Nora wasn’t sure why she’d been a little nervous about doing a girls’ night with Bryn, Elle, and Jillian. She’d been tempted to beg off and hide in her room with a book while the guys took the kids out for pizza. It had been so long since she’d had a night out or, in this case, in with a group of friends. But she shouldn’t have worried. Within minutes of arriving, they were gabbing and laughing like they’d all known each other for years.
“Pass me those glasses,” Bryn told Nora over the whir of the blender. “Frozen margaritas are coming right up.”
Nora slid the tray of four salt-rimmed glasses across the counter as Jillian finished chopping the last of the lettuce, and Elle took a platter of nachos from the oven. “Those smell amazing,” she said as Elle set them on a trivet on the table.
“They are,” she said, pulling a cheesy chip from the pile. “Especially dipped in Jillian’s homemade salsa. I don’t know whose idea it was to get rid of the guys and the kids and have a tacos-and-margarita girls’ night, but I love it.”
“Me too,” Nora said, carrying the tray of margaritas to the table.
“Wait, don’t start without me,” Aunt Sassy called as she bumped the front door open with her rear end. Her hands were full of a cardboard box, and a gray-and-white ball-of-fluff puppy raced through the door in front of her. Nora had brought Scout with her, and the puppies yipped and clamored over each other in greeting. “I brought fried ice cream and another bottle of tequila,” she said, pushing the box onto the counter and pointing to the blender. “Pour me one of those and make mine a double.”
Bryn poured her a margarita while Nora took the ice cream dessert and put it in the freezer, then let the puppies out in the backyard to see their mother and the other dogs. “This is so fun. I thought I was just coming over to help make pies.”
“Oh, we’ll get to the pies,” Bryn said, handing her a bowl of crispy taco shells to put on the table. “But they’re so much more fun to make after a margarita or two.”
“Or three,” Elle said with a wink.
“Not that I have far to go,” Nora said, setting down the bowl and dropping into the chair next to Aunt Sassy. “But that was sweet of Zane to offer to drive everyone home later.”
Bryn nodded, her lips curving up in a grin. “Yeah, he’s a pretty great guy. He doesn’t really care for drinking, so he often volunteers to be the designated driver.”
Sassy leaned toward Nora to whisper, although not very quietly. “He doesn’t like to drink because his dad’s a big alc-y-holic.”
“Aunt Sassy,” Bryn admonished.
Sassy held up her hand. “Sorry, I thought I was being kind. Would you prefer I call him an abusive asswipe drunk?”
Oh, gosh. Nora looked from Sassy to Bryn, trying to judge her host’s reaction.
Bryn shrugged. “Yeah, I guess that’s closer to the truth.” She picked up a spoon and waved it in the air like a magic wand. “But nobody wants to talk about Birch Taylor. I declare this girls’ night is now officially commencing, and the taco bar is open. Grab your plates and dig in, girls.”
Their discussion moved from books to the kids to the latest gossip happening in Creedence as they made their way through several margaritas and numerous tacos. The kitchen was full of laughter and music after they ate as Elle and Nora washed dishes while Jillian, Sassy, and Bryn rolled out and filled piecrusts.
“Okay, the oven’s hot,” Bryn said once it was preheated. “Pass me the first two pies.”
“Speaking of hot,” Elle said, handing Nora another margarita, “what’s happening with you and Cade? I saw the looks you two were giving each other earlier. I know you’re here to help Allie, but are you offering the cute cowboy a little physical therapy too?”
“Ohh.” Aunt Sassy leaned in. “Now we’re getting to the good stuff.” She sang the lyrics to an old Olivia Newton John song as she did a few dance moves. “‘Let’s get physical, physical.’”
Nora ignored Sassy’s song and tossed a chip at her friend. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That blush creeping up your cheeks tells a different story.”
Nora shrugged. “He is cute. I guess.”
“You guess?” Sassy wiggled her eyebrows. “That man is walking sex on a stick. If I were twenty years younger.” She pursed her lips and looked to the ceiling. “Hmm. Well maybe, thirty years younger…” She waved her hand as if to erase the air. “Doesn’t matter. That man is hot. And if I were a single woman living next door to him, I’d sure be knocking on his door asking to borrow a cup of sugar.” She wiggled her hips. “And by sugar, I mean—”
“La-la-la,” Bryn said, covering her ears. “We know what you mean.” Bryn laughed as she shook her head at Jillian and Nora while jerking a thumb at Aunt Sassy. “You have to watch out for this one. She’s got a dirty mind.”
Sassy huffed and planted a hand on her hip. “You say dirty, I say flirty. Although my lips do tend to get a little looser after a marg or two.”
“Speaking of loose lips,” Elle said, “let’s get back to Nora. I want to hear what is really going with you and Cade.” She tipped up the bottom of Nora’s glass. “Swill it and spill it, girl.”
