After looking at every paint chart known to mankind, there was no way the walls of her boutique would end up orange or white, and that’s all there was to it.  
    Gracie smiled as she opened the envelope. “Thank you. Baby Universe won’t know what’s hit them when I take Trent there.”
    “Just don’t take Emily. She’ll dress your baby