“Mia! I didn’t expect you to show up.” He turned to Dylan.
Dylan rolled his eyes. “That was kind of the point.”
Jackson laughed. “I’ll take that as a confession that you set it up.”
Dylan smirked.
Mia choked on a laugh. “I assume it’s okay if I join you?”
“Okay? It’s fantastic!” He pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. “I hope you like to fish.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never done it before.”
Before she knew it, both Dylan and Jackson were competing to teach her how to bait a hook, throw the line, and reel it in.
The next few hours were some of the most fun she’d ever had.
This is what family feels like.
After the church service, they packed up their vehicles. Jackson seemed distracted. Once Dylan was in his seat and ready, Jackson left the truck and stopped beside Mia’s car. She rolled down her window. “Yes?”
“May I stop by for five minutes after I drop off my brother?”
She shivered. Something told her this could be a pivotal moment. She nodded. “I’ll leave the outside light on.”
At home, she moved around restlessly. Her face heated, and anticipation zinged through her. What did he want to say? She knew he wasn’t ready to propose. They hadn’t been together long enough. Thankfully, both her mom and Gus were out. Carol had convinced Gus to go visit her sister for the day.
The doorbell interrupted her pacing. She went to the door and let him in. “Come on into the kitchen.”
She poured them each a cold drink and set a plate of cookies on the table. He ignored the cookies but took a deep swallow of water, then set the glass back on the table and reached for her hands. She held her breath.
“I am so glad you came today.”
“Me too.”
“I know we haven’t been dating that long, but I didn’t want to leave you wondering where this was heading.” He cleared his throat.
She couldn’t speak. Her pulse drummed in her ears.
“Mia, I’m in love with you. Not like back in high school. That was teenage infatuation. What I feel now is stronger and deeper. I think of you, and I can see us together in the future.”
She placed her hand against his cheek, nearly melting when he turned his head to kiss her palm. “I’m in love with you, too. I look forward to what our future holds.”
His eyes gleamed. Leaning forward, he kissed her lips. She snaked her hands around his neck to kiss him back. It could have been five minutes or thirty when he pulled away.
She stared into his eyes and realized that he was the reason Renegade now felt like home.
Smiling, she pulled him closer once more.
Epilogue
Ten weeks later
Jackson reached up and readjusted his tie.
“Dude, stop. You’re making me nervous,” Dylan hissed next to him. Dylan’s own tie was perfect. Thanks to Jackson, who’d shown him how to tie it.
Jackson dropped his hands. He sucked in a breath to calm his nerves. This wasn’t Judge Fields. They had a new judge today—one he’d never met. The woman hadn’t smiled at them, but she also hadn’t looked at him like he was vermin.
