Page 9 of Tack’s Bounty

“Oh, these are yummy, Adley. Where’s my little buddy?” she asked.

“He’s playing with Teddy over at Pit and Ariel’s this morning. I wanted to bake some cookies, and then I need to be at the courthouse for a little bit,” Adley shared.

“Tack, are you heading into work?” Ruthy asked.

“Yeah, Mom, but for the first time, I don’t want to,” he admitted.

“Why not? Does this have something to do with where you were last night?”

He nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you heard about the call we got yesterday afternoon. Last night, something was off, and I told myself I’d just ride by and check on her, but someone was leaving dead squirrels on her porch. I hated leaving her this morning, even though I offered to have Shield stay, she turned me down. She’s strong, fierce, and I hate being gone from her,” he conceded, staring at his mom, hoping she had some insight into what he was feeling.

Ruthy leaned close, slipping her arm through his. “Oh, Tack, I’ve always known when you fell that you’d fall hard. You and your brother, when he met Adley, remind me so much of your dad. You’re protective, badass men who get knocked off your feet by the one meant for you.”

Tack scrutinized his mom’s face. Was she teasing him? She thought he was in love with Sophia.

“Oh my gosh, the look on his face,” Adley cackled, snapping a quick picture.

“Don’t you think it’s too soon to consider love when Macy and I were dating?” Tack wondered.

“Do you want to tell him or should I?” Adley giggled, shaking her head.

“Oh, honey,” Ruthy soothed, holding her palm against his cheek. “Why would it be too soon when you didn’t love Macy? You both were dating because it was convenient, and you both wanted what Justice and Adley were building. Everyone but you two could see that it would never last,” Ruthy informed him.

Tack gaped at his mom. What the hell was she saying? He’d loved Macy. He’d been considering buying a ring.

“That’s not true. I did too,” he protested.

“Let’s play a little game of twenty questions, though I honestly doubt we’ll need them all.” Ruthy rolled her eyes again.

Tack wondered if it would be considered rude to walk out on his mom and sister-in-law because of how annoying they were.

“Question one: When you thought of Macy, where did you imagine you’d be in ten years?” Ruthy questioned.

Tack thought about it. He’d known he enjoyed being with Macy, and the next step was marriage, which is why he’d considered a ring.

“I figured we’d talk through our hopes and dreams and plan what was next,” Tack disclosed, crossing his arms because he felt a little under attack.

“Now, question two: Close your eyes…”

Tack huffed but closed his eyes.

“Now, imagine ten years down the road with Sophia. What’s going on, and what are you doing?” she questioned softly.

A movie flashed behind his eyelids. He and Sophia walking hand in hand on the farm, a little boy running toward the barn, and a little girl in his arms. He and Sophia dancing in the clubhouse with his brothers hanging around. Sophia on the back of his bike, riding in the Kansas countryside, her arms around his waist.

He opened his eyes and stared at his mom, realizing the truth had been in front of him from the first, though he hadn’t recognized it. “She’s my forever.”

His mom grinned at him, patting his cheek. “I didn’t raise a stupid man. Now, since you have to work, would you like me to drop by and check on her? She has a rescue and the clinic. I’d be happy to.”

He chuckled at the innocent look his mom was trying to pull off but failing miserably.

“You are incorrigible, but I love you so much,” he whispered, kissing her cheek.

“I do not behave badly,” she refuted.

“No, but you are willful and uncontrollable when you want something,” he replied, chuckling at the blush on her cheeks.

“Is that a yes or a no?” she questioned.