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“Let me get this straight. You don’t like Daphne, but you bid on her so that you could support the farm?” Knox asked.
“Something like that,” Cole grumbled, as if he’d rather be doing anything rather than having this conversation.
“Did you enjoy the hot tub?” Heath asked nonchalantly as he speared a roasted potato with his fork and put it into his mouth.
“That’s none of your business.” Cole leaned forward. “Daphne’s a nice girl. But her brothers don’t want her associating with us any more than we want to associate with them.”
“If you like her—” Knox began, and Cole shook his head.
“I went out with her because I was curious why she was here, and I wanted to raise money for the farm and the rescue. Nothing more.”
“I hear you,” Knox said.
I exchanged a look with Talon. I wasn’t sure Cole was telling the truth. But it was his story to tell when he was ready. It sounded like he wanted more of a stake in the family-run business, and if he dated Daphne, it would complicate things. For his sake, I hoped he didn’t have a connection with Daphne. It would make everything easier.
Knox gave him a pointed look. “But if you do, she’s a mother. It’s not like dating a single woman.”
“I know that,” Cole said, his jaw tight. “But I’m not interested.”
Everyone let the conversation drop.
“I appreciate everyone being involved in planning the wedding. We’re going to need everyone’s help if we want to hold the wedding in less than two months,” Sarah said.
“Whatever you need, we’re happy to help. Ireland and Emmett’s wedding was a bit of a surprise. It will be fun to plan this one.”
There was no censure in Lori’s voice, but I could tell that she preferred to have the wedding to look forward to. I was positive she was imagining all the things that came with her children getting married—an expanded family and maybe even grandkids. She was happy to have her kids close.
It made me a little sad that my father had never been one to stick around. But I’d accepted that he was different long ago. Nothing would ever change that. I just hoped that whoever I chose to have a child with wouldn’t be the same.
Of course, that meant that I couldn’t push him away when things got tough. As if Talon knew where my thoughts led, he interlaced his fingers with mine in my lap. I smiled at him as he squeezed my hand for reassurance.
As the conversation continued around us, I felt content. I hadn’t felt anything close to this in a long time. I loved spending time with Talon and his family. I enjoyed their back and forth, even when it was Emmett expressing his concern about something.
We cleaned up dinner, and the guys met on the deck like they always did. “Do you ever wonder what they’re talking about out there?” I asked Sarah.
She smiled. “I’m almost positive they’re talking about us. I like to think that one of them is asking for advice, and the others are getting their head on straight. It must not be too bad because four of the brothers are in committed relationships. Five if I include you and Talon?” Her voice rose at the end of her sentence as if she was asking me a question.
“We’re dating.” We hadn’t labeled it. But we spent most of our time together. We were sleeping together. We’d always been exclusive, so I didn’t have any worries about that. There’d never been anyone else serious for either of us over the years.
Lori approached us. “I’m glad that you and Talon reconnected. He seems happy.”
“I think he is.”
Lori raised a brow. “And it’s all because of you.”
“I don’t know about that—”
“He buried himself in work and hid out in the shed for years. Now that you’re spending time together, he’s taking breaks from work and going to town to take you to breakfast and even joining us for family dinner.” Approval was evident in her tone.
“I’m glad that he’s more involved with the family.”
Lori squeezed my shoulder. “He’s smiling and laughing. I haven’t seen that in years. It makes me feel good.”
“It was all his idea.”
Lori hugged me. “I’m proud of him for making that move, and of you for participating in it.”
“It was surprising, and I was reluctant at first. But it was good for us. We needed to talk about what happened, and what didn’t. I made a few mistakes, and I’m not proud of that.”
