Free Roping Ryan (The West Series Book 6) by Jill Sanders

laughed. “I’m not sure. I think everyone brought their own.” He looked over at her. “Don’t like dogs?”
    She shook her head. “I love them.” She held his hand as they walked around the back of the house.
    Everyone was there, including a few people she didn’t know. She met a nice couple who apparently had just gotten engaged a few weeks ago.
    “Travis and Alex used to be engaged, but then his mother tried to kill Grant and he left town,” Holly, the local bookstore owner was saying about her fiancé. Upon hearing this news, Nikki looked over at the man Holly was engaged to. He looked nice enough, but lately she was way off on sizing people up. “Anyway, he left town and just came back a few months ago. Holly sighed and looked at her man with her emotions showing in her eyes. “Everything else fell into place.”
    “It isn’t weird?” Nikki leaned closer and whispered. “You say you’re best friends with Haley.”
    She nodded. “We’ve known each other forever. But, no, it’s not weird. Not with the West sisters or with Travis. Everyone knows Travis and Alex weren’t meant to be.” She laughed. “Actually, they were terrible together.”
    “Who was?” Alex said, walking over to where they were sitting near the fire pit.
    “You and Travis,” Holly piped in.
    Alex laughed. “Terrible.” She glanced over to Travis and nodded. Then her eyes zeroed in on her husband Grant, and Nikki watched her eyes go soft. “But then I found my man.” She turned back to her. “Everyone’s bound to have one out there.” She winked and then moved on towards her husband.
    “She’s right, you know,” Holly said, smiling at her. “Don’t think everyone doesn’t know what’s going on between you and Ryan. Even though most people haven’t gotten a good look at you yet, they’ve heard enough about you through Mr. Holton.”
    She looked at Holly in question.
    “Mr. Holton, Grant and Melissa’s father.”
    She nodded. “Yes, he and my father were best friends.”
    Holly laughed. “To hear Mr. Holton talk, you can walk on water.”
    Nikki felt shocked and honored. She’d met Mr. Holton on several occasions. Glenn and Carolyn Holton had made many visits to Houston when she was younger. She could remember them visiting and even remembered meeting Grant and Melissa a few times.
    Her father had many friends, but none had ever visited the house for long periods of time like the Holtons had. Nikki had always thought that it was because Mr. Holton had represented her father after he’d been injured on the job. Her father had always told her that they’d grown up together, but hadn’t really told her anything more.
    She’d been raised with a man who was not just very private, but was borderline secretive. She looked across the deck at Ryan and sighed. Maybe that was what was driving her to him.
     

     
    Ryan couldn’t take his eyes off Nikki. It was hard to concentrate on his brother’s conversation when she kept stealing glances at him. Her sexy blue eyes zeroed in on him and on several occasions, her tongue had darted out and licked her lips like she was anticipating something. He felt his blood boil at the thought of touching her.
    “You’re not really paying attention, are you?” Reece said, laughing.
    “Hmm?” He looked at his brother and shook his head.
    Reece laughed even more. “You have it bad, bro.” He shook his head. “I should know. I’m in the same boat.” He nodded to where Melissa stood against the deck railing, laughing at something Haley was saying. Each of them held a little boy in their arms.
    “Kids.” Ryan shook his head. “Haley and kids.” He chuckled.
    “I know what you mean. It’s a shock to see them with their families. It seems like just yesterday they were chasing us around the fields with pigtails and torn jeans.” Reece smiled.
    “I miss those days,” Ryan said, sighing and taking another sip of his beer. “Motherhood suits them, though.”
    “Yeah.”