“You know I did.”
He grinned and nodded at Van. “Glad you could make it. The food table’s inside. I’ll have the first batch of burgers in a minute.”
Van glanced at the gathering of my siblings on the concrete pad in front of the shop and tensed.
“I’ll go with you.” I started walking.
My brothers and sisters and their spouses greeted us as we approached.
Alder propped open two coolers. “This one is the pregnant-woman-friendly one.” He grinned at Van. “And this is for the rest of us.”
After I had my lemonade and Van took a beer from a local brewery Stetson’s sister ran, we joined the crowd. Kids ran around on the grass. Daisy’s daughter kicked the ball back and forth with Auggie, and Violet and Evander’s oldest tried to keep up.
Alder shook Van’s hand. “Hear you got a mower now.”
Van glanced at me, as if a part of him was still waiting for us to give him a hard time for needing help. “Yeah, I got it started. Needs new blades, though.”
I trusted my family with Van. They might be protective of me, but they weren’t jackasses just because they could be. While they talked small engines and ordering parts, I let Poppy tow me into the shop. I caught Van’s eye and raised a brow. A silent will you be okay? He gave me the slightest of nods.
“Are you telling me a secret?” I asked her. We were surrounded by cabinet samples and scraps. Jensen’s desk was farther inside, but he always opened the shop for family gatherings.
Violet joined us, tugging Daisy with her.
“We want the details.” Poppy crossed her arms over her gray Casper, Wyoming, sweater. Her curly hair was gathered in a bun. Mine was the same shade but with looser curls. “What’s he like? What’s living with him like? Do you feel safe?”
“Geez, Poppy.” I laughed and sought out Van again. His guarded gaze connected with mine, and that familiar sizzle streamed between us.
The poor guy was surrounded like me. Evander was on the edge of the group, beer in hand, keeping an eye on the kids, but his presence wasn’t exactly calming. Violet and her husband were perfect together, but they looked like opposites. She was a serious chemist, quiet but bossy as the oldest sister. He was a gruff man who lived in cargo pants and worn T-shirts that only showed how muscular he was.
Then there was Alder and his intimidating CEO attitude. I would trust Jensen to put Van at ease, but if Poppy said the word, Jensen would likely turn into a giant dick. Same with Lily’s husband, Eliot. The easygoing cowboy would turn into a prick. They had my back, but who had Van’s?
Please don’t scare Van away. I needed him for two and a half months yet. After that… Well, I didn’t really want to think about it.
“So, it’s like that,” Poppy muttered, and the rest of my sisters nodded their heads.
I scowled at each of them. “Like what?”
“You like your husband.” Violet wasn’t asking.
“No, it’s not. Yes, I’m safe with him.” I snorted. “Trust me, he’s not interested.”
Violet scooted to the side so her back was to Van. “You think that man gives you uninterested looks?”
Poppy kicked a hip out. “Mm-hmm.”
“Yes?” I gave them a hello? look. “I’m having his brother’s baby.”
“I’m not one to talk,” Lily said as if I hadn’t spoken, “because I didn’t know my husband either when I married him, but Eliot did not look at me that way.”
“Yes, he did,” Violet said.
“Not as intense,” Poppy agreed. “But Eliot was very much interested; he just wasn’t as brooding.”
“Eliot could work a crowd.” Violet peeked over her shoulder. “Van looks like he’s in a zoo, and we’re all the animals.”
That part made sense. “His family is not close. They’re pretty awful, actually,” I said quietly, and it struck me. This was the first time I was admitting that to them. My sisters were my best friends, and I hadn’t told them. They would’ve recommended I never speak to my almost in-laws again, and I hadn’t been ready to hear it. “I’m sure this is…new…for him.”
Deep laughter reached us from all the guys. Eliot’s hands were flying. He must be the one telling the story.
