But I could say it was the first time as a fully grown adult male who should have been able to have a modicum more control over my dick than I had at fourteen.
“I understand y’all’re gettin’ married?” Sheila asked, her brows raised as she sat on the oversized chair in the living room, a tablet braced on her knees.
“That’s right,” I said, glancing at Nat, who lay on her stomach next to June as they colored in the activity books Sheila had brought along.
“When’s the big day?”
“Well, we just got back from ring shopping, actually. We picked up our license today and have an appointment on Monday at the courthouse.”
“That’s wonderful news. Congratulations to you both.”
“Thanks,” Nat and I said at the same time, then shared a smile.
“Well…” Sheila slipped her tablet into the canvas bag she’d brought filled with activities for both kids. It hadn’t been surprising that Nat had managed to corral June with a coloring contest, but I hadn’t been expecting Owen to sit on the floor and play so nicely—or for so long—with the building blocks. “I’ll get on out of y’all’s hair so you can go about the rest of your day.”
After prying the now-beloved blocks from Owen’s grip and gathering up the explosion of crayons, I walked Sheila to the door, relieved to get her out of the house, even despite how pleasant she was.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. McCoy. I’ll be in touch to schedule another visit soon.”
“Drive safe,” I said with a wave before shutting the door and locking it for good measure.
Why that made me feel better, I had no idea. It wasn’t as if I thought the woman would come barging in uninvited, but it wasat least another shield between us. I rested my forehead on the wood door and exhaled a long breath.
Warmth pressed into my lower back as Nat placed her hand there, and my abs tightened at the touch. Her scent swept over me before I could even open my eyes, and my body responded accordingly.
“Think we pulled it off?” she asked.
I lifted my head and glanced over at her before looking behind to where June tickled Owen, the pair of them giggling up a storm. My stomach clenched, worry and uncertainty over what the future held swamping me. Over the possibility that I might lose those two. “God, I hope so.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
NAT
“Areyou sure you’re ready for this?” I asked, glancing at Asher, the fading light of the setting sun glinting off the natural lighter brown streaks in his hair.
As he’d driven us to my parents’ house for Sunday supper, he’d had one elbow resting on the center console between us while he balanced his left wrist on top of the steering wheel and sang along to the radio. As if he didn’t have a care in the world. As if we were just out for a Sunday drive with no destination in mind. As if we weren’t on our way to my very large, very opinionated family’s home to drop the bomb about our upcoming nuptials. The ones that’d be taking place tomorrow.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He lifted his gaze to meet mine over the top of the car as we tag-teamed grabbing the kids.
I shrugged as I helped June climb out. “Oh, you know, just my family,” I said, as if that would explain everything. And…it did. Without a doubt.
I loved them…mostof the time, but there was no denying they were a handful. There was also no denying my momma, daddy, and gran were about to lose their collective shit when they found out what was happening.
For the past several days, I had been dodging my momma’s calls, but she’d left plenty of messages so I knew exactly what she wanted to talk about. Namely who this fiancée of Asher’s was that everyone had been talking about and why she hadn’t heard a word about it.
Obviously, I had known it was too much to hope that what had transpired in the courtroom had stayed in the courtroom. Too much to hope to have a tiny bit of privacy during my time in Havenbrook. Nope, I was certain the detail of Asher’s betrothed had spread like wildfire before the judge had even slammed down his gavel.
“Are Ava and Ella gonna be here?” June asked, tugging me as she skipped up the front walk lined with freshly planted flowers.
“I’m not sure, Junie B. They might be at their daddy’s this weekend.”
June puffed out her bottom lip in a pout and slumped her shoulders. “But I like playin’ with them,” she said, her voice the closest to a whine I had ever heard.
“Well, if they’re not here, I can promise you my momma’ll entertain you. Sometimes the girls help her bake a pie—maybe you can be her helper tonight.”
June beamed up at me before turning back toward Asher. “I might bake a pie, Uncle Asher!”
He caught up with us and ruffled June’s hair as we 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.”
