it was.”
“Three of them live here,” Montana said, feeling the need to defend them all. She wasn’t even sure why. Aunt Jackie and Uncle Bob weren’t judgmental people, and neither of them really had to deal with the Glovers all that much.
If Montana were being honest with herself, she’d started thinking about living out here at this ranch too. Then her aunt and uncle would have more of a reason to see the Glovers more often.
She pushed those thoughts away. It was barely May, and Aurora had been right when she’d said Montana and Bishop had started dating almost the moment she’d been hired here, and not very much time had passed since then.
Not even two months yet.
“Mom,” Aurora said from the back seat. “You didn’t say he was rich.”
“Well, they are,” Montana said. “They’re all rich, okay?” She turned and glared at her aunt, and then Uncle Bob and Aurora in the back seat. “Does it really matter?”
“Not at all,” Uncle Bob said easily. “The Glovers are good people.”
“Bear bought all that food for everyone last year,” Aunt Jackie said. “And Stone Glover used to sponsor the entire Shop for Santa event every year.”
“That’s Bishop’s father,” Montana said. “Can we all agree just one more time that we’re going to be on our best behavior?”
“Yes,” all three of them chorused together, and Montana couldn’t tell if Aurora was being snarky or not.
“There will be a lot of people here,” Montana said, still looking at the house. “We’re nice people too. It will be fine.” Properly pumped up, she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the truck. The rest of her family joined her, and she took the card and small gift she’d gotten for Bishop from Aunt Jackie.
“Don’t worry, darling,” her aunt said, smiling kindly at Montana. “I’ve taken Uncle Bob to parties before, and he’s very charming.”
Montana laughed and that got her nerves to settle down. She climbed the steps and found a note on the door that said just come in. We might not hear the door.
So she turned the knob and stepped into the house. “Kitchen this way,” she said unnecessarily. The noise coming from the kitchen would’ve told a deaf person where the party was. By the round of laughter filling the rafters, Montana estimated them to be the last to arrive, but when she led the way into the kitchen, she found only a few people.
Bishop stood in the kitchen, a knife in his hand as he laughed. He was gorgeous and glorious, that was for sure. Montana smiled just looking at him, her people pressing in behind her.
“Bish,” Ranger said, smiling at Montana. He stepped away from his brothers and came toward her. “Hey, Montana. I’m so glad you could make it.” He gave her a quick hug, which sent surprise through her, and looked at her family. She stepped next to him, turning her back on the party.
“This is my aunt and uncle, Jackie and Bob Kent.”
“I know Ranger,” Uncle Bob said, adding a hearty laugh and a handshake. Montana relaxed, because Uncle Bob did know a lot of people. Her aunt and uncle had lived in Three Rivers for a long time, and so had the Glovers.
A hand slid along her back, and Montana tipped her head back to look at her boyfriend. “Hey,” she said, smiling.
He looked down at her, anxiety in those delightful eyes. “Hey.”
She turned back to her family. “Everyone, this is Bishop Glover, my boyfriend. Bishop.” She took a breath, glad her voice had remained steady and strong. “My aunt and uncle, Jackie and Bob Kent.” She hadn’t even been able to introduce her daughter to Ranger, and she stalled as she looked at her beautiful girl.
“And my daughter, Aurora.” She extended her hand toward Aurora, who wore a little mascara and lip gloss today and practically glowed as she stepped over to Montana.
“Aurora,” Bishop said, the name perfect rolling off his tongue. “So nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she said, shaking his hand. “You really are as gorgeous as my mom said you would be.”
“Aurora,” Montana said. She glanced at Bishop, “I didn’t say that. She did.”
“Hey, I’ll take it,” Bishop said with a laugh. “Now, don’t try to remember all the names.” He gestured everyone further into the kitchen, solidly securing his hand in Montana’s. She liked how he claimed her in front of everyone, and she was doubly grateful her family was there to see it.
“There are a lot of us, and my