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Tessa is staring at Austin with wide eyes while Jalynn is shooting daggers into his back. He doesn’t seem to notice either of them because his focus is on me and my intentions.

“How’d you meet my little brother?” he asks.

Tanner opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand, letting him know I got this. “We met at a bar. I was freaking out because my ex-boyfriend was there, so Tanner kissed me out of the blue and then walked away. So, I did what any logical person would do. I chased him down a subway platform. Not my finest moment, but that kiss was … it was the kind of kiss you don’t let walk out of a bar.”

Austin shrugs. “Yes, us Sexton boys are a bit irresistible.” He turns to Jalynn. “I do believe our first kiss had the same effect on you.”

“Dream on. You’re lucky I didn’t kick you in the balls the first time you kissed me in the copy room,” Jalynn says with an eye roll.

Austin winks in her direction and then looks back at me with that stern face. I can only imagine the line of questioning I’ll get from the former Marine, and I know this can go from cordial to conflict in a heartbeat.

I step up and tell him my truth, “I’m no Missy, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’ve heard the stories, and I had the unfortunate privilege of sharing a meal with her and your father—”

“A full meal?” Jalynn asks, surprised. “I couldn’t make it to the appetizers before telling those two off.”

Tessa waves a hand in the air. “I spilled my drink on her Dior. That’s the one and only time, and it was enough.”

Jalynn and Tessa high-five.

I look to Austin and Bryce. “What I mean is, I know what she is and why you’d look at me and suspect the worst. I’m not after Tanner’s money. Truth is, I’m actually uncomfortable with all of this. I know what money can do to people, and I’d just as well be happy with living in Tanner’s studio apartment where at least one of my things gets ruined with paint every week.”

Tanner’s hand relaxes at my side.

I look at him with a smile. “We’re in love, and this marriage is very real and made with the best of intentions. We’re happy to answer any and all questions you have. And I signed a prenup. Or a post-nup. I’m not entirely sure what it—”

“Which I strongly opposed,” Tanner adds.

“I’d like to see that,” Bryce states. Tessa gives him a beady-eyed expression. “I want to make sure they’re both protected.”

“Very fair.” I nod. “Just give us a few minutes because I’m a little jet-lagged and hungry.”

Bryce’s hands are buried deep in his pockets, and Austin still has his arms crossed. Bryce’s brows rise at the same time Austin’s head tilts to the side. There’s an awkward silence. My stomach grumbles, but I don’t think anyone can hear it with all the internal noise going on in our thoughts.

Austin looks at Bryce. The two seem to be having a conversation without actually speaking.

When they look back at us, Austin is the first to speak, “How is it possible that the youngest Sexton boy is the first to marry?” He’s laughing as he wraps his arms around Tanner. “Mom always said you were the lover out of all of us. She knew then that you’d be the first to attach yourself to a ball and chain.”

“Let’s get your wife fed.” Bryce holds his arm out, pointing us toward the kitchen.

Their change in reactions to our marriage news is giving me emotional whiplash.

“You actually have food in this place? I thought you were the takeout king?” Tanner says to Bryce.

“Too much Chinese food was giving me a fat ass. We cook our own meals around here now,” Tessa chimes in as she puts Charlie down.

Bryce wraps his arm around Tessa, smiling. “Yeah, there are a lot of changes around here.”

“Most being me,” Charlie announces with his thumb pointing back at him. “I have one question though.” He walks up to Tanner. “What do you know about Legos?”

They all laugh while Tanner squats down to Charlie’s level. “I am a Lego fanatic. Have you ever seen a Nerf gun made out of Legos?” he says with excitement in his voice.

Charlie’s face lights up. “Really? Oh, you have to show me that.” He pulls on Tanner’s arm, and Tanner follows without hesitation.

“Here, come sit,” Tessa says as she motions to the table in the gourmet kitchen. “Charlie’s got his paws on Tanner. He’ll be busy for a few minutes.”

“Yep, that’s how Tessa nailed me down.” Bryce laughs.

Tessa smacks his arm. “I did not use my kid to nail anyone down.”