Page 84 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“I didn’t know your mom was there.” Lucas looked at him again.

“I know. She and my father left when we were down by the barn. Everything about our situation is new for you and your mom and for me and my family. We’re bound to have ups and downs. But how boring would life be if it was easy all the time?”

Lucas almost smiled. “I never thought about that.”

“As I said before, family means everything to us, and they’re going to be there for you in good times and bad. Honestly, if you choose never to meet the rest of them, they’d still show up for you.”

Lucas fidgeted with the keys again, nodding.

“Look, there’s no pressure. We’re not going anywhere. We’re Hope Valley born and bred, and we’ll be there until we’re buried six feet under.”

“Will they be there for my mom if her father comes after her?”

Christ, you’ve got way too many worries for a kid. “Your grandfather isn’t going to come after her.”

“But my mom said you guys are going to make sure he pays for what he did, and that he’ll go to jail for the other bad things he did.”

“We are, and he will, eventually. But that’s not something you need to worry about. We would never do anything that would lead to him coming after your mom. Your grandfather can’t hurt any of us anymore, okay?”

Lucas nodded.

“Any other worries you want to talk about?”

He shook his head.

“Come on, let’s find your mom.”

As they got out of the truck, Juliette came out the front door, looking like a ray of sunshine in a yellow tank top, her hair bouncing with each exuberant step, her hips swaying in sexy cutoffs, and those cowgirl boots that made Doc want to toss her in the back of his truck and make out with her like they were carefree kids.

“I’m glad to see you’re both in one piece,” she said. “You were out so long, I was starting to worry.”

“He’s a lot more fun to drive with than you are,” Lucas said. “We went by his clubhouse, and I met his cousin Rebel, who showed me a bunch of classic cars.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Doc showed me the ranch, too,” Lucas said.

Her eyes widened. “Wow. How’d that go?”

“Good,” Lucas said. “I met his dad, Tiny, who’s not tiny at all, and his sister Sasha, who’s really hot.”

“Lucas,” she said with amusement.

“What? She is hot—for an older girl.”

Juliette nudged Doc. “No wonder he thinks you’re more fun than me.”

“That’s not why,” Lucas said. “Doc doesn’t slam his foot on a fake brake or grab the dashboard like you do.”

She and Doc laughed, and she said, “Yeah, yeah.”

“He did great today,” Doc said, knowing she’d realize he meant overall, not just driving.

“See? I’m a good driver,” Lucas said cockily.

“But you do need to watch your speed,” Doc corrected. “Vehicles are dangerous machines.”

“I will.” Lucas handed him the keys. “Thanks for taking me.”