His Destiny Bride. Christyne Butler
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every other weekend. If Bruce decides to fulfill his fatherly duties.”
Something Peggy’s ex-husband hadn’t done much of in the two years since the divorce, but he’d stepped it up lately, making this a rare girls’ night out.
A night that included Katie and Peggy crashing next door at the boardinghouse where Peggy’s sister—a traveling nurse on a relief trip in Brazil—had a room.
No worrying about driving home tonight. Let the margaritas flow.
Katie shook her head and handed over her jar. “I’m here until they kick us out. Mix, mingle and meet someone new, right?”
“Hey, I’m just the wingman—not that you need one. My only advice? Stay away from the bad boys.”
Katie forced a smile. “Oh, you’re no fun.”
“Personal experience talking here.”
Experience Katie shared. She’d dated enough of those too-wild-to-be-tamed kind of guys herself over the years. This last time? She’d picked one who’d worn an actual star on his shirt and the white hat.
Wasn’t that supposed to mean he was one of the good guys?
“Go on, the bar is back this way.” Peggy turned, tossing words over one shoulder. “Mix, mingle and meet your little booty off. I’ll find you.”
Katie’s smile slipped as her friend disappeared in the crowd.
The first two—mixing and mingling—were easy enough, but meeting someone new, considering the population of Destiny, Wyoming, was a challenge. Then again, Laramie and Cheyenne were less than an hour away and this event had become popular over the years.
Surely she could find one interesting man who was looking for something...more.
Despite a dating history that went back to the seventh grade, more often than not Katie had walked away with a broken heart. Still, she never gave up on the dream of loving—and being loved—by one special person.
This last time...a deputy sheriff and single dad. He’d been the one.
Or so she’d thought.
She’d done everything right when it came to her and Jake.
They’d been friends before she’d agreed to a date. Waited three months before getting intimate. Then another few months before she met his sweet little girls. So when he’d convinced her to move into his place back in June, almost at their one-year anniversary, she’d believed she’d found what she’d been looking for.
First cohabitation. Then a ring. One day a wedding and more chil—
“Stop thinking about him.” Peggy had returned with two more margaritas. “Don’t bother denying it,” she continued. “I can see it in your eyes.”
Katie kept her gaze on her drink as she took a long sip. “I wasn’t...not really,” she said. “Okay, I was, but geesh, when it comes to my lack of success with men...”
“You’re successful with men.” Peggy spoke when Katie’s words trailed off. “Just not at finding one who wants the same things you do.”
Katie swallowed. “Ouch.”
“I was right where you are now a few years ago. I’d bought into the whole he’ll-change fantasy. For far too long,” her friend said. “Then dating again. Yuck! Now I’ve only got one guy in my life.”
Katie smiled. With his gap-toothed grin, red curls and love of all things Justice League, Peggy’s eight-year-old son was one of her favorite people. “Curtis is just about perfect, but I don’t think he counts.”
“He’s the only thing that counts.”
Her friend was right. Kids came first. Always.
So much so, Katie had eagerly taken on the care of Jake’s girls, ages three and five, after she’d moved in. Due to his work schedule, she’d been the one who cared for the girls at night. Then he would get home after midnight, and after a rare, quick—and, okay, fireworks-free—tumble in bed, he’d be snoring.
Days passed and they’d fallen into a pattern, with Katie convincing herself that life was supposed to be that way when it came to family. So when less than two months later Jake said he was getting back with his not-quite-so-ex-wife, Katie had been stunned.
That had been at the end of August.
If pressed, she’d admit she missed the fun and affection Jake’s daughters had brought into her life more than the man who’d moved away as soon as she’d moved back into her old apartment over a vacant storefront in town.
“You know, you should’ve grabbed one of those Murphy brothers when you had the chance,” Peggy said, yanking Katie from her thoughts. “Back when all six were single.”
Katie ignored the pang in her heart and gave her standard answer to that familiar refrain. “‘Those Murphy brothers’ are my bosses.”
“Not all of them.”
“Yes, each has a share in the family business. Besides, Bryant was seeing Laurie when I went to work for them five years ago. And Ric—geesh, he was barely out of high school.”
“Like you were much older. You were right out of college.”
That was true. She’d met the Murphys at a university job fair that had netted her a few offers. It took only one visit to the quaint town of Destiny and the headquarters of Murphy Mountain Log Homes in a grand, two-story log home on the Murphy family ranch. That same day she’d signed on as their executive assistant.
The fact that the one brother who’d first interviewed her was six feet of perfection with sad eyes like dark chocolate hadn’t factored into her decision—
“Now the guys are dropping like flies,” Peggy went on. “Two married in less than two years, both expectant daddies. Two more leaving town to live with their amours in jolly old England. That leaves Ric stationed overseas and Nolan—”
“You don’t have to give me a rundown, Peg. I know what’s going on in their lives better than most. Even with Destiny’s thriving gossip mill.”
“A mill still buzzing about how the only single brother still in town isn’t making time with the high school vice principal anymore.” Peggy’s declaration came out in a singsong voice. “Care to dish?”
No, she didn’t. Katie didn’t like to talk about the Murphys.
Especially about Nolan.
The brothers and their parents, the founders of the company, had been good to her from the moment she started working for them. She’d been alone, on her own for much longer than those four years at college. It’d taken her a while to accept their affection and inclusion in their personal lives as genuine.
They were the closest thing she had to family.
She’d never do anything to mess with that.
“So, what’s the scoop on none of the Murphy men—or their wives—being here tonight?” Peggy continued. “Seems a bit strange not to see at least a few of them around.”
Katie was glad for the change in the conversation. “Both mommies-to-be haven’t been feeling well, so I’m guessing their hubbies stayed home with them. Nolan is traveling for business. Even if he were around, I’d doubt he’d be here.”
“Didn’t he—” Peggy paused and peeked at her glowing phone again. “Oh, what the...it’s my ex. I knew it was too good to be true. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
Katie, glad for the interruption, pushed any thought of Nolan out of her head, a habit she’d gotten good at over the years. She scanned the sea of costumes, from the homemade to the store-bought.
Hmm, might she get another glimpse—
Oh,