“Okay, okay.” Nora laughed, then took another sip. “Yes, there may be a little something going on with Cade and me. We get along really well together. I feel like he really listens to me. And he’s charming and sweet.”
“Sweet? That’s not a word that’s often used when describing my cousin,” Bryn said. “He must have it bad for you.”
“I don’t know about that.” What she did know was that she had it bad for him. “And it’s probably too soon to even mention it. We haven’t known each other that long.”
“Yeah, but the time you have been together has been pretty intense, so you’ve seen each other at your worst and your best,” Elle said. “And you guys spend all your time with each other. You’ve barely spent a minute apart which seems like plenty of time to really get to know someone.”
“And sometimes it only takes a second to make that connection,” Aunt Sassy said. “Sometimes you can meet someone, and you just know.”
“Been there, done that,” Nora said. “Although I’ve been wrong every time. I’m notorious for leaping before I look, and I just got burned in a big way for jumping into a relationship too quickly with a man I thought I knew.” Nora leaned her hip against the counter. “And by burned, I mean sold everything I owned and moved in with him. Then a few months later, we got into an argument and he decided he didn’t love me anymore and not-so-subtly suggested I move out again.”
“Dr. Douchebag,” Elle said.
Nora nodded.
Aunt Sassy put a hand on her shoulder. “Sounds to me like instead of beating yourself up for making the wrong decision about a bad man, you should be congratulating yourself on making the right decision by choosing to be with a good man like Cade.”
Nora shrugged again. How was she supposed to know if Cade really was a good man? He seemed to be. But her track record for judging men’s characters seemed to be lacking. She could barely trust herself. How could she trust what was happening with Cade? She shook her head. “Enough about Cade and me and my poor life-decision skills.”
“We all have those, honey,” Aunt Sassy assured her with a wink. “But the real skills we want to hear about are Cade’s. Is he a good kisser? He looks like he’d be a good kisser.”
Nora chuckled as she picked up a bowl of sliced apples. “Oh, gosh, on that note, these pies aren’t going to make themselves. Somebody pass me that cinnamon.”
Sassy cackled as she grabbed the tin from the counter and held it in the air. “You’re not getting the cinnamon until we get the spice.”
Oh crud. She needed to deflect their attention. The alcohol had her saying more than she should have already. She needed to stop talking about the hot cowboy. Or she might end up spilling more than she should—like how Cade could be just as spicy as he was sweet.
Nora pointed to the librarian’s half-empty glass. “So, Jillian, you should grab your drink because I think it’s your turn to swill it and spill it. You can tell us if that cute deputy has stopped in to see you to get a library card yet.”
“Wait, what’s this?” Elle said, turning to Jillian. “Why haven’t I heard about this cute deputy?”
“Why haven’t I heard about this library card business?” Aunt Sassy asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Is ‘library card’ some new code for hanky-panky, like that Netflix-and-chill business?”
Nora and the other women cracked up. “No, Aunt Sassy. You’re not missing out on some new urban slang. I really meant a library card, since Jillian is an actual librarian. And we met him yesterday when he came out to help us pick up the rescued horses. His name is Ethan Rayburn.”
“Oh, I know Ethan,” Aunt Sassy. “He is cute.”
“And he’s a good guy,” Bryn said. “We went to school together.”
“Well, he asked Jillian to save him a dance tomorrow,” Nora told them.
The librarian’s cheeks flushed pink. “I think he was just being nice,” Jillian said.
“I’ll dance with him,” Aunt Sassy, wiggling her hips.
“Sorry, Jillian, this is what happens on girls’ night when margaritas are involved,” Elle said. “We start talking men and boundaries get screwed.” She put her chin on her knuckles. “But that wasn’t much of a ‘spill it.’ We need more. Have you dated anybody since you’ve been here?”
“No, and I’m not planning to,” Jillian said with a laugh. “I’ve got enough on my hands with moving across the country, starting a new job, and transitioning Milo to a new school.”
“How did your ex-husband feel about you bringing Milo to Colorado?” Elle asked.
“He felt nothing at all because I don’t have an ex-husband. Never been married. And Milo’s dad has never had any interest in being part of Milo’s life.”
“That’s tough,” Bryn said.
“Not really,” Jillian answered. “He wasn’t that great a guy to begin with. And certainly no role model for my son. In some ways, it’s easier. But not a lot of guys want to date a single mom with a ten-year-old boy. Which is fine. If I’m going to have baggage, I’ll take Milo as my personal item any day.”
“Ugh, I know all about baggage,” Elle said. “Try putting two brokenhearted widows together. Poor Brody didn’t know what he was getting into when he asked me to move in while they finished the repairs on my house.” Elle took another sip of her drink, then gave them a mischievous grin. “Besides dragging in my widow-shaped luggage, I also brought an injured dog, a rambunctious puppy, and a horse.”
