“Hmm, don’t worry. It’s not you but me they’re going to look at.”

She frowned. “Why?”

He brushed a finger over her lips tenderly. “They’re all going to wonder what the hell I did to deserve to be with a knockout like you.”

“Ooh, you’re smooth, Daniel Coleman, you’re smooth.”

She could do this. Hell, they’d been in public together for months. Only this was the first night she’d thought of it as them being together.

Why did it make such a difference?

He led her into the bar, friendly voices calling their names as they slowly made their way to the back of the room.

“You planning on shooting pool tonight with us?” he asked, waving at yet another group that called his name.

Beth leaned her head toward him. “Is it a guy-territory thing, or am I allowed to trespass, because I’d love to play. We had a table at home when I was growing up.”

Daniel pulled her to a halt. “You mention that to my brothers yet? That you can play?”

She shrugged. “Not something that’s ever come up in conversation.”

Daniel nuzzled her neck and whispered in her ear, “Anyone makes a bet, you take it, okay? I’ll spot you the money, but I can see some sweet possibilities for getting even with Matt. He’s been gloating about having no competition since the twins went off to college.”

The pub was loud with the echoes of laughter and conversation, the music of the dance hall pounding against the far wall and only softly piped into the pool-hall side of the building. Beth glanced with approval at the rich dark tones on the walls, the scent of barbecue ribs making her mouth water.

The sound of familiar voices greeted them as they approached a large round table pulled off to the side of the busy room.

Jaxi was there, the pretty blonde tucked under Blake’s big arm. Four couples, a couple of women, and three more men waved hello. Beth recognized most of the group as part of the extended Coleman clan from around town. She’d been introduced to some of them before, during outings with Daniel.

Matt rose from his chair and came over, hand extended.

“Now that you managed to drag yourselves into public, welcome to our Friday night get-together. Jaxi isn’t drinking anything stronger than root beer because of the baby, but we’ve got draft. Or if you want something else, I’ll grab it for you.” He gestured to the table where there were pitchers of beer waiting. Beth wrinkled her nose.

“Could I get a rum and Coke? Not much of beer drinker. Sorry.”

“No problem. Helen doesn’t like beer either. By the way, I’m sorry she’s not here to meet you. She had to cancel last minute—some emergency at work.”

“Seems she’s been working a lot lately,” Blake grumbled.

Matt hesitated, his smile twisting for a moment before he turned to Beth. “I’ll be right back with your drink.”

Jaxi waited until Matt had stepped away from the table before she punched Blake’s arm. “Stop poking. It’s not his fault Helen’s been jamming out on family events.”

“Something’s up. I wish he’d…” He stopped in mid-grumble, then smiled up at Beth. “And now I’ll shut up and be quiet as ordered. Come and join us. We won’t bite.”

The momentary flash into family politics somehow made her feel more welcome than if everything had been perfect. Beth glanced around the table, counting heads. “I thought Travis was supposed to be here as well.”

Jaxi laughed and jerked her thumb over her shoulder to the back of the room. “He’s here. He’s…busy.”

It only took a second to spot what Jaxi indicated. Beth gaped in surprise. “Holy shit.”

Travis had a girl pinned against the wall, their hands all over each other. Beth felt embarrassment flush her face, maybe a touch of guilt at the rush she got from being a voyeur. Travis had a double dose of the Coleman good looks, and even with Daniel at her side, Beth could appreciate a nice bit of eye candy.

Although she didn’t think it was legal to do in public what they were doing.

“Yeah, ‘holy shit’ just about covers it.” Jaxi kissed Blake’s cheek then sat up straighter, patting the seat next to her. “Come and be my buddy. It’s good to have another woman hanging out with the Coleman crew. The girls have been sorely outnumbered for the longest time.”

Daniel snorted. “Travis’s woman doesn’t count?”

Jaxi waved a hand. “His most recent flavour of the month? Hello, we don’t find out their names half the time. Nor the twins. I’ve never seen any of those boys with the same woman for more than thirty days.”

They did a little wiggling to rearrange chairs, and Beth settled next to the younger woman. The few times they’d done things together, Beth had found her easy to talk with, in spite of their eight-year age difference. Jaxi made her laugh.

“Flavour of the month?”

