Chapter One
The air at the Farraday ranch buzzed, thick with the happy chaos only a sprawling family gathering could generate. Laughter competed with the distant sizzle of ribs on Uncle Sean’s massive grill and the joyful shrieks of children engaged in an energetic game of tag that seemed to encompass the entire back acreage. It was Aunt Eileen’s birthday, and like everything the Farradays did, the celebration was an all-out affair.
Ryan Farraday leaned against a post on the back porch, a half empty bottle of cool beer in his hand, and surveyed the scene. He loved these moments– the easy camaraderie, the unconditional welcome extended to anyone who stepped foot on the ranch, and the sheer volume of love packed into one place. Still, a small, unfamiliar pang echoed in his chest lately. Watching Morgan and Valerie huddled close on the porch swing, Neil and Nora sharing a private smile by the steps, Owen and Connie practically attached at the hip near the drinks cooler, Paxton keeping a watchful eye on his new bride Sandra and her young son David near the sprawling oak, and Quinn and Eloise somehow managing to make supervising the kid’s dessert table look romantic… well, it made being the last unattached Oklahoma brother feel distinctly… single.
“All right, all right, make way!” Quinn’s voice cut through the general hubbub. He and Eloise carefully maneuvered astunning, handcrafted rocking chair onto the porch, its dark wood gleaming even in the fading light.
A collective gasp went through the nearby relatives, followed by appreciative murmurs. Aunt Eileen, emerging from the kitchen with a fresh platter of Toni’s famous cake balls, stopped dead in her tracks, balancing the dish on one hand, the other flew to her mouth. “Oh, Quinn! You didn’t!”
“He most certainly did. Happy birthday, Aunt Eileen.” Eloise beamed, her eyes sparkling as she looked from the chair to Quinn.
“It’s beautiful.” Eileen ran a reverent hand over the smooth, curved armrest. “Just beautiful.” She settled into the chair, letting out a contented sigh as it began to rock gently. Her wide grin beamed brighter than sunshine. “Absolutely perfect.”
Ryan smiled. Trust Quinn to create something both practical and a work of art.
A nudge at his elbow pulled Ryan’s attention away. Mike Davis, the carpenter who’d been heading up the finish work on the restorations before aggravating an old knee injury, stood beside him wearing a stiff brace and looking decidedly uncomfortable amidst the relaxed family vibe. Mike was a good guy, a heck of a worker, but clearly out of his element here.
“Hey, Ryan.” Mike nodded as Morgan joined them by the railing. “Got a minute?”
“Sure. What’s up?” Ryan took another sip of his beer.
Mike shifted his weight, his gaze darting towards the group around the rocking chair. “It’s about my sister, Nicole. The one taking my place while I’m having surgery.”
“Right.” Morgan nodded. “Did she change her mind?”
Ryan sure hoped not. Finding high caliber workers around this neck of the woods was nearly impossible. If Mike’s kid sister was half as good as he was, she’d fit in just fine.
“No.” Mike shook his head.
“Good.” Morgan chuckled. “Hope she knows what she’s getting into. This crew can be a handful.”
“She knows,” Mike’s brow furrowed slightly, “she’s tough. And she’s good. Maybe better’n me.” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just… well, she knows how to hold her own around construction guys. I’m not worried about that.”
Ryan leaned back against the railing. “Okay. Then what?”
“I’ve told her that the filming can sometimes make getting the job done a little more challenging.”
“Tell me about it.” Morgan sighed.
“So she’s prepared for that, but what worries me isn’t the crew or the filming as much as…” Mike’s gaze sharpened. “Well, as Jet. That guy is all over women like white on rice.”
Ryan exchanged a quick glance with Morgan. Jet was a skilled worker, but Paxton had mentioned the guy having wandering eyes and hands back during the charity build. They’d kept a closer eye on him since. “Don’t you worry, Mike. Nicole will be fine.”
“We look out for everyone on our sites,” Morgan added, his tone firm but reassuring. “Consider her under Farraday protection. We’ll treat her like our own sister.”
“You don’t have a sister.” The frown on Mike’s forehead deepened.
“We have sisters-in-law and cousins. Same thing,” Ryan reassured.
Mike visibly relaxed, a grateful smile touching his lips. “Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Just… you know… kid sister.”
“We get it.” Ryan clapped Mike on the shoulder. “Seriously, no worries.”
They all shared a chuckle, the tension easing. As Mike limped off towards the food, Morgan nudged Ryan. “Speaking of sisters-in-law, looks like Quinn and Eloise finally set a date.”
Ryan followed Morgan’s gaze to where Quinn was showing Eloise something on his phone, both of them smiling. “About time. Heard anything about the plans?”
“September wedding. Bigger than mine and Valerie or Neil and Nora’s wedding.”
