Shannon looked over at the man. He was young, maybe ten years younger than Crash. He had his hair cut in a short military style, a pair of cool shades over his eyes and a tiny infant cradled to his shoulder. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
He nodded, “Pleasure’s all mine.”
“How old is your baby?” Shannon asked, nodding to the child.
He twisted his neck to brush the baby’s head with a kiss. “Little Katie is three months. Aren’t you, punkin’?”
The baby sneezed in response.
Shannon laughed, then asked, “So, what are the War Dogs?”
Rusty replied, “We’re a riding club of ex-military guys.”
“You were in the military?”
“Yes, ma’am. Marines. Still in the Reserves.”
She nodded and turned to Crash. “Maybe Jake and Shane should meet Rusty.”
Crash laughed. “You tryin’ to run off our recruits, woman?”
She rolled her eyes.
He reached over and kissed her hand again, then smiled and winked at her as he drained the last of the beer from his bottle.
“Can I get you another one?” she offered.
“I can get it,” he replied.
She snatched the bottle out of his hand, getting up. “I’ve got it.”
He grabbed her empty hand again and gave it another kiss as she moved past. “Thanks, babe.”
Cole’s eyes tracked her movements as she went back inside, little Brayden squirming in his lap. Then he turned to Crash, chuckling. “Guess I owe you a hundred bucks. You got her waiting on you. Never thought I’d see this day.”
Crash frowned, shaking his head. “It’s not like that. That was a stupid bet. One I never should have made. One you better never tell her about.” His eyes narrowed at Cole.
Cole nodded, coming to realize just how deep his brother’s feelings were beginning to run for this girl. “She won’t hear it from
me.”
Brayden started to fuss in Cole’s arms, twisting and thrashing and trying to get down to go play with his big brother and sister. Cole bounced him in an attempt to pacify him. “You’re too little for that, buddy. Maybe next year.”
“Daddy! TJ and Billy won’t let me play with them!” Melissa called to her father.
“Dad, she’s got cooties! Girls aren’t allowed in me and Billy’s fort! Make her leave us alone!” TJ argued.
“Daddy! TJ just threw a frog at me!” Melissa yelled, really mad now.
Cole looked over at the play set as he held his screaming youngest son and grumbled, “This parenthood thing doesn’t look like it did in the brochures.”
Crash chuckled.
Rusty pulled his daughter away from his shoulder and looked at the spit up all over his shirt. “Yeah. I think my recruiter lied to me.”
“Yeah—they kind of lose that new car smell after a while,” Cole replied, sniffing his son’s diaper.
Crash laughed. “You’re both so full of shit. You love it, and you know it.”