“I got a lot of practice in with Max. After his mom left him and Travis, we all pitched in and helped in any way we could. I got really good at caring for a newborn,” I smile.
“I love how you all stepped up to help him. Max is a verylucky boy. I could tell at the wedding how much love your family has for one another.”
“I did get lucky,” I say quietly. “They mean a lot to me, and I would do anything for them. My brothers and I are very protective of our family and made a pact a long time ago, before we even started high school. We agreed not to bring any girls home to the family unless we knew for certain they were it for us. Besides Max’s mom, Sophia and Eve are the only girls my mom has ever met, and we all silently knew what that meant when they did bring them home.”
“What did it mean?”
“It meant they were part of our family now, and all of us brothers had another sister to protect.”
She chews on her bottom lip as she takes in what I just said. “So none of you ever brought girls home? I find that very hard to believe,” she laughs softly.
“To meet our Mom? Never,” I shake my head. “Now, when she’s not here, that was another story and lifestyle I’m done with. A certain girl has changed all of that for me.” I smile at the blush that creeps up her cheeks.
“How could youNOThave had girlfriends?”
“I had a couple of fleeting ones back in high school, but nothing I knew would last—nothing like what Ryder had found with Eve or Travis with Sophia. Then you came along and knocked me off my feet,” I grin.
“I think it was the other way around,” she laughs. “I’m the one who ended up covered in dessert when you knocked me off mine.”
“True,” I chuckle. “If you only knew what went through my mind when I saw you covered in chocolate. I can’t believe I had the strength to hold back.”
“Knowing you now, I can’t believe it either,” she giggles before getting silent again, lost in her memories. She brushesback a piece of Ryland’s curls and smiles down at the sleeping child.
“You know,” I say softly. “Technically, you have met my mom already at the wedding, and I’ve already told her all about you, so you are the third person for us to bring home. She didn’t seem surprised. She told me she had a good feeling about you all along. She’s excited to get to know you this summer.”
She glances up, her brown eyes wide. “You told her about us?”
“I called her the night you agreed to stay here, knowing I wasn’t planning on you leaving. Even though you don’t fully realize it, you’re part of it now…our family. Miles knew the second he saw you standing in our kitchen that you were someone special to me. I’ve never let girls stay in my house, let alone tell my brother to keep his hands off,” I chuckle.
She looks back at Ryland and puts her little hand in hers.
“What if he comes here looking for me? What if Eve and the kids are here? What if…”
“Don't,” I say, cutting her off. “That’s not going to happen. My brothers and I will see to it that it doesn’t.”
I can still see the worry in her eyes, and I hate that this is still hanging over our heads.
I nod toward Ryland, who is sleeping in her arms. “Eve’s mom kidnapped Ryland one day. Snuck into the pool house and took her while she was sleeping. Scared the fuck out of all of us. Her mother’s side of the family was into some dark shit. Thank God, she’s behind bars now.”
Lyla’s eyes go wide with shock.
“Eve didn’t come from the best situation either and had to make some difficult choices to get to where she is today. Do you think Ryder should have left her and told her he didn’t want her to bring any trouble into our lives, or do you think their love for each other was worth the fight?”
“I can’t see Ryder leaving her…”
“Exactly. And our situation is no different. My family stood by Eve, and we will stand by you. You are worth the fight, if there even is one. Who knows, he may sign the divorce papers, and it’s over. Either way, I won’t stop fighting for you until he’s out of your life.”
She looks at Mason in my arms before looking back at Ryland.
“Do you trust me?” I ask quietly.
“Yes,” she says without hesitation.
“Then trust me when I say that everything is going to be okay. He won’t get near you or my family.”
She finally nods, but I don’t think either of us will rest easy until it’s over for good.
“How about we get these two down for the night? According to their texts, Ryder and Eve should be back in a couple of hours. We can put on a movie that’s not Rated PG until they get here,” I chuckle.
