him to the pastor at Dana’s church, who also happened to be Laurel’s dad. Fortunately, it wasn’t that uncomfortable of a conversation considering churchgoing wasn’t Mark’s thing.
When Dana arrived, though, he was grateful that after a short time, she took him by the hand and led him farther onto Moonshine land.
“I shouldn’t steal you away,” she said. “This is a good chance for you to get to know everyone.”
“We’ll wander,” Mark offered. “You say hi to everyone, and that will let me get a chance to make sure I’ve got all the names and faces right.”
Her lips twitched. “I don’t think anyone expects you to remember all of us this quickly.”
“It’s been four months,” he offered dryly before inspiration struck. He leaned in closer. “What do I get if I can name everyone we meet? I mean family only, no random strangers included in the bet.”
Her chin rose in a bit of bravado. “What do you want?”
The answer to that would take far too long. Mark stepped back far enough to look her over.
Her blonde hair hung to her shoulders, her ever-present curls bigger as if she’d deliberately puffed them up. Her bright eyes shone, and she wore a sundress of pale green with embroidery along the hemline. The vee dipping over her breasts stopped high enough to be modest, but the curves under it were full and tempting.
She wore half boots instead of sandals, which was a great idea for a party being held at a ranch. There was a straw cowboy hat in her hand that she put firmly on her head as she offered a cocky grin. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Just thinking about what I want to do to you,” he confessed. His voice came out kind of breathless. He stepped closer. “Just thinking about what I want to do with you.”
She looked at him from under her lashes. “Let’s hope you’re very good with names.”
For the next hour, they wandered. Mark knew the lay of the land well enough. He’d helped build this house as well as the one at Whiskey Creek, when Kate and Randy had decided to set up a home away from where Mike and Marion lived.
He supposed it was like kids stretching their wings, the very thing he wanted for Rafe and Laurel—
Okay, his motivation wasn’t all altruistic. He wanted Dana to be with him.
They said hello to Becky and Trevor again. Mark visited with them on a fairly regular basis, stopping in at the house to see how things were going. The kids—meaning Rafe and Laurel, and wasn’t it odd to be thinking of them as his kids—were with Rachel and Lee. Rachel eyed him speculatively before winking, as if offering her approval.
The newest babies were all there as well. Anna, the RCMP who’d busted him and Dana in the park, wiggled her fingers at them then adjusted baby Ethan in her arms. The veterinarian married to Steve Coleman held her baby girl, Raine.
The gathering also flowed around Jesse and his wife, Dare, each of them carefully holding a small, blue-wrapped bundle.
Dana pulled Mark forward. “I did not expect to see you out of the hospital yet,” she said as she slipped up to squeeze Dare carefully. “Congratulations. And you’re sneaky.”
Jesse grinned. “Had to follow my big brother’s example,” he said.
“Yeah, because your big brother totally carried twins and never said a word,” Dare drawled before lifting her shining face toward Dana and Mark. “This one is Royce, and Jesse’s got Ryan.”
“They’re as adorable as any three-day old,” Mark said honestly.
Dana slapped the back of her hand against his chest, but Jesse offered a wink. “Want to hold Ryan?”
If anything, Mark figured Dana was dying to hold one of the babies, so he sat, and a minute later, both of them were being passed teeny bundles.
Mark looked into the little scrunched-up face, amused and pleased to be able to be a part of his family in this way after so many years of not getting to share the celebrations. “Okay, I lied. This one at least is cuter than most three-day-olds.”
He stayed and chatted for a while, but eventually they rose, heading to grab some food.
En route, they were waylaid by Travis. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Uncle Mark?”
“I’ll grab us places at the table,” Dana offered.
Mark watched her walk away, admiring the sway of her hips. He might’ve been watching a little too closely, because when he turned toward his nephew, the other man was grinning very