kiss from Channing before the ladies shuffled upstairs.
“Cassidy, let’s find you something stunning to wear.” Sam herded everyone to the bedroom and opened the closet.
* * *
Morgan wasn’t exaggerating about Sam’s wardrobe. Half of the clothes in the enormous walk-in-closet that was the size of a bedroom still had the tags on them. There were at least five dresses that caught her eye as the clothes spun around on the motorized rack. The last time she dressed up, she attended an opera benefit. She’d loved the elegance and pageantry of the evening. A red off-the-shoulder dress passed by on the rack. It had beautiful, detailed embroidery on the shoulder strap and an empire waist. She hit the button for the rack to stop.
“I got that one on our trip to Paris.” Sam gave her an approving nod. “I have a nice pair of shoes to go with it, if you don’t mind the height.”
“No, I can get outrageous with the heels. So bring it on.” Cassidy laughed.
Cassidy went into the bathroom with the ensemble the ladies put together for her. She thought she didn’t have time for a shower but Sam insisted she take all the time she needed to get ready. Through the shut door, she could hear the ladies chatting about goings on in the family and the dance tonight. She waited for the dreaded twenty questions to come about her relationship with Channing, but they never came.
An hour later, she came out glammed up and ready to go. The ladies were all so nice to her, just like everyone else on the ranch, that she didn’t feel awkward about having just met them.
She managed to give Channing a kiss good-bye. As the limousine pulled up, she thought about what a crazy weekend it had been. The ladies all whistled when John Jacob got out dressed to the nines in a gray suit. It was going to be a great evening. The Blakes had a way of making a person feel at home.
* * *
Channing couldn’t remember the last time they had a bonfire. But with their father off to the dance with the women, and Mama babysitting all the grandkids, it seemed the perfect time to shoot the breeze and knock back some of Bo Sr.’s infamous moonshine. Bo was even able to make it. As they got the fire going, it brought back memories of the many nights they’d stared up at the stars contemplating life and women.
“So how is it we’re all sitting around the fire together, and Daddy is out with all of our women?” Tyler asked.
“Because he’s that good.” J.J. laughed.
“I’m still curious about what he was doing that got him…injured.” Seth threw a few planks of wood on the fire.
“I still have nightmares about it.” Channing shivered.
“So C.J., you don’t look so tense anymore.” Tate bit back a smile.
“I’d go as far as to say he has a glow about him.” Bo snickered.
“So, things are going good with you two?”
“Things are great.” He gave them a shy smile, waiting for the ribbing to start.
“I’m glad things are going well for you two. And if you’re lucky, Emma won’t be there with her father.” J.J. took a seat.
“What?”
“You did remember that Penny and Emma go to that dance every year with their father?” Seth gave him a strange look.
“No, I did not.” Channing stood.
“Calm down. You and Emma parted amicably. Right?” Tyler quipped.
“I’ve been trying to talk to Emma for over a month. Whenever I try to get some closure, she bolts.”
J.J. scratched at his beard. “I thought you took care of that when she came to visit you at Blake Enterprises.”
“Everybody settle down. I heard Cal tell my dad that Russ Winterbourne wouldn’t be going to the dance this year. They were getting ready for Penny’s wedding.” Bo said.
“Whew.” Channing sank back down on a blanket.
“I didn’t know Penny was getting married. Did you know, Seth?” Tate asked.
“As a matter of fact I did. Penny and I are still on the board of the Main Street Clinic. We chat sometimes after the meetings. She
“Cassidy, let’s find you something stunning to wear.” Sam herded everyone to the bedroom and opened the closet.
* * *
Morgan wasn’t exaggerating about Sam’s wardrobe. Half of the clothes in the enormous walk-in-closet that was the size of a bedroom still had the tags on them. There were at least five dresses that caught her eye as the clothes spun around on the motorized rack. The last time she dressed up, she attended an opera benefit. She’d loved the elegance and pageantry of the evening. A red off-the-shoulder dress passed by on the rack. It had beautiful, detailed embroidery on the shoulder strap and an empire waist. She hit the button for the rack to stop.
“I got that one on our trip to Paris.” Sam gave her an approving nod. “I have a nice pair of shoes to go with it, if you don’t mind the height.”
“No, I can get outrageous with the heels. So bring it on.” Cassidy laughed.
Cassidy went into the bathroom with the ensemble the ladies put together for her. She thought she didn’t have time for a shower but Sam insisted she take all the time she needed to get ready. Through the shut door, she could hear the ladies chatting about goings on in the family and the dance tonight. She waited for the dreaded twenty questions to come about her relationship with Channing, but they never came.
An hour later, she came out glammed up and ready to go. The ladies were all so nice to her, just like everyone else on the ranch, that she didn’t feel awkward about having just met them.
She managed to give Channing a kiss good-bye. As the limousine pulled up, she thought about what a crazy weekend it had been. The ladies all whistled when John Jacob got out dressed to the nines in a gray suit. It was going to be a great evening. The Blakes had a way of making a person feel at home.
* * *
Channing couldn’t remember the last time they had a bonfire. But with their father off to the dance with the women, and Mama babysitting all the grandkids, it seemed the perfect time to shoot the breeze and knock back some of Bo Sr.’s infamous moonshine. Bo was even able to make it. As they got the fire going, it brought back memories of the many nights they’d stared up at the stars contemplating life and women.
“So how is it we’re all sitting around the fire together, and Daddy is out with all of our women?” Tyler asked.
“Because he’s that good.” J.J. laughed.
“I’m still curious about what he was doing that got him…injured.” Seth threw a few planks of wood on the fire.
“I still have nightmares about it.” Channing shivered.
“So C.J., you don’t look so tense anymore.” Tate bit back a smile.
“I’d go as far as to say he has a glow about him.” Bo snickered.
“So, things are going good with you two?”
“Things are great.” He gave them a shy smile, waiting for the ribbing to start.
“I’m glad things are going well for you two. And if you’re lucky, Emma won’t be there with her father.” J.J. took a seat.
“What?”
“You did remember that Penny and Emma go to that dance every year with their father?” Seth gave him a strange look.
“No, I did not.” Channing stood.
“Calm down. You and Emma parted amicably. Right?” Tyler quipped.
“I’ve been trying to talk to Emma for over a month. Whenever I try to get some closure, she bolts.”
J.J. scratched at his beard. “I thought you took care of that when she came to visit you at Blake Enterprises.”
“Everybody settle down. I heard Cal tell my dad that Russ Winterbourne wouldn’t be going to the dance this year. They were getting ready for Penny’s wedding.” Bo said.
“Whew.” Channing sank back down on a blanket.
“I didn’t know Penny was getting married. Did you know, Seth?” Tate asked.
“As a matter of fact I did. Penny and I are still on the board of the Main Street Clinic. We chat sometimes after the meetings. She
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