Jaxi twisted to check out Travis again and slapped a hand over her mouth. “Shoot. Or flavour of the week like this time.”

Beth was in the middle of turning to see what Jaxi was talking about when the woman with the flaming-red miniskirt who had been lip-locked with Travis only moments earlier swished past their table. Her chin stuck out as she headed for the door. With every twitch of the hips, the bare length of her legs flashed.

“Hope she’s got blankets in her car for if she gets stuck in a snowbank. Those shoes would be about as useful as spit outside right now.” The disdain in Blake’s deep voice rang clear.

“Hush, she’s trying to look hot.” Jaxi wiggled against his side.

“Hmm.” He grunted. “Not working. She should try a pair of cowboy boots. Or maybe less war paint.”

“Now, Blake, the ladies can’t all be the same.” Travis sauntered up and folded himself into a chair. A bright red palm print decorated his cheek. He leaned back and stretched his limbs in front of him.

“Damn it, Travis, you’re a right bastard sometimes,” Blake muttered. “But I’m glad you came out tonight with us.”

Travis’s cocky smile shifted to something warmer. Almost like he was pleased with Blake’s attention.

Beth watched the family dynamics with amusement as the boys proceeded to give Travis hell. There was something about the younger man that seemed a little on the dangerous side, and she was happy when Daniel casually draped his arm around the back of her chair.

Travis raised a brow and whistled softly. “So, the mighty have fallen, have they?”

“Shut up, you ass.” Daniel threw a coaster at his brother, but Travis just smirked in response. Daniel tilted his head toward the door. “You’ve managed to piss off almost every female within a two-hundred-kilometre radius. What happened this time?”

Travis lifted his hands innocently. “Hell if I know. She wanted me to join her somewhere next Friday, and I said I’d already made plans.”

“She slapped you for that?” Beth asked in confusion.

Jaxi poked Beth in the side. “Travis is probably forgetting a key phrase or two, right?”

Travis broke out his wicked grin and shrugged. “What? It’s not like I told her I had plans to go dancing with Ms. Sylvan Lake or something. Just wanted to hang out with the guys.”

“You’re such a dog,” Matt said. He shook his finger at his younger brother. “You’re lucky we don’t convince Dad to make you head into Red Deer on deliveries more often, just to mess with your free time.”

Travis sat up straight, all trace of his devil-may-care attitude gone. “Speaking of which, I need help. There’s a rush order of furniture that I kinda accepted and while we’ve got everything we need…” He glanced at Daniel sheepishly.

Daniel shook his head. “You didn’t. Damn it, Travis, you know we don’t mind helping, but could you try to not make it a last-minute emergency every time you notice the sky is falling?”

“I hate the workshop.” Travis refilled his mug and leaned back.

Blake echoed his agreement. “It’s not my favourite thing either, but it’s a part of the family business. There’s a lot less fieldwork now that the snow is down, so it makes sense to have something else to do to keep money coming in.”

Beside her Daniel tensed for a moment, as if he was about to speak, then sighed softly. She leaned against him and whispered in his ear, “You okay?”

He snuggled her tight to his side and kissed her temple. “Just something I’ve been thinking about. No firm answers yet, but I might need to borrow your math skills to see if what I’m pondering will work.”

The idea of being able to help him, in some area outside the bedroom, made her warm inside.

Matt rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Okay, now that you’re all loosened up a bit, who’s on the chopping block for pool?”

Travis stood. “I’m in. All that money I saved on drinks tonight is fighting to be free.”

“I’m in as well.” Daniel turned to her. “Beth, you joining us?”

She followed his lead and went for casual. “Sure. I think I know how.” He squeezed her hand under the table, and she fought back her laughter. To hide it, she turned to Jaxi. “Sorry, I’m not being a very good backup girlfriend if I desert you. You want to play?”

Blake growled, and the other boys laughed while Beth stared at Daniel in confusion.

“I’ll explain later,” he whispered.

Jaxi smirked as she leaned back against her husband, patting the soft rounding barely showing in her belly. “Nah, me and Blake will sit here and argue about names for princess for a while.”

Blake choked on his beer. “Don’t start on me again.”

“Why, Blake, I’m just suggesting you should be ready for anything, maybe even six daughters. That would be so righteous.” Jaxi winked at Beth and motioned her away.