hadnât seen it that way.
Dakota had assumed she wouldnât find a forever kind of love and had already contacted an adoption agency. While falling for Finn, sheâd received word sheâd been approved to adopt Hannah, then six months old. The situation had only gotten more complicated when Dakota became pregnant. It had been a busy few months.
Now Finn had relocated to Foolâs Gold, bought a local air cargo and tour company and they were planning a wedding.
âYou two set the date yet?â Nevada asked as the three of them walked toward the front door.
Dakota looked at Finn, then back at Nevada. âNo. Weâre still talking.â
Finn pushed open the door and they stepped into bedlam.
The rest of the family was already there, along with a big golden retrieverâLabrador mix named Fluffy, who did her best to greet everyone by knocking them off their feet and licking them into submission.
âWe seem to be the last to arrive,â Nevada told Hannah as the baby looked around and laughed when she saw all the people she loved.
Ethan and his wife, Liz, had their three kids with them. Kent and his son, Reese, were attempting to corral an uncooperative Fluffy, while Montana, Nevadaâs other triplet sister, offered advice. Her fiancé, Simon, stood quietly on the sidelines, as he always did. But these days he looked much happier and more relaxed. Tucker was chatting with Denise andâ
Nevada stiffened as she visually backtracked. Tucker?
âYouâre here!â Denise patted Tucker on the arm and hurried toward the door. âThere you are, Hannah. Come to Nana, my darling girl.â
Hannah held out her arms as her grandmother approached, and the child went easily into Deniseâs embrace. Nevada stepped back, not so much to get out of the way as to regroup.
âFinn, have you met Tucker?â Denise asked. âHeâs an old friend of Ethanâs and now Nevada works for him. His company is the one building the resort and casino outside of town.â
The two men shook hands.
âWhat is he doing here?â Nevada asked her mother, whispering so the question wouldnât be overheard.
âHeâs alone in town. I thought he would enjoy a family meal.â
âYou told Ethan I slept with Tucker so Ethan would beat him up.â
Her mother didnât look the least bit guilty. âI had to do something. Now heâs been warned and we can move on.â
That was just like her mother, Nevada thought, telling herself she shouldnât be surprised.
âWhat are you? A member of the Mafia? Did it occur to you I would find this awkward?â she asked.
âHow could you? You work with him.â
Right. Because they didnât have a personal relationship nowâall kissing aside.
âFine,â Nevada said with a sigh.
âIâm glad youâre all right with this, because I put you next to him at the table.â
Denise took Hannah into the kitchen. Nevada stood there, not sure if she should follow or duck upstairs and hide. Before she could decide, Tucker walked over with a glass of wine and handed it to her.
âIâd forgotten what it was like to be around your family,â he admitted.
âItâs been a long time.â
âNot since that summer Ethan and I went to cycling camp with Josh Golden. We were sixteen.â
That made her all of ten. She hadnât noticed him back then. Heâd just been one of her brotherâs boring friends.
âWeâre louder now,â she told him.
âAnd bigger. I canât get over Ethanâs family.â
She looked at the teenagers, who were laughing about something together. âI like that they stay in the room with us instead of disappearing into the family room to play with the Wii Mom bought them.â
âBoth Montana and Dakota are engaged.â
âUh-huh. Simonâs a surgeon and Finn is a pilot. Cargo and private tours.
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
Karl Iagnemma
Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham