“Where is your youngest brother?” I inquired, turning to Micah.
“Thailand,” Ace and Micah answered simultaneously.
“Bastard’s spending nine months there to train,” Ace grunted, shaking his head as he pulled the phone from his ear. “Not answering.”
“It’s the middle of the night there,” Micah said, frowning.
Ace shrugged.
I found it fascinating watching Micah interact with his younger brother. I regretted that Gabe wasn’t there.
“I hope you didn’t bring one of those chicks who abhors eating to my house,” Joel called from somewhere in the house.
Micah shook his head as he closed the door behind him. After once again taking my hand in his, he led us behind Ace down a hallway that eventually opened up to the open kitchen area that was attached to a dining space. The rooms were beautiful, decorated in an array of earth tones. Everything from the shiny dark hardwood floors, to the stone lining of the walls, and the granite countertops and kitchen isle all reminded you that you were on a sprawling ranch.
“Hello, Micah,” I heard a woman’s voice say as she stepped through the sliding glass door that led from the kitchen to the immense backyard.
Micah nodded at the woman, who was soon followed by two men. He turned to me. “Jodi, this is my cousin, Aaron, and his wife, Patience.”
I dipped my eyebrows. “Aaron Townsend?” I questioned, looking from the couple in front of me up to Micah.
He nodded. My eyes widened because I’d sure enough heard of Townsend Industries, which Aaron was CEO of.
“Hello,” I greeted, shaking his hand and then his wife’s. I was surprised when I lowered my gaze to find that Patience was noticeably pregnant.
“And this is Aaron’s father, Robert, and his wife, Deborah.”
Another couple I was introduced to. I’d heard of the Townsends of Williamsport since a few of my clients had dealings with Townsend Industries for business purposes. However, I’d never connected Micah to these Townsends. He hadn’t made mention that they’d be in attendance for dinner.
“Steaks and chicken are done and cut up. Ace, make your ass useful and help finish setting up the table so we can eat,” Joel ordered. He came across gruff, but I could see the respect his sons had for him as they did as he requested.
The evening started to feel more like a date to get to know Micah’s family than an opportunity to meet and ask questions of someone who’d known my grandfather. The strangest part was, I didn’t mind. Before we sat down to dinner, Micah leaned over in my ear to tell me that I’d get the chance to speak with Joel about my grandfather. I trusted his promise.
“I’m stuffed,” Patience declared as we followed the men farther into the backyard.
We’d just finished dinner, and I, too, had to admit I was quite full myself. “I had no idea Micah’s father could cook like that,” I said.
Patience laughed as she covered her belly with one hand and pushed her long sisterlocks over her shoulder with the other. “Neither did I. I should ask him if we could hire him to cook for us at home.”
Laughing, I looked ahead as Aaron must’ve overheard her and turned back at his wife. A scowl was on his face, but his eyes seemed to soften when looking at her. Yet, Patience winked at him. Instantly, Aaron’s face relaxed. Those two seemed to have a secret communication only they could hear and understand. It’d been evident throughout dinner.
“Is this your first time here?” Patience asked.
I nodded as I felt Micah’s hand at the small of my back.
“Are you coming riding with us?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Not after all that food I just ate. The poor horse probably couldn’t stand if I sat on it right now.”
It was a total joke, although Micah didn’t take it as such. He glared at me, narrowing his eyes.
“Uh oh, I’ve seen that look before,” Patience murmured.
I turned to her with a lifted eyebrow.
“They all have that same look when one of us dares make a jab about our weight.”
“You’re fucking perfect,” Micah murmured in my ear before I could respond to Patience.
