Ford’s deep chuckle rumbles in his chest as Jesse glances back, shooting me a wink and mouthing, “Call me.”
Sutton guffaws at his grandson’s antics as Ford presses a kiss to the top of my head, murmuring for my ears only, “Mine. Only mine. All rights reserved, Tink.”
I smile as I lean closer, whispering, “End game, Cowboy.”
His chest puffs out almost comically, and I glance away to find Sutton watching us. The cheesy grin on his face tells me he cares about Ford’s happiness. Knowing that despite everything that happened with his own father, he’s retained a father figure in this man fills me with lightness.
“Can we take a ten-minute break?” Jesse’s voice carries from across the studio. “I wanted to call Dad about the bridge. I think we need something with a heavier bass.”
At Sutton’s nod, Jesse ducks outside, pressing his cell to his ear as he goes, and Ford wastes no time diving into our reason for being here.
“I’m in need of a favor, Sut.”
The older man chuckles as he grabs a bottle of water from a mini refrigerator, holding up a spare in offer, which we both decline, before nodding at Ford to elaborate.
“There’s an open mic night at Rebel tomorrow night, and I was hoping you or Cade might come along to scout talent forNorth Star Records.”
My gasp of delight sees both men shifting their eyes to me, and I blush as I press my lips together with wide eyes. “Sorry…I just love the idea of the label and ranch having the same name.”
Sutton grins broadly. “So did my wife. She’s the one who got the final say.” He pins Ford with a serious stare. “And now that you’re finally thinking of settling down, you need to remember the number one rule in any relationship, and that’s?—”
Ford cuts him off with an indulgent smirk. “That any man worth his salt knows his woman always wears the pants.”
“Ah, I see youwerelistening.” Sutton winks at me. “Think you’ve found a keeper, Emmy.”
My face hurts from smiling as Ford and Sutton work out the particulars, watching my lover with happiness pouring from my heart. Because Sutton’s right.
Fordisa keeper.
I’ve known that since the day he handed me those peonies in his parents’ barn, apologizing for a hurt he couldn’t have known he’d caused.
Showcasing the heart that won me over from the very beginning.
And I don’t plan on letting him go ever again.
CHAPTER 27
FORD
By the timeI’ve finalized details with Sutton for the open mic night—and ensuring he’ll make his presence seem as organic as possible, Jesse reappears.
“I need to rewrite the bridge, Pops. Dad agrees?—”
“I don’t give a single flyingshitwhat my son says, Jess. It’s a solid debut release, and that’s the key here?—”
“I don’t wantsolid. I wantepic.” His chin is set in that stubborn way that’s entirely reminiscent of Sutton himself, and I stifle a laugh as Jesse arches a dissatisfied brow. “I’m redoing it?—”
“No, you’re not?—”
As the two North men continue to disagree, I grab Emmy’s hand and sneakily make our leave. Sutton and Jesse’s voices elevate at our backs so that by the time we make it back to the truck, Emmy is giggling uncontrollably.
As I help her into the passenger seat, she suddenly sobers, leaning closer to press a fleeting peck to my lips.
I tilt my head to one side in question, my lips lifting in a lopsided grin. “What was that for?”
She watches me for a beat, her blue eyes bright and a half-smile playing at the edges of her mouth. “Seeing you with Sutton just made my heart happy, that’s all.”
I cluck her beneath the chin before closing her door, jogging around the cab, and slipping into the driver’s seat. As I turn on the engine, I glance in her direction. “Family doesn’t always have to be blood. That’s what the Norths taught me in my time with them.”
