“Your ass, though,” McKenna said.

Jamie turned around and tried to look at her own butt. “Really?”

“Ass for days,” McKenna said.

“It looks very nice,” Beatrix agreed.

“This is the problem,” Jamie said. “Now everyone’s going to look at my... And like I said, everyone’s going to know that...”

“Your brothers already know. The way you and Gabe were staring at each other all through the rodeo today was ridiculous. You can keep your hands off each other, I’ll give you that, but you can’t seem to keep your eyes off each other. They know.”

Bea nodded. “They do.”

“But Wyatt didn’t kill him?”

“I mean... I suspect that Wyatt doesn’t want you to know how reasonable he is because he would like you to heed his warnings. But he’s a guy. And he went out and sowed all kinds of wild oats. He must expect that you’ll want to.”

Jamie felt subdued. “I’m just not sure about... making announcements about how I’ve changed for him. Because of him. Not really for him. But that’s what everyone will think...”

“Yeah,” McKenna said. “Everyone will. But being with someone changes you.”

“It’s not a forever kind of thing...”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s changed you. He’s making you want to be different. That’s real. And it matters. And whether it lasts or not...”

“It’s like the beer,” Jamie said, looking over at Beatrix. “That you drink beer because of Dane.”

“It turns out I kind of like beer,” Beatrix said. “I wouldn’t drink it if I didn’t.”

“Yeah, well. Gabe is making me have feelings. A diverse array of them. And it’s just... I used to think there was only one way to be strong. I used to think there was only one way to protect people. But he makes me realize how much I hold everyone away from me. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

Beatrix stretched her arm out and leaned in, curving around Jamie and squeezing.

“Are you ready?”

“I think so,” Jamie said.

“You are going to knock him on his ass,” McKenna said.

“Good. But if Wyatt tries to attack him, promise me one of you will shoot him with a tranquilizer.”

“Will do,” McKenna said dryly.

“I actually have tranquilizers,” Beatrix said. “Sometimes they’re necessary at the sanctuary.”

“Well, you may need them handy,” Jamie said. She looked down at her boobs and then pushed them up slightly. “I have a feeling there might be trouble.”

* * *

GABE WAS ALREADY seated with the Dodge family that was present when Jamie arrived.

At least, he was reasonably certain it was Jamie. But then, his Jamie didn’t seem the type to wear a red dress and heels out to the Gold Valley Saloon on a Saturday night—or any night.

A dress that was practically painted on that body he knew so well, with cleavage he’d never seen on her before.

Her hair was loose and silky, straight as ever, but shiny as it fell over her shoulders in a glossy brown waterfall, rather than being corralled by a rubber band. And she was wearing makeup. Her eyes large, her lips bright red.