Page 58 of Lost Trust

I scowl and Cabe’s grin gets wider.

Axle clears his throat, unsuccessfully hiding his laugh behind his whiskey. Because he knows I’ve had a thing for Marina Kincade for years.

Shelby’s eyes stay on me. Then a slow, knowing smile curves her lips. And judging by the look in her eyes, I’m pretty sure she’s figured it out as well.

Marina

The party is winding down.

Garrett Tuttle put on one hell of a show. It felt more like an intimate concert than a wedding reception at one point, but now the music has softened to something slow and mellow, the dance floor is mostly empty, and the string lights overhead cast a warm glow across the event barn. One by one, guests say their goodbyes and disappear down the path toward the academy’s parking lot, leaving the Storm family gathered around the fire outside.

I make my way outside and sit in one of the wooden chairs, tucking my feet beneath me, and watch sparks drift into the dark Wyoming sky.

Bryce and Charli step out of the barn together, fingers intertwined. They’re heading to a mountainside hotel to spend their wedding night.

Bryce stops in front of me. “I hope you enjoyed the wedding.”

I smile. “I did. Everything was beautiful.”

His smile widens, and Charli leans against his side.

Before either of them can say anything else, a small body barrels across the grass.

“Mommy!”

I look up just as Ryder skids to a stop beside me.

“Can I have a sleepover with Ruby?”

“Um, I think you’ve had a big enough night, don’t you?”

He shakes his head.

Bryce lowers himself onto one knee in front of Ryder. “You like it here at the ranch?”

Ryder’s eyes go huge. “Yes, sir.”

The answer comes with so much enthusiasm that everyone around the fire laughs.

Bryce glances at me. “We’ve got a flight booked for you tomorrow afternoon to head back to Dallas.”

“Unless you want to stay?” Charli adds.

My gaze moves between them.

Then I look toward the fire.

Ryder has already skipped back over to Caison, who he has somehow recruited to roast marshmallows. Ruby is beside him, and AJ—Matty and Caison’s two-year-old—is perched happily in Matty’s lap, who’s in a chair near the fire.

Caison threads marshmallows onto a long stick before handing it to Ryder. He crouches beside him and helps him hold it over the flames.

Ryder watches, fascinated as the marshmallow puffs almost immediately, its edges turning golden brown.

“Pull it back,” Caison tells him.

Ryder does, and Caison helps him blow on the molten confection until it’s cool enough.

Then Ryder shoves the entire thing into his mouth.