“Mama,” Kate called.“Don’t get too frisky in there—we’re all sweating out here, waiting to see you.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.“I guess this is what it’s like to be romanced as a mature person.We got to reassure the kids.”
Steve kissed me again before he gently patted my bottom.“Let’s go give the kids something to whoop and holler about.”
I laced my fingers through his and pulled him toward the stable doors.“You got it, mister.”
He stopped me just before I could lift the latch.He touched my cheek, his eyes filled with love.“I love you, Jasmine.So much.I love this family we’re joining.I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“Me, too,” I said.I lifted our joined hands and kissed his knuckles.“Me, too.”
Chapter15
Steve
Iblinked as I pushed open the doors, pretending it was the flash of sunlight that caused me to duck my head.But it was really the fact that our four kids, their spouses, and kids stood in a loose semi-circle around the doors, cheering and whooping for us.
Cam shook my hand with a bright smile; his twin Carter followed.Rye, Kate’s husband, offered me a friendly shoulder pat while Nash, my boy, buried me in a bear hug.
“I’m so excited for you,” he exclaimed.He lifted me a few inches off the ground before he bounded over the Jasmine and enveloped her in a hug.
“Y’all wanna tie the knot here?”Cam asked.
“I don’t know.Whatever Jasmine wants,” I said.
She’d lifted her head from where she and the women were cooing over her ring.She shook her head.
“I want us to have our own space.”She squinted, taking in the house and corral before she turned to Cam.“You fought for this place.It’s yours and not just because you love it so.”A faint shudder rippled through our assemblage, and Jasmine offered a sad smile.
“Yeah, for that,” she said, coming forward to cup Cam’s cheek.“You paid for this place in your blood, sweet, and tears, my dear boy.”
He bowed his head and closed his eyes.“You held it together for me, Mama.”
“Maybe.I don’t know.But it’s past time for me to pass it to you and your family.”She held out her hand to me.“Steve and I, we need our own place that doesn’t carry our history.”
Carter, who was a quieter, leaner version of Cam, spoke up.“I think I know just the thing, Mama.”
She raised her eyebrows.“Do you now?”She glanced at all three of her kids before she dropped her hands to her hips.“You are not paying for our wedding.”
“Don’t have to,” Cam said with a sly grin.“Nash already offered.”
“And you can’t say no because it’ll hurt my feelings,” Nash said, flashing those puppy dog eyes that worked on pretty much everyone.
“As long as it’s soon and Jasmine gets the day she deserves, I’ll be happy.”
“Oh, pish.”She shot me an indulgent glance.“This is your day as much as it’s mine, Steve.I have a feeling you have some ideas.”
“Oh, I know,” Regan said.She clasped her hands under her chin, looking dreamy.“What if we flip it all around and help Steve plan the wedding?”
“I love that idea,” Jasmine said with a laugh.“I find weddings stressful.”
“We know,” Jenna, Regan, Kate, and Aya chorused.
“Gamma, I love you.I want pie!”Cash squealed as he barreled through the cluster of adults and slammed into Jasmine’s legs.
“You got it, darlin’.”She bent and scooped him into her arms and we all headed back toward the big house, the ladies tossing out plans faster than machine gun fire.
“Pretty ring, Gamma.”Cash said, scrunching his shoulders and grinning.
