Tess scrunched up her nose. “Am I off base?”
“So far off base, you’re not even in the ballpark,” I said, kissing the scrunch right off her face.
“Oh, lord, if Hatch isn’t the easy going one, then I’m screwed.”
“No, you’ll be fine.” I chuckled. “Cullen’s the sweet one. Cade’s the one you gotta watch out for.”
“But Hatch is sweet too, right?”
I smiled, wrapping my arms around her. “Uh, no.”
“What?” she squeaked. “You made him sound like a hero!”
“Well, to us, he is.” I linked my fingers behind her back and tugged her closer. “He fought to keep all of us together after Mom died and Dad got sent up. But I’m gonna be honest, he’s the sergeant of a Motorcycle Club. His name is short for Hatchet Man. Sweet isn’t in his DNA.”
She blew air out through her lips. “I’m not confident this meeting’s going to go well, Bugs.”
I laughed. “You worry too much.”
“You worry too little,” she lobbed back.
I kissed her gently just as my doorbell pealed. “Ready?”
“Not even a little,” she breathed out.
I grinned and headed to my door, pulling it open and my brothers and sister pushed through like a pack of wild animals, all talking at once.
“Where the hell have you been?” Cade demanded.
“You were supposed to be home yesterday,” Hatch said at the same time.
“You promised dinner,” Cricket pressed. “Justthe two of us.”
Cullen was the only one who waited for the rest to stop speaking. He was also the one who closed the door and pulled me in for a hug. “Hey, little brother. Good to have you home.”
“Um, who are you?” Cricket demanded, and I slid past my siblings to rescue my woman.
“This is Tess,” I provided.
Tess gave them a little wave and a tentative smile. “Hi.”
“Didn’t answer the question, though, did she?” Cade said.
“Cade,” I warned.
“Just statin’ facts, little brother.”
“Tess is my fiancé,” I said.
“What the fuck?” Cade growled.
“Watch your tone, brother,” Hatch said.
“You’re engaged?” Cricket squeaked.
I took Tess’s hand and she gripped mine back like a talisman. “We are.”
“The woman you met five minutes ago is gonna be your wife?” Cade said quietly, and Cricket immediately slammed her fist into his crotch.
