She started taking off her outer layers of clothing then, and Ryann made herself move her eyes away. She was starting to feel the effects of the beer now, and that, coupled with her fatigue, had lessened her self-control. The urge to watch the other woman was tugging at the edges of her willpower, and she made herself concentrate on the men, who were staring at each other, moony and starry-eyed, Jai playing with a curl of Stuart’s hair.

“Don’t mind them,” Maddie said. “They’re always like that.”

Ryann had to look up to meet her eyes since Maddie was a little taller than her. She was also little broader overall, with wide, strong shoulders and obvious muscles under the sleeves of her flannel shirt. She had light, sandy hair cut in a short pomp fade, dark-blue eyes, and a light scar that cut through one dark eyebrow. She was dressed very much like Stuart and Jai—in a thick blue flannel shirt and dark jeans with heavy snow boots. She was striking, with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, her features overall somewhat aquiline and altogether appealing. Stuart was right—she was very much Ryann’s type.

She blinked rapidly, realizing a second too late that she’d been staring at her again.

“I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m just so glad they found each other.”

“Me, too,” Maddie said. “I’ve never seen Jai so happy.”

“Me, either, with Stuart, I mean,” Ryann said.

Stuart broke in. “You two getting acquainted now?”

“A little,” Maddie said, flashing those bright teeth and dimples at her again. “Though I don’t know much about you, Ryann, other than you being Stuart’s friend from New York. He said you’re in marketing?”

“Yes—that’s right.”

She glanced at Stuart, who was watching them intently. He was grinning at her, knowingly, but she couldn’t work up to her previous anger.

“That’s partly why I wanted her here,” Stuart said. “She’s really, really good at event planning. You should see the galas her company puts on. Incredible.”

“Have you done weddings before?” Jai asked.

“No,” she said, “and Stuart’s overselling it. I’ve planned some big work events is all.”

“Hey, that’s great!” Jai said. “Maddie has some experience, too. You guys should be perfect together.”

“Oh?” she asked, looking at Maddie. “You’ve done events, too?”

“She’s basically the whole reason Loveland’s even on the map,” Jai explained. “She’s involved in all of the Valentine’s Day stuff here in town.”

“He’s exaggerating,” Maddie said. “I do some volunteer work—that’s all.”

“And she’s understating it,” Jai said. “All those decorations out there in town—that’s her doing.”

“He’s really embellishing now.” Maddie rolled her eyes. “I helped design some of the lights and decoration displays—that’s all.”