His Tattooed Virgin(Divine Creek Ranch 12)(100)

Seth nodded stoically, knowing he’d probably say the same exact thing to the man who wanted to marry his daughter. “Reading you loud and clear, sir. Another one?” he asked Robert as he held up his empty bottle.

Robert nodded and chuckled. “Been looking forward to that speech since she was a little tyke.”

Seth mirrored his nod and chuckle, and held up two fingers for Quinten, and pointed at their bottles. “Good job, sir. I’m duly warned. But you don’t have to worry. She owns my heart.”

“That makes two of us, son,” Robert said as he held out his hand to Seth to shake. Seth returned the gesture.

“Frieda says you do good work. She’s been bugging me for matching tattoos.” Robert chuckled again and shook his head. “That little dynamo has me wrapped around her finger. Be warned, she trained Jayne well. So how much you charge per hour?”

They chatted companionably for several minutes and Seth was mildly surprised when Julián Alvarez sauntered through the front door of the club. He grinned and lifted his chin in greeting, before coming to join them when Seth waved him over. Seth turned to Jayne’s father and said, “Mr. Sheridan, this man was involved with saving Jayne too. Got shot in the process of disarming the man who abducted her and Toby.” Seth performed the introductions.

“Alvarez, it’s good to meet you. Thank you for acting to save them.”

“I’d do it again, Mr. Sheridan. Jayne, Toby, and Seth are like family to us in Lusty.”

Seth ordered him a beer as he took the seat on Mr. Sheridan’s other side. “So have you made the move to Divine yet?”

Julián shook his head. “Not quite yet. I need to tie up some loose ends, but soon I’ll be out at the Cook Ranch.”

“The Cooks are good people. I hope it works out for you at their place.”

“Got a good feeling about it,” Julián replied and smiled at Camilla when she placed his opened beer bottle on a napkin on the bar. “A real good feeling.”

When they returned to the house, Jayne met them at the door with a wary expression, quickly checking them both over for injuries, which made her father laugh as he hugged his daughter. “Don’t worry, angel bud, I didn’t hurt him…much.”

For Jayne’s benefit, Robert gave him the evil eye and pointed at his own eyes with two fingers and then at Seth, in the universal I-have-my-eyes-on-you gesture. Jayne gasped and then laughed when she realized he was joking.

“Come in and eat. I already have Toby in his high chair. Mom called.”

“What did she want?”

“For me to remind you to talk to Seth about designing matching tattoos for the two of you.” Jayne seemed surprised when Robert laughed and turned to Seth and held up his little finger.

“Just prepare yourself, son.” Robert didn’t look like the thought bothered him all that much.

Jayne’s shocked expression was priceless. “You’re getting tattooed? You hate tattoos.”

“Yeah, but I love your mother. And I don’t guess they’re all that bad,” he added, pointing at the artwork on Seth’s forearms showing because he had his button-down shirt sleeves rolled up.

Jayne came to Seth with big eyes, and mouthed “wow” before hugging him. She whispered, “That’s not the dad I know and love. He’s a pod person too.”

Seth hugged her and laughed until Toby joined them and Robert squinted at them all like they were crazy. “Pod person?”





Chapter Twenty-Four




Soft cello music played over the speakers set up in the spacious shaded backyard of the Divine Creek Ranch. Grace had squealed and jumped at the opportunity to host Jayne’s early-November wedding at the ranch. Seth had taken Jack, Ethan, and Adam’s advice and let the ladies plan the wedding, nodded when necessary, and been as helpful as he could, all while seeking to stay out of trouble.

He stood before the congregation, who were all seated in neat rows of white folding chairs on the lawn, with his best man beside him. Well, not so much beside him as in his arms. He’d tended to be a loner until meeting Jayne, and since then, had felt equally friendly with all the men associated in some way with their group of friends. It had been impossible to choose just one best man. Jayne had suggested Toby and told him that it didn’t matter to her. Her father was walking her down the aisle, Grace was her matron of honor, and Grace’s daughter, Rose Marie, was the tiny flower girl. Jayne had been happy with that wedding party, so Seth didn’t worry about it.

Since the shooting the month before, Jayne had fully recovered and they were packed and ready for a week’s honeymoon at the bed-and-breakfast in Lusty. Toby was staying the week with Grace and her family. The November weather would be perfect for exploring, hiking, and their third-floor honeymoon suite in the bed-and-breakfast had a large, private balcony, perfect for lusty pursuits under the stars.