I let out a chuckle as I whispered back, “Is it that obvious?”
Whitley stepped back and quickly said, “I have eye drops, don’t worry.”
Laughing, I gave her a friendly push as I headed up to the house.
“Everyone is outside; Jase just started grilling some steaks!” Whitley called from over her shoulder as she scooped Nickolas out of Liza’s arms.
Wrapping her arm with mine, my mother and I headed through the house and to the back. “Now, Ava, try to keep your very outspoken thoughts to yourself.”
My mouth fell open as I let out a gasp. “Oh my God. What do you think I’m going to do? Offend the little old consultant men, and then they won’t want to work for us?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
Liza bumped my shoulder as she rushed past me. “Don’t worry, Court, when she sees them she’ll be too busy wiping the drool from her mouth to even talk.”
I rolled my eyes and took off after Liza as she yelped and ran through the kitchen with me hot on her trail.
“This is not the first impression I’m talking about, Ava Moore!” my mother called out as I followed Liza out onto the back porch. Liza immediately took a right turn and I didn’t realize how fast I was going. Trying to come to a stop, I hit the stairs and ran down them only to run right into the back of someone, causing their drink to go everywhere.
“Shit!” I shouted as my head throbbed from slamming into what felt like a brick wall. As I put my fingers up to my temple and closed my eyes, I prayed the hangover would just go away.
“Ava?”
I know that voice.
Peeking one eye open, the other one quickly followed as I gasped and said, “Ryder?”
I quickly scanned around only to find everyone staring at both of us, and I couldn’t help but notice the stunned expression on my father’s face. “You know my daughter, Ryder?”
The smile that spread across Ryder’s face spoke volumes.
“Yes, sir, I do.”
I could feel all eyes on me as I let out a nervous chuckle. “Well, I mean we’re just acquaintances.”
Ryder raised his eyebrows as the other extremely hot guy standing next to him coughed and looked at Ryder.
“No, I mean we’re more than that.” Shaking my head and then moaning from the sheer pain, I held up my hands and said, “No! I mean, we’re just friends. New friends. Like I ran into him on the street and knocked all his paperwork out of his hands and then ran into him again—”
Oh Jesus, I’m digging myself into a hole.
“We ran into each other again yesterday when I was attending a meeting at a restaurant in Austin.”
The other guy coughed again and glared at Ryder.
My father walked up and kissed me on the cheek as he looked back at Ryder and said, “What a small world.”
It appeared Ryder had to force himself to pull his eyes off of me and as he looked at my father and nodded. “Indeed it is.”
“Yes, it is for sure,” the guy behind Ryder said.
Walker approached and said, “Well, Ryder, since it appears you already know my sister, Nate Montgomery, this is my younger sister, Ava Moore.”
I smiled and extended my hand over to Nate. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Nate smiled back a warm smile and a wink, “The pleasure is all mine. Since you’ve had the pleasure of getting to know my brother, I guess that means I get to monopolize all your time this afternoon then.”
Letting out a nervous and very awkward laugh, I said, “I’m afraid I don’t get too excited about talking about cattle and all of that.”
Nate tossed his head back and laughed. “Fair enough.”
Turning, Nate walked over to Layton as my father continued to stare at me like I had just caused a huge shit storm.
I slowly glanced over and stole a peek at Ryder. He was staring at me too, but he still wore that damn sexy-ass smile. I spun around on my heels and headed over to the safe zone.
The baby. No single hot guy wanted to be anywhere near a baby.
After sitting and chatting with Liza, my mother called out and asked me to help get everything ready to eat. As I stood, I leaned over and glared at Liza. “So when I pop a kid out, does that mean I get to just sit there and hold them while everyone else does all the work?”
Liza grinned and said, “Pretty much.”
I worked quick and fast, helping my mother and Whitley get the table all set. Jase brought in all the steaks and set them in the middle of the table as Layton motioned for everyone to take a seat. I wasn’t surprised to see Ryder make a beeline and sit right next to me. Jase took the seat to my left and bumped my shoulder as he sat down. I rolled my eyes and quickly reached for the glass of wine I had in front of me.
“How are you feeling today?” Ryder asked in a hushed voice.
“Fine,” I mumbled back.