Aston: You’re a dick.
Ace: But you love me.
“You realize you just gave my entire family access to this little confessional you two organized?” He pockets his phone and wraps me in his arms again. “The competition over who the best athlete in the family will be intense. Just warning you.”
“I think I can handle it.” I kiss him firmly. “Now let’s go home.”
“Lead the way, Honeybee.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
THREE MONTHS LATER
ASTON
The Texas sundoesn’t just shine. It bakes into the earth, leaving the smell of dry cedar and dust. The sky goes on forever, a massive canopy of blue that makes the high-rise concrete of New York feel like a completely different world.
I keep one hand on the steering wheel of the truck I rented, my elbow propped against the open window as the hot hair flows across my skin. My other hand is locked with Eva’s, my thumb tracking the small, smooth knuckles of her fingers. She’s wearing a peach sundress that makes her skin look tan, and her dark hair is pulled back into a loose clip. She looks as gorgeous as ever. But I can feel the slight tension in her grip.
“You good?” I ask, smiling.
She nods and gives me a tight smile. “So good.”
I chuckle at her exaggeration, but I don’t tease her about it.
“We’re almost there,” I say, nudging my chin toward the windshield as we clear the crest of the hill, the main gates of my family’s ranch coming into view. “I can’t wait for you to see it.”
She lets out a soft laugh, her shoulders finally dropping as she leans her head against my shoulder. “I’m excited too. Really,”she says, looking out the window. “This place is … it’s a whole different scale. My dad’s estate in Long Island has manicured hedges and a security gate, but this looks like an entire kingdom.”
“Nah, it’s just a little dirt and cattle, Honeybee,” I say, pulling her hand up to my lips to press a deep, lingering kiss against her skin. “And a lot of loud people who’ve been waiting five months to interrogate us in person.”
When I pull down the long driveway toward the main house, I look out the window at all the wide-open space. I’ve missed this. As we get closer, I see at least six massive pickups parked along the grass, the tailgate of Archie’s dropped open to reveal three large coolers. A massive banner, strung between the pillars on the porch, readsCongratulations, Austin!
The second my boots hit the gravel, the silence of our drive is completely obliterated.
“He’s here!” my nephew Duke roars, dropping a football into the dirt as he bolts from the porch steps.
Behind him, his sister, Lainey, and little brother, Tucker, come running toward me.
“Uncle Aston!”
I don’t even have time to shut the door before Duke hits my knees. I catch him with one arm, lifting his entire weight effortlessly into the air, while my other hand reaches down to scoop up Tucker by the waistband of his little denim shorts, and I swing them both until they shriek with laughter. When I stop, Lainey wraps her arms around my legs and tucks into my side.
“Man, you guys have grown a whole foot since I saw you last.” I laugh, dropping my head to press a rough kiss to Duke’s dusty hair before setting them down. I look over the tops of their heads, my eyes finding Eva, who’s standing by the passenger door, her eyes wide and her lips smiling.
“Come here,” I murmur, reaching an arm out to pull her into my side.
The kids go quiet, staring at her with curiosity that only kids have.
“Guys, this is Eva.”
“Are you the girl from the TV trucks?” Lainey asks.
“I am,” Eva says, and the effortless grace in her voice has my chest instantly tightening with pride. She squats, even in her long dress, as she looks Lainey in the eye. “And you must be Lainey. Your uncle says you’re the real boss around here. Is that true?”
Lainey’s eyes sparkle as she nods.
“All right, clear out, you little monsters!” Archie’s voice booms across the yard as he steps off the porch, a longneck beer in one hand and a grilling spatula in the other.