Nora drew her head back. “You have a horse? How have I not heard that you have a horse?”
Elle laughed. “She’s kind of a new acquisition.”
“She was one of our rescues from earlier this summer,” Bryn explained.
“She is the sweetest girl,” Elle said with a sigh. “Her name is Glory, and she likes to be sung to. She’s particularly partial to Christmas carols and anything by Elvis or the Beatles.”
“Actually that doesn’t surprise me that much,” Nora said. “Allie’s favorite horse, Daisy, likes to be read to. Cade and I found her out in the barn last night reading to all the animals.” She’d finally nabbed the cinnamon and was stirring it and some sugar into the bowl of apples. “But what does surprise me is that I hadn’t realized you’d moved in with Brody. I know I’ve been caught up in my own stuff, but it doesn’t seem like you’ve been with him that long.”
Elle shrugged. “Sometimes you just know.”
“And sometimes you think you know, but then find out you don’t have a clue about the person you’ve just sold all of your belongings for and moved in with,” Nora muttered.
Sassy swiped an apple chunk before Bryn covered the filling with crust. “But you can’t live your life in fear of making another mistake. We all make mistakes every day.” She glanced down at her outfit. “I probably made a mistake trying to match this hot-pink top with these teal joggers, but who cares? Life is full of mistakes.”
“Yes, but shouldn’t we try to learn from those mistakes?” Nora asked. “Like surely there’s a lesson in here somewhere.”
“Yeah, don’t date douchesticks.” Sassy put an arm around Nora’s shoulder. “But the lesson isn’t never to date again or to stop believing that you deserve to find someone good. Life’s too short to waste worrying about if you’re making the exact right decision. I say grab life by the horns and live it. Eat the dessert, dance in the rain, use the good china, light those pretty candles, and for goodness sakes, if you get another chance to fall in love, take it.”
Nora pressed her lips together, blinking at the sudden well of tears in her eyes. “You’re a pretty wise woman, Sassy James.”
Aunt Sassy fluffed up one side of her hair. “I know.”
Elle grinned and pointed to Sassy’s face. “I hate to tell you, oh wise one, but you’ve got apple pie filling on your chin.”
The women busted up again and were still laughing a few minutes later when the front door opened and Cade, Zane, Brody, and the kids filed in. The house exploded with noise and more laughter as the kids raced up to the kitchen island, their words spilling over each other as they told the women about their night.
“Dad dropped one of the pizzas,” Mandy said.
“And Cade bet him a dollar that he wouldn’t eat one of the pieces off the floor,” Allie said.
“Then Zane offered him ten bucks to do it, and Brody ate like half a slice,” Milo chimed in.
“Oh, gross,” Elle said, swatting Brody’s arm. “I kiss that mouth. Just tell me next time you’re that hard up for cash, I’ll give you a twenty.”
“It wasn’t the money,” Brody said. “It was the principle of the thing. And it barely touched the floor. Easily sneaked in under the ten-second rule.”
Allie had wheeled the knee scooter up to Nora, and she put her arm around the teenager’s shoulder. “Despite having to watch a grown man eat floor pizza, did you have fun?”
Allie’s face lit with excitement as she nodded. “Yeah, it was really fun. They had a little arcade thing in the back of the pizza place, and there were some other kids there that were my age. They go to Mandy and Milo’s school.”
“Other kids or other boys?” Elle asked.
“Both,” Allie said, her grin spreading wider across her face.
“Luke Johnson totally likes her,” Mandy said. “He even asked me for her number.”
“Wait, I didn’t hear this part of the story,” Cade said. “Who is this kid? And what does he want with your number?”
Allie rolled her eyes. “Gosh, I don’t know. Maybe so he can call me and ask if I want to buy some Boy Scout popcorn. I’m assuming he wants it so he can text me.”
“I’d rather it be because of the popcorn,” Cade grumbled.
Brody swept his finger around the edge of one of the bowls and sampled the filling. “Tastes good. How are the pies coming?”
“Great,” Bryn said. “They’re all prepared. I just need to bake the last few.”
“Good. Because we probably need to take off. I’ve got an early surgery scheduled in the morning.”
“Let me just help clean up a little,” Elle told him. “Then we can go.”
Bryn waved her away from the sink. “I’ve got the cleanup covered. I have to wait for the pies to bake anyway. You all go on home. I need you rested and ready for me to put you to work tomorrow.”
“Speaking of which,” Nora said, carrying some dishes to the sink. “What’s the plan for tomorrow? What’s left to do?”
“Not much,” Bryn said. “We set the hay bales out this afternoon and arranged them for seating. We’re borrowing tables and chairs from the church. Zane and Cade can pick those up in the morning.”
