“Wow. What is that? Like, ten-thousand acres?” Jessie asked.

I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on top of her head. Shit, the smell of her shampoo drives me crazy. I can’t seem to get enough of her.

“Ten thousand two hundred and forty, if you want to get down to the nuts of it.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Lark’s dad owns one of the biggest and best hunting ranches in Texas.”

“Ah, so I bet your house is probably loaded with dead animals,” Jessie said with a laugh.

Lark shook his head. “Nope. I live in a condo in downtown Austin.”

“Yeah, except when his crazier-than-rich boss calls him to duty. Communications, my ass. You better not be into anything illegal, Lark.”

Lark let out a sigh. “Scott, Skip works for the U.S. government. He’s sort of like a…contractor. That’s how I got the job with him.”

“And what do you do besides fly his helicopter?” Jessie asked.

Lark gave her that smile that would melt any girl’s heart. “Oh, I help out in areas of expertise. I learned a lot during the short amount of time I was in the Marines,” he said with a wink.

“Fair enough,” Jessie said. She turned and looked at me as she whispered, “All secretive and shit. I can see why he’s a ladies’ man.”

Lark laughed. “Shit. Speaking of…any new chicks since the last time I was here?”

“Damn it, Lark. You need to stow your dick for just a few days. I promise, it won’t kill ya.” I grabbed Jessie’s hand, and we made our way back toward the house.

“Bullshit. Country ass is the best kind of ass…sorry, Jessie.”

I just looked at him. “You’ll never change.”

Jessie laughed. “Oh, he’ll change the moment he meets the love of his life.”

Lark let out a loud laugh. “Well then, Scott is right. I ain’t ever gonna change ’cause there is no way in hell this boy is settling down with just one pu—ah…um, girl. No way I’m just settling with one girl for the rest of my life.”

Jessie smiled and turned. She walked backward and faced both Lark and me. “We’ll see. I’ll make ya a bet—by this time next year, you’ll be head over heels in love with a girl, and you’ll want to ask her to spend the rest of her life with you. Yep…that’s right, Lark. You’re gonna be a one-pussy kind of guy by next Christmas.”

She turned and walked into the house as Lark and I both stopped dead in our tracks. I glanced over at Lark.

He had his mouth hanging open as he slowly turned his head and looked at me. “Jesus, dude. I think I’m in love with your girl.”

I smacked him on the shoulder and made my way into the house. I walked up to Jessie, who was now filling up three glasses with tea.

I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I want to be inside you…right now.”

She smiled as she poured the last glass of tea and then turned to face me. “Can’t. We have to go to your parents’ house. Remember?”

I closed my eyes and silently cursed my own parents. I whispered, “Fuck.”

Jessie giggled as she shook her head and looked toward Lark. “So, you get to pick which guest room you want to stay in. I have a friend from college who’s coming to spend a week with us also.”

Lark raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Oh yeah?”

“Oh no…no way. You are not allowed anywhere near her. She is pure. And when I say pure, I mean, P.U.R.E. Lark, don’t even think about it,” Jessie said as she put her hands on her hips.

“Wait—she’s a virgin?” Lark asked with a Cheshire cat smile on his face. “I haven’t popped a cherry in a while.”

“Ugh. Oh my god. You are just…ugh.” Jessie rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Scott, control your friend!” She looked at me. “Make sure he stays away from Azurdee.”

I couldn’t help it. I had to laugh. This was just Lark. He had always been this way, ever since I’d met him our sophomore year of college. The only thing I really knew about his life before then was that his high school girlfriend had died right after his freshman year of college. His brother had told me how much Lark had changed. He’d basically become the opposite of what he had been before she’d passed away.

“Azurdee? Huh, it’s about as interesting as Lark,” Lark said with a smile.

Jessie rolled her eyes again. “Is that your real name?”

Lark smiled and leaned against the counter. “Lark is my middle name. I don’t like my first name, so I go by my middle name.”

“What’s your first name?” Jessie asked.

“Michael,” Lark said as sadness filled his eyes.

“I like that name. Why don’t you like it?” Jessie asked as she quickly glanced at me.

I shook my head. Lark had told me once when he was drunk that the idea of another girl saying Michael while they had sex made him sick to his stomach, so he had gone by Lark ever since his girlfriend had passed away.

I started to make my way out of the kitchen. “Dude, let’s go and get you settled in your room. I’ll make sure there is at least one room between him and Azurdee, babe.” I gave Jessie a quick smile.

She gave me a weak smile. She seemed to understand what had just happened.

As I helped Lark bring his stuff up to his room, he set his rifle case down next to the bed. I smiled, and he smiled back.

“What? I thought maybe we could get some target shooting in while I’m here. Brought my bow, too. Maybe I can get a buck and show my dad that they do grow ’em big in the hill country.”

I nodded my head. “Hell yeah, we do. I can’t wait for you to meet Jeff, Gunner, Brad, and Josh. I have a feeling you and Jeff will hit it off the most,” I said with a gruff laugh.

“So, which one is having the big New Year’s party?” Lark asked as he put his suitcase on the bed.

“Gunner. They’re going to build a huge bonfire with all the Christmas trees. It’s pretty cool. Just know that they all have kids. Gunner has a little girl, who just turned one, and they’re expecting another one in May. Jeff has a little boy, year and a half, and a four-month-old little girl. Josh has twins, four months old also. Brad has a little girl, nine months old.”

“Jesus Christ. What in the hell is in the water here? Remind me not to drink it. What about you and Jessie? How far along is she?”