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St. Patrick’s Day
Rocking M Ranch
Whiskey Ridge, California
Sam O’Neal tapped the toe of his cowboy boot to the beat of the Irish band Josh somehow procured at the last minute. Sam’s regular D.J. wasn’t too happy to be sitting out this annual event, but by the looks of the happy faces all around him, live music was the one thing that had been missing from his St. Patrick’s Day barn dance.
“Great party,” someone shouted over the music. Sam nodded his greeting to TJ Huey, who looked dapper in a crisply pressed black shirt with a kelly-green western string tie.
Sam motioned for TJ and fiancé Paige Jackson to follow as he stepped around one of the pyramids of hay bales that helped absorb the sound and provided a place to sit when your feet got tired of dancing.
“Thanks. I don’t know where Josh found these guys, but they’re really good.”
He shook TJ’s hand and smiled at the pretty woman at his side. “Nice to see you again, Paige. Doc’s been singing your praises. How are the wedding plans coming?”
The lovely blonde held up both thumbs. “We’re all booked. It really helps having a local on the ground in Vegas.”
“Especially a local with a platinum credit card,” TJ put in.
Paige’s laugh warmed Sam’s heart. He couldn’t have been happier for his old friend, who’d been through lot of disappointments and heartache over the years.
Haven’t we all?
Out of habit, Sam scanned the crowd for his brother. Is he over-doing? Drinking too much? Alcohol was sugar, and sugar fed cancer cells. Josh’s doctors may claim his last scan proved he was cancer free, but Sam heard that before where his late stepdad was concerned.
His tension eased when he spotted Josh and Jenny talking beside the smorgasbord of classic Irish dishes—or the Americanized version of them. Jenny didn’t appear happy. No surprise. She and Sam had one thing common--they both worried more about Josh’s health than Josh did.
“So, have you two been dancing?”
Paige blushed. “I never really learned. Always had my nose in a book, I guess. But the music makes me want to learn.”
Sam made an ushering motion toward the dance floor. “Aw, just dance. Nobody will judge. I promise. We’re all just here to have fun and let off a little steam after a long winter.”
TJ and Paige exchanged a look that said things mere words couldn’t.
Envy—not something Sam often felt—pricked the thick shield around his heart. Of course, it was hard not to be a bit wistful around Josh and Jenny. Even though he couldn’t be happier that his brother found his soul mate—Josh’s words, not Sam’s—Sam knew it unlikely that he’d wind up with that kind of relationship.
He’d heard it said a person can’t miss what he’s never known, but Sam didn’t think that was true.
He’d have given anything to share the kind of love he knew existed between TJ and Paige and Josh and Jenny. But some things just weren’t meant to be.
“I should play host and check on the food. You guys have fun. I’ll see you in Vegas, if not before.”
He watched them melt into the crowd before turning to thread his way through the revelers. The closer he got to the buffet table the clearer it became the lovebirds were arguing about something.
“I’m gonna ask him.”
“Don’t you dare. We have still options.”
“This is the best one.”
“It’s not right.”
“But it’s not wrong, either.”
“Hey, you two, what’s up? Why aren’t you dancing to the great band you found, little brother?”
Josh—the kid Sam always thought had the looks of a movie star—dropped his chin and gave his wife a look that clearly warned he was about to say something she wasn’t going to like. “Hello, Sam, we were just arguing about you.”
“Me?”
“Well, your sperm, actually.”
Copyright © Debra Salonen ~ All Rights Reserved
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