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“When are you and my brother going to make up?” Lia asked. She was giving him an accusing stare that had him shifting on his feet. He tried to smile but knew he was failing. He simply shrugged.
“Your brother is a stubborn man,” he told her.
She laughed. “We’re all stubborn, but love is love. You’re family, Bass, and I want this worked out. I’ve wanted it to happen for a very long time.”
“Me too,” he assured her.
Her child called to her and she rushed off, leaving Bass unsure where he should move to next. He spotted Rafe sitting in a chair away from everyone else. His wife was talking to Rachel, looking completely comfortable. How had a grumpy ass like Rafe landed Ari who was incredible? Miracles did happen all the time, he guessed.
As a matter of fact, the only three people looking miserable were Rafe, Bass, and Ella. He wanted to shout to the heavens and tell them all that enough was enough. Before he went too crazy, though, Rachel called them all to the table. Bass waited for Ella to sit, and then he claimed the seat next to her. She looked at him with a shy smile that had him nearly laughing.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered for her ears only. A blush stole through her cheeks.
It had been a week since they’d nearly made love. He could kill her father for interrupting them. After the man had left, the mood left too. They hadn’t discussed what had happened between the two of them as they’d watched their movie. It was still the best date he’d ever had. It was scary how much he thought about this woman.
Bass also wasn’t a man who liked to pretend everything was fine, but he didn’t know how to broach that subject with Ella. He liked her, no doubt about it. He also desired her, which was more than obvious. He was also aware that women like Ella weren’t to be toyed with. He could practically hear Nana Bee yelling at him that Ella was themarryingkind. He was in no way ready for marriage and kids. Hell, he was still trying to find himself. So, where did that leave him? He had no idea.
“I’ve seen you nearly every day this past week,” she told him.
“Yeah, but we’re never alone and we haven’t talked about last weekend,” he said.
“There’s nothing to discuss. We got a little heated and then it was over.”
“There’s plenty to discuss. I’d like things to get a whole lot more heated,” he assured her.
“Stop it, Bass, we’re at a family dinner with kids surrounding us,” she warned.
“No one is paying the least bit of attention to us.”
These words seemed to make her sad. She bowed her head for a moment then looked back at him. “I know. I feel like such an outsider right now. I wish Nana Bee hadn’t asked us to do this, but she did and there’s not a lot we can do about it.”
“We could refuse to follow through,” he pointed out.
She gave him a death stare. “You’d deny Nana Bee her last wishes?” The words were full of condemnation.
He shook his head. “No way. I have no doubt that woman would come back and haunt my ass. I’m just saying for you, if you really didn’t want to be here, you don’t have to be.”
“Nope. She’d haunt me too. Beyond that though, I loved her, and if this is what she wanted, this is what she gets. She means way too much to me to deny her anything.”
“She saved us both. I think that means we owe her for life,” he said.
“It’s not that I feel I owe her, it’s that I want to do all I can to honor her,” she said.
“Wouldn’t it be great to have her legacy? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were people around who loved us so much our memory could never die?”
She looked sad at those words. “I don’t think that will happen in my case. Nana Bee was the only person left who loved me.”
He reached beneath the table and grabbed her hand. “I don’t agree with that,” he said. “I think you’ve already left more of an impact than you realize. I also think you’re loved and you will live on for generations to come.”
She squeezed his fingers back. “Thank you for being such a great man, Bass. I truly appreciate it.”
She wasn’t agreeing with him, but only time would prove him right. At least she wasn’t pulling away from him. Maybe she felt like they were both the outsiders and had to stick together. It was probably true. Even if it was uncomfortable, it was still great to be with his family again. No matter what had happened in the past several years, this would always be who he considered his real family. He hoped to have them all back someday. He wouldn’t give up, not even on his death bed.
“I want us to tell our favorite Nana Bee stories,” Rachel said as they began passing around dishes of ham, salad, roasted potatoes, caramelized carrots, and more.
“I have a great story,” Lia said. Everyone turned toward her.
“Do you remember when she was in the hospital after her stroke and she was all groggy?” Lia asked Rafe.
