I know what he had been about to say. He and I? We need to be careful. Richard is watching us like a hawk and neither of us can afford having this all blow up in our faces.
It’s risky.
And it would appear that Emmett doesn’t care. Because all he says is, “You riding with me, Jules?”
We walk onto the expansive patio at the winery, and I can’t tell who’s more uncomfortable, Emmett or Theo.
Winter and my mom, on the other hand, are gleeful as they lead us to our table.
As the server tries to seat us, my mom speaks up. “There’s actually seven of us now, including the two kids. Maybe we couldmove a chair to the end of the table? I’m sure it wouldn’t take up much room.”
From behind me, Theo grumbles, “Maybe they could bring you a dog bed, Bush? You might be more comfortable sitting on one of those.”
Emmett lets out a raspy laugh under his breath before mumbling back, “That’s rich. Word around the locker room is that you barked at your wife the first time you met her.”
“Actually, that’s totally out of context,” Theo defends himself, but Winter doesn’t let him get away with it.
She turns to look at Emmett, smiling politely as she confirms, “Yes, he did in fact bark at me.”
My brother laughs. “You fucking loved it.”
Winter glares in response, but her lips wobble. If nothing else, Theo’s endless positivity has brightened Winter over the course of their relationship. They complement each other perfectly. She doesn’t take his shit, and he’s not scared off by hers.
My eyes slip to Emmett as the server pulls another chair over for him, and I realize that we have the same thing.
His shit doesn’t scare me. And he can handle mine.
With that nugget at the forefront of my brain, I shuffle around the table and sit next to him while Theo and Winter settle the kids in a high chair and a booster seat.
Then my mom sits down, spreads her napkin over her lap… and winks at me before addressing the table. “This might be the most exciting birthday lunch of my life. Emmett, thank you for joining us. I’m not going to grill you about this today. Because I have a sinking suspicion that you two”—she flips a finger between us—“are up to something you shouldn’t be, considering you’re both working on that show.”
Neither of us denies it, and my expression turns sheepish.
“But sometimes,” she continues, “that’s where the strongest foundations are forged. In fire and brimstone. Hot and cold.And unlikely circumstances. So, when your work relationship is wrapped up, we’re going to do this again, and you’re going to tell me all about it. But for now, I just think all of you should know…” She turns to look at each of us, her smile softening even further when she gets to her grandchildren. “That Gabriel would have loved to see us all together like this.”
I blink my eyes, choked up at the thought of the father I never got to know. The one who died riding a bull. And now here I am, signing up for the same possible heartache that my mom did.
But something has changed in me, because for the first time in my life I understand why she’d have overlooked the risk. Why Winter does too. Loving these men is terrifying… and worth it.
Emmett must pick up on my feelings, and he doesn’t hesitate to slip a strong hand over my back, rubbing gentle circles between my shoulder blades to comfort me.
My gaze moves to my brother. He’s watching the motion, not with judgment, but with pure dumbfounded disbelief.
I smile at him. Dumbfounded is a whole lot better than horrified.
It gives me hope that this all might work out. Because while I’ve always sworn I wouldn’t date a cowboy… I’d be willing to make an exception for this one.
Theo waits until Emmett has departed for the night before he begins his inquisition. Mom, Winter, and the kids are setting up by our vehicles, and it’s just us in line for popcorn at the drive-in.
“So, you and Emmett, huh?”
Though he attempts to appear nonchalant—hands shoved in his pockets, shoe tapping the grass—I know his true nature. He’s probably been rehearsing this in his head for hours, coming up with a cool but concerned way to approach me.
“Yup, Emmett and me.”
The buttery-sweet scent of popcorn and minidonuts drifts between us as his eyes sneak over to my face, his sad attempt to pretend he’s not looking at me.
“Is it serious?”
