June beamed up at her before turning back toward Asher. “I might bake a pie, Uncle Asher!”
He caught up with them and ruffled June’s hair as they climbed the front porch steps—also lined with freshly planted flowers—the empty swing swaying in the warm breeze. “I heard, Junebug. Just don’t put any worms in mine.”
The little girl tossed her head back and giggled. “Worms don’t go in pies, silly!”
“They don’t?” Asher asked, feigning confusion. “Then don’t eat the pie that’s in the fridge at home, okay? I need to throw it out.”
That only made June laugh harder, the sound urging a smile to Nat’s lips as she watched the interaction between those two. While she’d known Asher for two decades, seeing this side of him was something altogether new, and she’d been completely immersed in it since she’d arrived. She couldn’t deny how much she loved it.
“That’s so gross, Uncle Asher!”
“Your uncleispretty gross, isn’t he?” Nat said, pulling even more giggles from June.
Once they made it to the front entrance, Asher reached over Nat’s head and grabbed the screen door, holding it open for them as he leaned down toward her ear. “A gross man you agreed to marry. Who’s the sucker now?”
As she’d become used to over the past several days, two different emotions warred inside her whenever Asher mentioned exactly what she’d agreed to—dread over intentionally and purposely trapping herself in this town, and then there was the very real exhilaration over tying herself tohim, specifically.
Before Nat could respond, the front door whipped open, and there stood her momma. Caroline Haven might’ve had four grown daughters and two granddaughters, but she was still a knockout. She’d been Miss Mississippi back in the day—a title Rory could claim as well—and she still looked the part in her pristine pale-pink skirt and ivory blouse, her gray-streaked dark hair pulled back in a twist. Meanwhile, Nat wore flip-flops, a pair of ripped jeans, and a white tank top that would no doubt be food-stained by the end of the night. She usually let her hair air-dry after her shower, which meant it was a not-quite-straight, not-quite-curly, completely unruly mass. She and her momma were as different as night and day, but Nat loved her all the same.
“Thought I heard a bunch of commotion out here. Why didn’t y’all come in?” her momma asked, a bright smile on her face even as her gaze pinged to each of them, as well as somewhere over Nat’s shoulder—probably looking for the elusive, soon-to-be Mrs. McCoy.
“Asher was nervous,” Nat said, stepping inside without a backward glance toward him.
He huffed out a laugh. “I promise I wasn’t nervous, Miss Caroline.”
“Well, of course not! What on earth would you have to be nervous about?” She tsked and swatted Nat’s shoulder. “She’s just messin’ with you, like she loves to do.”
Nat nodded. “It’s one of my favorite pastimes, it’s true.”
“Now, let me see these babies!” She plucked Owen straight from Asher’s arms without asking, cooing at him before she squatted in front of June, a soft smile on her face. “I’m so glad you’re both here! And the girls are especially thrilledyou’rehere, June. If your uncle says it’s okay, you can go on into the backyard and play.”
June bounced on her tiptoes, tugging on the hem of Asher’s T-shirt, the move jostling it just enough to give Nat a tiny peek of toned stomach and a glimpse of the trail of hair that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans. She’d seen him without a shirt on countless times, so there was no good reason for her lips parting just from catching this glimpse.
“Can I?Can I?” June asked.
He chuckled low under his breath. “Yeah, but be careful. And no cupcakes!” he yelled after her retreating form.
“Can someone please show Miss June into the backyard with the girls?” her momma called toward the murmur of voices coming from the back of the house where the rest of the family no doubt was.
She turned her attention back on Asher, her eyes laser focused even as she entertained a squirmy Owen in her arms. “Now, how’re you holdin’ up, sweetheart?”
Asher nodded and swallowed. “I’m okay,” he said, though Nat heard enough in his tone to know his words weren’t entirely true.
While they hadn’t specifically talked about it since her arrival, she knew he was still bearing the weight of everything—not just his sister’s and brother-in-law’s deaths, but suddenly being thrust into the role of guardian…Dad, for all intents and purposes.
So, no, he wasn’t actually okay. But she was doing her damnedest to help him get there.
“Well, we’re here if you needanything. Don’t you hesitate to ask. And remind me before y’all leave, I’ve got a couple casseroles I’m gonna send y’all home with, too,” her momma said, walking down the hallway, no doubt assuming they’d follow. That was Caroline Haven for you—quietly commanding and sweet as pie so you didn’t even realize you were being bossed around.
Amused, Nat glanced at Asher with raised brows, and he slung an arm around her neck, tugging her into his side. Though, like usual, he tugged too hard, and she had to catch herself with one hand on his back and the other on his stomach. It was a move they’d made a hundred times before—one she’d never thought twice about. But now, she couldn’t help but notice how warm and solid his abs felt beneath her hand or how close her other one was to brushing the curve of his ass.
Sleeping in the same bed as him, waking up to find their limbs—at the very least—tangled together had completely fucked with her mind.
“Quit manhandlin’ me,” she murmured, using it as an excuse to pull away slightly.
He snorted softly and whispered, “As if anyone could unless you allowed them to.”
Unaware of their convo, her mom glanced back at them over her shoulder as they strolled into the great room where the voices only grew louder. “Now, what’s this about cupcakes? I didn’t bake any—was I supposed to?”
