“I stand corrected.”
A few blocks later, he pulls to a stop in front of a two-story home nestled in a wooded neighborhood. Several cars and trucks are parked in the driveway and on the street. The rest of his family must already be here. Nerves skate through me, but it’s mostly the good kind of anticipation, like the thrill before going on a rollercoaster.
Reed rushes around the front of the Bronco to open my door. I clutch the jar of honey as I climb out. I changed into my favorite blue sundress for dinner, but hopefully my sneakers keep it from looking like I’m going overboard. He’s wearing jeans and a plain blue T-shirt, unintentionally matching me.
He holds out a hand, and I take it as we walk up the driveway. As we pass the front window, Jovie’s excited shout echoes from inside, followed by a lower voice I imagine is Luke telling her to calm down. I appreciate her untethered enthusiasm because it gives mine a companion.
At my side, Reed gusts out a sigh, his hand paused on the door knob. “Are you ready?”
I give him a firm nod. “If things go sideways, I’ll stick with Jovie.”
“If things go sideways, I’ll pick you up and carry you out of here myself.”
“Then I look forward to things going sideways.”
His eyes widen, and he stumbles over the threshold into the house. His family members wait for us in the living room, and a low hum of laughter greets us.
“Can’t wait to show off your girlfriend, huh?” Nathan’s grin looks like he pulled it from theHow to Get Under Reed’s Skinhandbook.
Reed regains his composure, shooting a frown at his youngest brother. He makes introductions all around even though I know everyone’s names. At least by sight. Graham and Luke rarely come into Perk Me Up so I don’t know them as well as the others, but they all greet me with the same enthusiasm.
Or, almost. Nobody tops Jovie, who bounces in front of me like she can’t decide if she’d rather hug me or perform a tap dance. If I give her a minute, I bet she’d do both.
Facing the entire Bridger clan at once is a lot to take in. Four handsome, dark-haired men who look like they could feature in old-school magazine spreads. Their gorgeous, curvy sister who’s already grinning at me like we’re close friends. Their parents, watching us as if it’s taking all their self-control not to whip out a camera to document the moment. And of course, the littlest Bridger, who’s beaming like class just got out and she’s ready to run wild through the halls.
“Let’s give Rose some room, peanut.” Luke motions for his daughter to step back and join him, but she feigns ignorance.
“We’re so glad you’re here.” Her eyes sparkle like having me join them for dinner is the highlight of her summer. She’s my favorite already. “I’m not supposed to bother you too much if I want ice cream on the way home.”
Luke hefts a sigh that sounds remarkably like Reed’s. “You’re supposed to keep bribes quiet, Jovie.”
I lean down as if I’m about to share a secret. “That’s a good deal for you because there’s no way you can bother me.”
Reed squeezes my hand. Hopefully that means “good job making friends with Jovie” and not “you shouldn’t cross Luke.”
“We’ve got ice cream, too,” Russ tells her. “Looks like you’ll get some whether you bother her or not.”
Luke rolls his eyes, but Jovie’s satisfied by her grandpa’s countermeasures. Her attention latches onto the jar in my hand that’s not clasped tightly in Reed’s. “What’s that?”
I offer the jar to Sara. “It’s vanilla-infused honey. We tried it at the craft fair this morning, and it was so delicious, I wanted to bring one for you.”
She admires the jar of golden honey before cradling it to her chest like I passed her a baby. “That’s so sweet of you. We can put it on some fresh fruit for dessert.”
Russ slinks an arm around her waist. The pair smile at me as ifI arrived in their living room riding on a cloud. “You two, ah, went to the craft fair together?”
“That makes sense.” Nathan looks entirely too pleased by this information. “We all know how much Reed loves crafts.”
“We must have missed you,” Lucy says. “Olive and I went, too. I got a print of a raccoon reading a book for my classroom.”
“Those were really cute. My favorite was the one wearing a sombrero.” I cast Reed a cheeky side-eye.
“Come on in. We don’t have to stand around in the entryway.” Sara waves us in, snaking past her children deeper into the house. “Dinner’s just about ready. Only a few more minutes.”
“I hope you like sausage and gnocchi, Rose.” Russ straightens his black plastic glasses but they sink back to a slight angle on his nose. “Reed said you don’t have any allergies.”
“Nope. I like everything,” I tell him automatically. “It smells wonderful. Can I do anything to help?”
“Just make yourself at home.” Russ gestures around the room before following his wife.
