As the night progressed into dawn, they all became louder and when the craziness escalated and they just started laughing at anything stupid, Kayden made a move letting them know it was time for them to leave.
The sisters tried to get them to stay but Cassie felt it was more the single men they directed the invitation to. Woody was the spokesman and declined politely, saying they had to go home so they could bed the horses down. On the way out Cassie said that the sisters also wanted to bed something down but it wasn’t horses, and those guys just wouldn’t be in it. This made them laugh more.
Kayden gave her playful smack. ‘Come here, woman,’ he said, pulling her over to him and wrapping an arm around her. ‘Bad cloud girl.’ He hugged her, amused.
Zoren staggered out with them, his arms around Woody and Jason. Ethan and Conor staggered out too, arm-in-arm, still joking around. When they got to the horses, Jason, Conor and Ethan came over and gave her a group hug.
‘You’re a good mate,’ Jason said.
‘Great night, kiddo,’ Ethan slurred and then chuckled.
‘See you at home, cloud girl,’ Conor hiccuped.
Conor and Ethan put their arms back around Jason. ‘Come on, mate, you better let her go before the boss makes us pay on the trip home.’
Jason agreed and let her go.
Kayden was talking to Zoren so once the boys left her side, Kayden moved closer to reclaim his woman. Woody nudged him off.
‘Finish your chat, she’s fine,’ he said, sliding his arm over Cassie’s shoulders and leaning up against his horse with her. Cassie leant into him and started to relax again. If there was one thing she had learned so far about Woody it was that he had a calming control over her that always made her feel at ease.
‘It was a good night, hey Woodsta?’ she said, still a little giggly.
‘You held your own tonight, Cass. You did us proud.’
‘Woodsta, I think I’m going to pass out,’ she said as she slipped out of his arms like a slithering snake. She felt herself being lifted into arms before she hit the ground. ‘Damn, you’re quick. Thanks Woo—’ she slurred before passing out.
Family Friends
It was midday before Cassie dragged herself out of bed. The men were still asleep everywhere: on couches, chairs and the floor. She stood at the sink, sculling her second glass of water and trying to focus on how she had made it home when Kayden came in from outside.
He was as bright as a button. ‘Morning, sunshine! How’s the head?’
‘Morning! Um, fine … hey, how did I get home?’ she asked.
‘You passed out. Are you feeling okay?’
‘Fine, I think, just a bit fuzzy on the details. I didn’t do anything stupid, did I?’
Woody and Jason woke first and rolled over, amused at their conversation. They threw cushions at Ethan and Conor, making them sit up and look around to see what was going on before flopping back down when they realised it was just their mates annoying them.
Woody leaned on his elbow. ‘No, you just told Zoren he needed to smarten up and not send us into any more traps,’ he sniggered.
Jason joined in ‘Yeah, we loved it. Someone needed to have a shot at him about it.’
Ethan stretched. ‘And you told the sisters they need to visit a stylist for their hair.’
Cassie went a deep shade of pink and put her hand to mouth, covering her awed expression. ‘I did … really? My God, that’s so terribly rude.’
Conor sat back up, joining in on the conversation. ‘And you told us all you loved us heaps of times, didn’t she, guys?’
Shocked at her behaviour, Cassie glanced over at Kayden. He didn’t seem concerned at all. ‘You were charming and delightful. Nobody took offence to your jest.’
‘The sisters … did they seem offended at my remark?’ she asked, frowning at her lack of tactlessness.
‘No not really. They were more shocked when you asked them which one of us was their favourite and wouldn’t give up until they ‘fessed up,’ Kayden said, amused.
All the boys started laughing, pushing and poking each other, ribbing each other for the sisters’ choices. Adora naturally picked Woody; Kewana couldn’t decide between Jason and Ethan and finally said she’d take both. Dyna the youngest, picked Conor.
Conor came into the kitchen to get a glass of water. ‘But of course we were only their second choice. Your boyfriend was first pick and now he is off the market we get his leftovers,’ he said, taking big gulps of water. ‘Damn boss could have had any one of them and he wants our girl,’ he joked, kissing her on the top of the head as he walked past.
Kayden came around the other side of the bench to Cassie and held her gently. ‘It was all in fun and my men weren’t much better. They had the sisters quite embarrassed with their jokes and I don’t know if Zoren will get over being rubbished the way he was. I might have to put restraints on the lot of you next trip,’ he said, looking around and acting serious which made them all start laughing again.