“That won’t take long,” Cade said.
“We also borrowed a bunch of café lights, and the guys are going to string those above the area for seating and the dance floor. My idea is that the event will be half in the barn and half out. We’ll open the big front doors, and the dance floor, the band, and the table and chairs will be right outside the barn, but the bake sale and the drinks area and some seating will be inside. I want people to be able to roam inside to see the horses.”
“And remember you said I could dress Shamus up and walk him around to show off one of our successful rescues,” Mandy said.
Allie raised her hand as if she were in school. “I’d really like to help too. Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes, I’ve got the perfect thing for you. I was going to ask you in the morning,” Bryn said. “I have a whole rustic-barn kind of theme. I bought navy-blue tablecloths and for centerpieces I have about a million mason jars that I thought you, Mandy, and Milo could fill with wildflowers and some sprigs of chokecherry from the bushes on the side of the house.”
Allie pushed her shoulders back. “Yeah, we could totally do that.”
“Great.”
“All right, sounds like the chauffeur slash handyman slash barn dance setter-upper has a full day tomorrow,” Zane said. “So the Taylor taxi service is leaving in five. Whoever wants a ride home needs to be in the car.”
After a flurry of packing up and hugs and last-minute instructions, Zane pulled Elle’s packed SUV out of the driveway. Allie had already taken Scout back to the bunkhouse, and Bryn had shooed Nora and Cade out of the house.
Nora didn’t realize how that last margarita Elle had poured her had affected her until she tried to walk down the porch steps. “Oopsie daisy,” she said, stumbling a little into Cade.
“You all right there, darlin’?” he asked, sliding his arm around her waist.
“I’m just great,” she answered, leaning into his solid side. “That was a really fun night. It’s been a long time since I’ve hung out with a group of women I really enjoyed being around.”
“I’m glad you had fun.” His voice was warm, but he had a pensive look on his face as they walked back toward the bunkhouse.
“You okay? You seem more quiet than usual.” She nudged his ribs. “Didn’t you have fun tonight?”
“Yeah, it was great. I love those guys, and the kids had a good time. But it was also kind of weird, ya know? Like it’s the first time I’ve ever gone out with another dad and other kids. It just got me thinking about stuff. Like how I’ve been so focused on the present that I haven’t given much thought to the future.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw Allie with those kids tonight, and I realized that school is going to start up in a few weeks, and I don’t have a clue where she’s going to go. And it’s not just school. I’m completely clueless about what happens in her life. I don’t know how to make doctor’s appointments or when the last time was she went to the dentist. How often are kids even supposed to go to the dentist? Once a year? Once a month? Does she play sports or a musical instrument? I just realized how much Amber has always taken care of. And how in over my head I am.”
“It’s okay. That’s all stuff you can learn. When you get a new horse, you don’t know anything about it, do you?”
“Are you comparing my teenage daughter to a rescued horse?”
She shrugged. “Just trying to put it in perspective to your life experience.”
“That’s fair. Go on.”
“I’m just saying that you’ll figure it out. Allie doesn’t know how to live with a dad in the house either. You guys will adjust, and you’ll help each other. And I’m here if you need me. Not that I know anything about school, but I do know that everyone should get their teeth cleaned twice a year.” She smiled up at him as if she’d just offered him one of the secrets of the universe.
He grinned down at her. “Good to know. And thanks. Although I don’t know if I should be taking parenting advice from my daughter’s snockered physical therapist.”
They reached the edge of the porch, and she walked up the two steps, then turned to him so they were eye level. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “How about taking advice from a snockered chick who thinks you’re really hot?”
He chuckled. “I guess that depends on what kind of advice that chick is offering.”
She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Take me to bed, cowboy.”
“That’s not really advice. It’s more of a directive.”
She giggled. “You’re funny, Cade Callahan.”
“You’re drunk, Nora Fisher.”
“I know.” She leaned forward into him, closing her eyes as her words slurred just the slightest. “And I was thinking of inviting you in for some crazy, hot, sexy times, but now I’m just very tired. That’s why I want you to take me to bed.”
“I can do that.” He picked her up and carried her inside and down the hall to her bedroom. He pulled back the comforter and set her on the mattress. She kicked off her sandals and closed her eyes again as she snuggled into the pillow. Cade pulled the sheet over her and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Good night, beautiful. I’m glad you had fun tonight.”
“Me too,” she sighed as sleep drifted closer. “I really like those women. Even though they got me to swill it and spill it, and I sort of told them how much I really like you. And I told them it scared me. Because I really, really like you, Cade.”
She heard his quiet laugh and felt his lips brush her cheek. “It scares the hell out of me too because I really, really like you too, Nora.”
Her lips curved into a grin as she drifted off to sleep.