Page 149 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
“This is her special night, Jess.”
All of the air puffed out of his lungs, and in a pained voice, he whispered, “Fuck, this is hard, Freckles.” Then he pulled his wife into his arms and held on tight.
I slipped past them and went inside to find my kids. Coby was watching a video with Ben on someone’s phone. Layla was following the other girls around with a beaming smile. And Grayson was still with Hunter at the table.
“Is Mason here?” Hunter asked.
I nodded. “Yep. I’m going to go up and tell Roe.”
As I started up the stairs, the rest of the party congregated in the living room and the men all went for their “props.”
Silas had brought a rope.
Nick, a pipe wrench.
Beau, an ax.
Hunter, a bone saw.
And of course, Jess came back inside with his gun firmly secured to his hip.
Poor Mason.
It was a good thing he was such an awesome teenager with a sturdy backbone. Picking up Roe with five big, overprotective men in the room would not be easy.
I hit the master bedroom in the farmhouse at the same time Rowen c
ame gliding out of the bathroom.
“Well?” She twirled around, the smile on her face bright and beautiful.
How was this gorgeous young woman the same little girl I’d babysat during Jess and Gigi’s first date? “You’re stunning,” I said, choking back tears. “He’s here.”
“Goodie!” She smiled brighter, clapping as she rushed over for a hug and then disappeared down the steps.
Behind her, Felicity came out of the bathroom, wiping her eyes dry, with Adeline racing past to follow her sister.
“Ready for this?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I’m so glad Victoria has a few more years. I don’t think I could take it yet.”
I nodded. “You and me both.” Layla would be lucky to convince Hunter to even let her go on a date at sixteen. He was quieter in his protectiveness than Jess, but no less fierce.
I looped arms with Felicity and we walked downstairs, where our friends were fawning over Rowen and the men were looming over Mason.
And bless Mason’s heart, he didn’t even notice the men. His eyes were fixed on Rowen in a way that made Jess’s already-distraught face fall even farther.
Jess saw it. We all did.
At sixteen years old, Mason Drummond was in love with Rowen Cleary. No matter how many angry men stood close by with their weapons of choice, it wasn’t going to scare him away from his girl.
“Oh, lordy, Jess is in trouble,” Felicity whispered.
“I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Mason around.”
She hummed her agreement when we hit the bottom step. Rowen gave one last hug to her mother and a kiss on her daddy’s cheek before she breezed out the door with Mason in tow.
“Let’s eat!” Gigi announced, sniffling as she led the way to the kitchen.
