“What?”I demanded, my cheeks flushing from his appreciative gaze.
“You’re beautiful, baby.”Adoration shone in his gaze.
“I don’t look like I spent the morning being ravished in bed?”I bit my lip worriedly, lowering the visor to look at my hair.
“Ravished, huh?”He licked his bottom lip, making my insides quiver.
“Okay, crazy man.”I playfully narrowed my eyes at him.“No more of that.I’ve got to get my head in the game.”
His expression sobered.“Remember, darlin’, they’re on your turf.This is all on your terms.You don’t like the way this is goin’, we leave—no questions asked.But I’d imagine they’re a hell of a lot more nervous than you are.”
Before moving to Green River, I would have said it was impossible to make my parents nervous.But after our encounter in New York and our subsequent conversations, I now knew that wasn’t true.Maybe they did have something they cared enough about to make them vulnerable.
And maybe, just maybe, that thing was me.
When we walked into Goodie’s hand in hand, I clocked my parents immediately.They were seated at a four-top, looking tense but hopeful.
Then I noticed the rest of the patrons, and the sight had me blinking back tears.
Griff and Riley sat at the bar, lifting their chins in silent solidarity when I looked their way.Daphne sat beside Riley, bouncing Jo in her lap, and shot me a wink when our eyes met.
Greta and Katie occupied a nearby two-top, offering warm, supportive smiles.Behind the bar, Goodie held court, her steady gaze fixed on me, no doubt ready to support whatever outcome this meal produced.
They were all here for me.
In my time in Green River, not only had I met the man of my dreams, but I’d found my people—my extended family, ready to have my back.And I realized that, no matter what happened today, I would always have that.I wasn’t alone.
The realization straightened my spine, filling me with a quiet confidence.Whatever lay ahead with my parents, I had my own future to look forward to.
Chapter 25
Laughter echoed through the house as I stood on the deck with my brothers the next evening, admiring my girl through the window.She laughed with my mom and sister in the kitchen while holding my nephew, who’d taken to her immediately.
She looked good with a toddler on her hip.
Riley’s gaze followed mine as our younger sister laughed at something Lucy had said.“Haley took to her fast.”
“I thought she would.Even though Hales can be slow to warm up to people, Lucy just has that way about her.”The pride was clear in my voice as my father joined us, leaning against the rail with a beer in his hand as we watched the activity inside.
“All my kids under one roof—been too long.”His gruff tone did little to conceal the emotion beneath his words.He turned to me.“You ever hosted this many people?”
“Nope, but it’s what we built this place for.”I’d built a home far bigger than I ever needed, wanting to fill it with family and laughter—just as it was tonight.
“Your security proved up to snuff.”Relief threaded through his voice, an emotion we all shared.
I nodded.“Hated to put it to the test, but I’m glad to know Lucy—and the family I want to build here—is secure, in part thanks to your dogs.”I lifted my chin toward Griffin.
The viciousness, countered with the control both dogs displayed, had been impressive to witness—and not something I ever wanted to be on the receiving end of.
“You get that contact I sent you?”Griffin asked, referring to the guard dog service he’d found through a law enforcement contact.
“Already called ’em.”
Lucy might think it was overkill, but I disagreed.Then again, when it came to adding more animals to our home, I doubted she’d protest much.
“How’d it go with her folks?”Dad asked.My entire family was protective of Lucy, and given how close we’d always been, I knew they were rooting for her parents to find their way back to their daughter.
“Tense at first.”I rubbed the back of my neck, still floored by the fact that Lucy’s parents barely knew her—though they were trying, that much had been clear.“It’s like they’re getting to know each other for the first time.But I think that’s how it has to happen if it’s going to work.Lucy is her own person—they have to get to know who she is, not who they thought she should be.But they seem to want to do that, and Lucy seems to want to let them try.”
