AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’re bringin’ you company today,” Gran said, her eyebrows quirking up.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the only company I needed—or rather, wanted—was half a mile down the road doing yoga or charming her legion of social media followers. Instead, I let them fuss over me, the same way they had since I was knee-high to a filly.
Gran's eyes twinkled with mischief, a sure sign that she had more than a simple visit in mind. “We thought we'd come by and check on our favorite cowboy. Make sure you're eating your vegetables and not just living off coffee and stubbornness.”
“Stubbornness is a family trait, you know,” I shot back with a half-smile, though I couldn't deny the warmth that spread through me at their presence. Despite my gruff exterior and often solitary ways, these women were my rock, my touchstone to a world beyond the fences of Red Downs.
“Besides,” Mama added as she patted my cheek affectionately, “we figured it's about time we got to know Eryn better, and welcome her to town proper.”
“Mom—“ I started, but the look she gave me shut down any protest. For all that I was a grown man, there was no arguing with that determined glint in her eye.
“Let's have some coffee, and you can tell us all about it,” Gran suggested, already making her way to the kitchen, as if she owned the place. Which, in a way, she did—the matriarch always holds the true reins in a family.
As I followed them, the scent of strong coffee brewing a welcome comfort, I couldn’t help but feel a tug in my chest. Admitting to feelings to Eryn was one thing; sharing them with Mom and Gran was stepping into a whole new rodeo. But as I glanced at their eager faces, full of love and nosiness, I knew resistance was futile.
I leaned against the kitchen counter, arms folded across my chest as I watched Mom rifle through my cabinets with an efficiency that spoke of too many years of familiarity. Gran was at the stove, humming some old country tune while she whipped up something that smelled sinfully good. My kitchen hadn't seen this much action since . . . well, ever. Not since I moved in, anyway.
“Mama, what are you doing?” My voice came out gruffer than I intended, but the sight of her rearranging my life—or at least my spice rack—set my teeth on edge.
“Gray Anderson,” she chided without looking up. “When's the last time you had a proper home-cooked meal in this house?”
“Last night,” I lied, knowing full well that the cold pizza I ate after dropping Eryn off hardly counted. But admitting to that would only spur them on.
“Uh-huh.” She didn't believe me for a second. “And when's the last time you actually used any of these spices? Look at this—“ she held up a jar of paprika “—it’s practically fossilized.”
“Maybe I like my food plain,” I muttered, pushing away from the counter and heading to the coffee pot to pour some directly down my throat.
Gran turned to me, smile tugging the corners of her lips. “We've invited guests over for dinner tonight.”
“Guests?” The word felt like a lead bullet in my gut. The last thing I wanted was company. “When exactly did you invite these guests?”
“This morning.”
My eyebrows shot up to my blessedly strong hairline. “You sure work early.”
“We do indeed.”
“Any chance you’re gonna tell me who?”
“Yep, Eryn and some of the others,” she continued, oblivious to my discomfort. “Walker, Mason, little Abigail, Mason’s parents couldn’t make it, but Mitch is comin’, oh and Damon and Sutton, of course . . .”
“Here?” My voice rose an octave. “To my house?” I scanned their faces for signs of a joke, but they were dead serious. I hadn’t ever had that many people over at one time. The thought of it gave me hives.
“Of course here, sweetheart,” Mom said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s high time we had a proper family gathering here again, and you need to stop hiding up here on your own.”
“I'm not hiding,” I protested, downing half the cup of coffee in one gulp. “I work.”
“Work and hide,” Gran corrected with a pointed look. “You'll thank us later. It'll be fun!”
“Fun,” I echoed flatly, feeling the familiar itch of annoyance crawl under my skin. The thought of playing host to a crowd—and to Eryn, just twenty-four hours after confessing my love for her—sent a jolt of something unnervingly close to panic through me. My sanctuary, invaded by the cheeriest bunch this side of the Mississippi.
“Gray, honey, you know we just want you to be happy,” Mom said, her voice softening as she laid a hand on my arm.
“Happy” was a term I wasn't quite comfortable with lately. I was inching toward it, especially with Eryn in my life. But I felt like a wild stallion. I needed time to wrap my head around it. But the Anderson women didn’t care much for patience. So with Mom and Gran plotting like two schemers in a Western saloon, there was no telling how the evening might unfold.
“Fine,” I conceded, trying hard to keep my tone from betraying the fact that I couldn’t wait to see Eryn again, despite the less than comfortable circumstance. “But I'm grilling the steaks, and nobody touches my grill.”
“Deal!” Gran exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Now why don't you go shave that stubble? You're going to want to look your best for Eryn.”
