Gage was the last to arrive at the Piki Tiki for what he hoped would be a quick meeting of the Texas Billionaires Club.

Tanner Peschke, Jesse Jordan and Rip O’Rourke each had a beer in hand and had started drinking without him.

It was just as well; Gage couldn’t drink. He was on his way to his new unit to take command. Having alcohol in his system was a huge no-no as the new commander. As this was his first command of an Army National Guard unit, he refused to fuck it up the very first day. Besides, the unit was headed out to the field. The weekend promised to be full and exhausting.

He waved down a waitress, ordered a ginger ale then took his seat.

“Gage! Glad you could make it.” Rip pounded him on the back.

“Good to see you, Gage,” Jesse said.

“I thought you said you were drilling this weekend,” Tanner added.

“I am. I only have a few minutes before I have to change into my uniform and head out.”

The waitress returned with his ginger ale and set it on the table.

Gage lifted his glass. “To the Texas Billionaires Club.”

The other three men lifted their longnecks and chanted in unison, “To the club.”

Gage swallowed the liquid, glad to let the cool drink slide down his throat. He’d rather have had the beer and the buzz, but he needed his wits around him with his new command. “Any particular reason we’re meeting today?”

“Just wanted to catch up and make sure we’re all on track with our plans.”

Gage’s gut tightened, and he set his glass on the table. “What you mean is, you want to make sure I’m on track. Since the rest of you have all managed to land a girl, I’m the last bachelor standing.”

Rip turned to Tanner and Jesse, grinning. “That about sums it up.”

A frown tugged at Gage’s brow. “I was all for this plan back when we were broke college students at Texas A&M, but we’ve changed, matured and are well-established in our respective fields. I don’t see how pushing a guy into marriage is necessary at this point.”

Rip touched the watch on his wrist and raised his eyebrows. “The clock is ticking.”

“Yup,” Tanner agreed. “We made a promise as a group to keep our lives on track. Part of that promise was that we’d make the time to find a wife and have children.”

“Being rich is enough for me,” Gage insisted. “I don’t need a ball and chain holding me back.”

“Having a wife and children isn’t supposed to hold you back,” Tanner said. “It’s supposed to enrich your life in a way your money won’t. You need a partner to share your adventures, to be there when you need her.”

“And you need children to mellow you. Lord knows you need mellowing,” Rip said.

Gage glared at Rip. “You don’t have children, so how do you know they’ll mellow you?”

Jesse grinned. “Mine is due in the next thirty days. I’ll let you know about the mellow part. I have a feeling it won’t start out that way. At least I’m getting used to waking up three of four times a night. The baby is already so big Rachel can’t make it to morning without a few trips to the bathroom.”

Rip’s brow wrinkled. “Is that what we have to look forward to?”

Gage, Jesse and Tanner turned toward Rip.

“Are you trying to tell us something?” Tanner asked.

Rip’s face split in a grin. “Damn right, I am. Casey and I are expecting.”

After much back-slapping and hand-shaking, the men settled back in their seats.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Tanner shook his head. “I thought for sure you’d be the last one to pop out a kid. You’re too much of a kid yourself to raise one.”

Rip adjusted his brightly colored Hawaiian shirt. “I might look like a goof off, but my holdings are doing well, and the radio show is still the talk of Austin.” He clapped his hands together. “And I can’t wait to teach my son how to play football.” He made a motion as if throwing an imaginary football.

“Do you know you’re having a boy?” Jesse asked.

Rip shrugged. “Not yet. We’ll find out at our next doctor’s visit.”

“What if it’s a girl?” Gage asked. “Are you going to teach her how to play football?”

Rip nodded. “Damn right, I am. I’m all about equal opportunity on the playing field.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tanner said. “You’ll be humming a different tune when that little girl wraps you around her little finger. You’ll be up to your earlobes in pink tutus.”

Rip shrugged again. “I can deal with pink tutus. But we’re not here to talk about my baby news. We’re here to see what we can do to move Gage along the path to self-fulfillment.”

All gazes shifted back to Gage.

Damn. He’d hoped the talk of babies would deflect their attention from him. He raised his hands as if to fend off the next attack. “Look, guys, I have my hands completely full with a new command and my other business interests. You have no idea what it takes to command an Army National Guard unit.”

“Kind of like running a multimillion dollar corporation?” Rip countered.

“Or a highly successful chain of ranching supply stores?”

“Or juggling wild animals on the African savannahs, while day-trading your way to millions?” Tanner quipped.

They had their points, but Gage wasn’t willing to listen. He had a lot on his plate. “I don’t have time right now to date, much less get married.”

“You need to at least try to find someone who’ll put up with you,” Jesse said. “Rip found someone. If he can find someone to love him, you should be able to.”

“Hey,” Rip elbowed Jesse in the side. “You make it sound like I was handicapped.”

“Well, you were a womanizer,” Tanner pointed out. “Women find it difficult to fall for a man who likes all the women. They like to know they’re special.”

“Says a man who loved all women.” Rip crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at Tanner.

“But I learned that Janine was enough woman to make me forget the others,” Tanner said. He smiled. “She’s amazing.”

Gage watched the banter between the three men and shook his head. “I’ve yet to meet a woman who makes me want to give up my freedom to marry her.”

Rip nodded. “I understand where you’re coming from. I felt the same until Casey came into my life. Now I know what it feels like to ache to my very core.”

Gage stared at Rip like he’d lost him mind. “I don’t want to ache.”

“In a good way,” Rip amended. “When she’s not around, I miss her so much I can’t wait to see her again. I want to be with her all the time.” He laughed. “Sometimes, too much. She’s amazing, and she’s going to be the mother of my child.” Rip ran his hand through his hair, standing it on end. He looked around the table. “Holy shit, I’m going to be a father!”

Gage had never seen that mixture of joy and fear in his friend’s face. For a moment, he wondered what it would feel like. Then he shook his head. Better to placate his friends until their next meeting. He had to get back to his hotel and change into his uniform. He didn’t want to be late for the change of command ceremony. He straightened in his seat. “Okay. I get it that you all want me to be as deliriously happy as you are. I’ll promise you this: I’ll keep my options open. If a nice girl comes along, I’ll ask her on a date.” He held up his hand. “I’m not promising I’ll marry her by the end of the month, but I’ll start looking for someone.” He drew in a deep breath. “Satisfied?”

The other men looked at each other and then back to Gage.

“Deal.” Tanner held out his hand.

Gage took it and shook.

“Deal,” Rip said and shook Gage’s hand.

“Deal.” Jesse shook his hand but didn’t release it immediately. He stared into Gage’s gaze. “But that doesn’t release you from our pledge. We’ll be on you until you find The One.” Finally, he let go of Gage’s hand.

Gage stood, feeling the promise he’d made with his friends weighing on his shoulders and conscience. Damn. He’d have to make good on that promise soon, or they’d bug him until he did.