She slid her gaze to the rest of the women. She had met most of the ladies in the Malone family by now, but not all, and her inherent shyness made her pause.
Honor looked up with a grin. “This is Aspen. She’s such a sweetheart and the best sister-in-law-to-be. She’s Colt’s better half.”
Fern smiled at the woman. “Hi, Aspen. Thank you for the invitation, but I’m going to sit with Crew tonight if you don’t mind..”
Aspen gave her such a soft smile of understanding that Fern was touched, and she couldn’t help but like her.
Honor waved enthusiastically. “We’re doing wedding planning tomorrow. I’d love if you’d join us. I could use some input.”
Looking at the other women, Fern was pretty sure she had enough advisors. Still, she took a step toward them, refusing to let her past feelings—about herself or what others thought of her—stop her.
Honor smiled. “We were talking about flowers. Maybe you can give me some ideas.”
“Oh?”
Honor started spouting off colors and timelines. Then she tipped her head, studying Fern. “What do you say?”
“Okay.” Warmth spread through Fern’s chest—and then the realization hit.
They weren’t just being polite.
They were opening their circle.
She glanced across the fire to where Crew stood with the guys, laughing with Gray, easy and unguarded. They treated him like he belonged there. Like he always had.
Fern looked back at the flames, the sparks lifting into the dark.
Then she understood.
Maybe belonging didn’t come all at once. Maybe it came in moments like this—an invitation, a look held across a fire, the quiet certainty that there was room for her here.
She lifted her gaze again.
Crew caught it.
He didn’t smile. Didn’t wave. He just held her stare, steady and sure, like this—them—was already real.
And for the first time, Fern let herself believe it might be.
Chapter Thirteen
Crew reached across the truck and settled his hand on Fern’s. She turned her head, a smile on her lips.
“Thanks for picking me up. The Malones are so kind, lending me their vehicle while mine’s in the shop.”
“They wouldn’t have loaned it to you if they didn’t want to. Besides, they let me drive their ranch trucks too.” He saw the hesitation in Fern whenever she was around the family. And he understood what put it there.
She didn’t feel worthy of their time or attention.
He’d spent more than his fair share of days harboring the same kind of feelings, especially when he first entered the program. But it didn’t take long to see that the family was completely genuine—and asked nothing in return but respect.
“Are you nervous about being around the ladies today?” he asked in a low voice he’d use around the horses.
Her chest inflated on a deep breath. She let it out with a noisy sigh and nodded. “It’s silly, I know. My own hangup. But they’re all so beautiful and talented. And I’m just…me.”
He squeezed her hand. “Honey, you are all those things too. And more.”
When she looked at him, he saw the glimmer in her eyes that told him she was trying to believe in herself and what others saw in her.
