“I can get one of the guys to hang around the yard,” Nash said as we discussed my messages after we’d finished dinner, showing the fierce protectiveness that made him such a good father. “The sheriff did suggest it might be worth keeping a couple of boys around at all times.”
“As long as it’s not Glenn,” Wilder said, pouting like a child.
“What’s wrong with Glenn?” Cassidy asked, yet she was grinning, like she knew exactly what his problem with Glenn was.
“He’s always sniffing around Tally. Always asking her how she is and is she having a good day.”
Nash chuckled. “Jealous little brother?”
“If he is, he doesn't need to be.” I reached for Wilder’s hand and gave it a squeeze, feeling relaxed enough in front of his family to show some PDA. “For one he’s not my type and for two he was mean about Poppy.”
“What?” Gunner leaned closer to the table. “What did he do?”
“Don’t worry, I dealt with it. Told him to apologize to her and keep his opinions to himself.” I knew I’d agreed no more secrets with Wilder, but it wouldn’t help anyone by telling him what Glenn had said about mine and Wilder’s relationship. It would only cause more trouble.
“When was it?” Wilder asked.
“The day you both went to Montrose. Poppy was upset so I dealt with it.” I looked between the three brothers. “That was okay wasn’t it?”
“Absolutely,” Nash replied. “But I will be talking to him about it.”
“Please don’t. Poppy didn’t want me to say anything, but I couldn’t let it roll.”
Nash sighed and then nodded. “Okay, but if you hear of anything else let me know.”
“See, I told you he was a little turd,” Wilder complained before leaning in to kiss my cheek. “He better keep his mouth shut from now on.”
“He will.” At least I hoped he would, Wilder already had him in his sights before this.
“Is Poppy okay now?” Lily asked.
“Yes, she’s fine. I think she was upset about what he said, but she’s just angry now. She doesn’t really speak to him unless she has to.”
“Told you,” Wilder piped up. “Turd.”
“She’s so sweet,” Cassidy said as she refilled my wine glass. “Such a big heart, how could he be mean about her?”
“That’ll be because he’s a boy, Aunt Cassidy.”
Bertie appeared in the doorway of the dining room, a tiara on her head and wearing Spider Man pjs.
“Munchkin,” Nash said, his voice low and warning. “What have we said about listening in on adult conversations?”
“Same as I said about you calling me Munchkin now I’m ten, not to.” She cocked a hip and raised an eyebrow. Checkmate.
“You said I can’t call you Munchkin in front of your friends. You said nothing about not doing it at home. I told you never to listen to grownup conversations.”
She waved him away. “Tomato, cucumber.”
That gained her a loud laugh from us all, which in turn gained us afrown.
“Sweetie it’s tomayto, tomato,” Lily said gently.
“That’s what I said. Anyways, I heard what you said can’t take it back, so the point I’m making is, Glenn is mean because he’s a boy and boys are mean to girls. Uncle Gunner said it’s when they like them.” She turned to Gunner. “Just like you were to Aunt Cassidy, right?”
“I guess so,” he said, still chuckling.
“Just like Daddy was to Momma and…” she pressed a finger against her lips and then shook her head. “Nope, Uncle Wilder has always had goggly eyes for Tally ho. If you want, though, I can sleep over at your cabin, and I’ll protect you. Uncle Wilder taught me how to kick in the shins. He wanted to show me how to do it in the n.u.t.s,” she raised a brow as if spelling out the word made it better, “but he didn’t want me to practice on him.”
