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Adam nodded and turned back to his father. Lizzie kept looking at Ben and saw the hurt in his eyes. Whatever he was saying, he obviously didn’t quite believe it. She was very fond of Ben. There was a gentleness and strength to him that had helped her in the past and she’d never forgotten it.
When Adam had fallen in love with Louisa, Ben, who was only a year younger than his brother, had often tagged along with the three friends to make up a fourth. He’d never complained, and for a fifteen-year-old boy had taken great care to make Lizzie feel valued and appreciated when she’d been feeling like an outsider again. After Louisa died, and Adam had stopped speaking to Lizzie entirely, Ben hadn’t. He’d kept her informed about all the Millers without making it obvious that he was trying to make up for his brother’s behavior.
“If I do take the place on, I’ll do my best to buy out any of you who want me to,” Adam stated. “I know I’ll technically own it all, but I’m not going to operate like that. If you want out, you tell me, and we’ll come to some arrangement.”
Jeff snorted. “You don’t need to do that, son. I might as well divide the place in six, and the hell with it.”
“You can do whatever you want.” Adam stared his father down. “But if you trust me with the ranch, I’ll do it my way.”
“Seeing as I’ll be dead, you can do what the hell you want.” Jeff cackled. “Now, how about some dessert? Leanne made pie.”
* * *
Later, after the meal, Lizzie helped Adam clean up the kitchen. He was very quiet, which made her want to chat to cover the silence. He’d made the effort to seek out each of his siblings individually and talk to them about his dad’s decision. From what Lizzie had seen, everyone had been okay with him taking the place on except Ben who looked miserable whenever no one was talking to him.
“I think we’re done.” Adam folded the dishcloth. “Do you want me to take you home, or would you like to stay the night?”
“I don’t want to intrude.” Lizzie leaned back against the countertop and searched his face. She had to be careful. Her yearning to be part of such an amazing, giving family was way too visible right now. “What would you prefer?”
His smile was pained. “I’d like you to stay, but that’s because I’ve had a hell of a day, and I’d just like to hold you.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” Lizzie went over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Holding is good.”
“And maybe a few other things once I get you naked.” His voice deepened as he bent to kiss her forehead.
“As long as that doesn’t involve running around your house naked, I’m good.”
He shuddered. “I’ll leave that to my parents.” He took her hand. “Come on. I have my own bathroom. You won’t have to see anyone but me, and I’ll make certain I lock the door.”
She met his gaze. “Are you sure about this?”
“Because this was Louisa’s place?” He studied her for a long moment. “I’m okay with it, if you are.”
She knew what a big deal it was for him to say that even if he didn’t. Her love for him deepened even more. But she simply nodded and followed him into his bedroom only to be confronted by the big picture of him and Louisa on their wedding day.
He hesitated. “Do you want me to put that away?”
“No, of course not,” Lizzie rallied. “Louisa loved us both. She’s still part of our lives and is in our hearts.”
“That’s . . . very generous of you,” Adam said.
“It’s the truth. Now if the photo starts spinning in midair, and there’s a lot of weird screaming, we’ll know I was wrong.”
Adam’s slow chuckle was so endearing that she almost buckled at the knees, and instead sat on the end of his huge bed. He followed her down, pinning her beneath his large body with her wrists easily held in one of his hands over her head.
“Sassy.”
“So you keep saying.” She nuzzled his lower lip as he nudged her thighs apart with one of his knees and lowered himself over her; the hardness behind his fly was positioned just where she wanted him, minus a few more clothes. “You’re just a big bully.”
