“Oh, I’ll ride with you guys!” Sadie bounced down the front steps of the house, phone in hand.
Tate’s shoulders went rigid. “We need to talk.” The words were so low no one else could’ve heard them.
I slid my hand across her lower back, feeling the tension there. “We will. It’s fine,” I murmured close to her ear.
Her hair tickled my jaw as she turned toward me, those blue eyes of hers full of apology and frustration. But underneath all that was something else. Something that made my pulse kick up a notch.
“Shotgun!” Sadie called, already headed for Tate’s truck.
“Like hell.” I caught my sister by the collar. “Back seat, squirt.”
She rolled her eyes but complied. “God, you’re home five minutes and already bossing me around.”
“Somebody’s got to keep you in line.” The familiar bickering felt like slipping into my favorite boots.
Mom and Dad would follow in their car. Which meant I finally got Tate to myself. Sort of. Close enough to touch. Not close enough to talk. Yet.
The late afternoon sun caught her ring finger. No ring. If we managed to keep this charade going, I’d have to fix that.
For now, I was content to be home. To breathe in the scent of autumn leaves and fresh-cut grass. To have my family close. To have Tate beside me, even if she was so tense she was practically vibrating. My mind spun out a fantasy of all the fun ways we could expend that energy. The crotch of my jeans got tight, and I shifted. Time to think about something else.
By the time we made it to Rhett’s folk’s place, I had myself under control.
Rhett’s sister, Austen, met us at the side gate to the backyard, her smile bright and welcoming. “Welcome home, Kellan! Welcome to the party, everybody.”
“Thanks. It’s great to be home.” I lifted Tate’s hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. The tiny shiver that ran through her made my heart race. Real or part of the act? I was dying to find out.
Tate’s smile went a touch manic when Austen gave her that questioning look. The silent conversation between the two women was fascinating to watch. I’d have to remember to ask Tate about that later.
“There are burgers and brats, and about a million sides. The food tables are just over that way.” Austen gestured toward the back deck. “Please, enjoy yourselves.”
I kept hold of Tate’s hand as we made our way through the crowd. Chief MacAvoy worked the grill with military precision, while his wife Patty fluttered between guests with the energy of a hummingbird.
“Kellan!” Patty abandoned her hostess duties to wrap me in a fierce hug. “Welcome home, sweetheart. And congratulations! I couldn’t believe it when I heard about you two.” She released me to give Tate a squeeze. “I always knew you’d figure it out, eventually.”
My face hurt from grinning. If she only knew how right she was.
“Thank you, Mrs. MacAvoy.” Tate’s voice wobbled a bit.
“Oh please, it’s Patty. You’re family now.”
The guilt that flashed across Tate’s face made me squeeze her hand. I’d figure out what was going on soon enough. For now, I was going to enjoy every second of this.
“Fox!” Chief MacAvoy’s booming voice carried over the crowd. “Get over here and tell these boys how it really went down in that sandbox.”
I pressed another kiss to Tate’s temple, savoring her sharp intake of breath. “Duty calls, sweets.” The endearment rolled off my tongue like I’d been saying it for years. Like I’d been wanting to. “Save me some potato salad?”
“Um, sure?” She tightened her grip on my hand. “But after this, you’re all mine.”
Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.
Four
Tate
“C’mon, pal. Come on, Cornbread. Ready to go home, boy?” Kellan slapped his leg in invitation. The dog bounded toward him, tail ticking like a joyful metronome, because he’d follow Kellan anywhere. His ride or die. As Kellan had always been mine.
I really hoped I hadn’t fucked that up with this engagement fiasco.
