Her eyes went wide. "Youallhave fiancées?"
They grinned like teenagers who'd just found a stash of Old Man River's moonshine.
"Of course," Amelia said, still processing. "But I don't have anything good to wear."
"That's fine," Caleb said. "Between the ladies, they'll find you something appropriate. And besides, it probably won't be too fancy. Unless the Mayor wants fancy."
Ethan jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. "That's my fiancée you're talking about."
Amelia blurted out, "Your fiancée is themayor?"
Ethan nodded proudly. "There's a lot to like about the ladies. My brothers, you'll have to excuse. The rest of the ladies you'll meet later."
"The rest?" Amelia asked.
More grinning nods.
Jacob said, "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."
There were more backslaps and hugs, and then they filed out, leaving me and Amelia alone again.
She turned to me, eyes still shining. "Your brothers are?—"
"Assholes," I finished. "But they're my assholes."
She laughed and kissed me. "I love them already."
"They loved you, too," I said. "I could tell."
She pulled back slightly. "Are you okay with me going to lunch?"
"Are you kidding?" I said. "I wouldn't miss you meeting the ladies for anything. Maybe there's a juicy story there."
We both laughed, and she kissed me again. Deeper this time.
When we broke apart, she asked, "How much time do you think we have?"
I shrugged. "My brothers can wait."
In one swift move, I pulled off her pants and dropped to my knees, burying my face between her thighs.
She gasped, then laughed—breathless and wild. "You know, for a man who just reunited with his family, you have interesting priorities."
"My priorities," I said against her skin, "are exactly where they need to be."
22
AMELIA
Teddy met us at the bottom of the gangway like he’d been waiting for his cue.
“Ms. Emerson,” he said, hands folded neatly behind his back. “If you’ll come with me, the ladies have made some arrangements.”
“Arrangements,” I repeated. “That sounds ominous.”
Levi squeezed my hand. “Translation: they’re about to adopt you. Good luck.”
His brothers were already calling him from the dock, a chorus of Dane voices and insults. He kissed me once, quick and sure, then jogged after them, leaving me with Teddy and the faint smell of salt on the air.
