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Truthfully, I’d just wanted to lift his mood, but since he’d just offered his unconditional support, I couldn’t let this pass.
“Would you be willing to do another campaign with us? This one is shaping up to be great.”
Jace grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I know. Our PR person says they’re calling me the face of success.”
“Oh, dear God.” Hailey shook her head mockingly. “There’s a real risk this will go straight to your head. As your sister, I feel it’s my duty to keep you grounded.”
“Not before he agrees to another campaign,” I admonished her.
“Val, of course I’ll do it. Is it true they’re also calling me a heartthrob?”
“Yep. Which is just a nicer way of spelling heartbreaker,” I teased.
Jace shook his forefinger. “No, no. Big distinction. I like heartthrob much better. It’s not judgy.”
After Jace and I nailed down the details, Lori cleared her throat. “So... not to be a nag or anything, but do any of you have news?”
She looked from Carter and me to Will and Paige.
“No, Lori, we still haven’t set the date,” I said, fighting a smile.
“You know, the four of us should elope,” Will said conversationally. Lori gasped.
The entire table started laughing.
“Brother, not even I would dare elope,” Jace said. “For the sake of the family, you need to let Lori throw you a huge-ass wedding.”
Ah... he had no idea what he’d just gotten himself into. Lori had confessed to me once that she believed Jace would be forever a bachelor. Now I could practically hear the wheels spinning in her mind. I had to warn my little brother.
“Careful, Jace, or Lori will start planning your wedding before there’s even a bride in the picture.”
Jace took one look at Lori and groaned. Which was when Milo, presumably tired of so much adult talk, said, “Uncle Jace, can you practice with me?”
“Sure, buddy. Let’s go. I feel an ambush coming anyway. I prefer spending time with the younger generation these days. No one’s calling me a heartbreaker or planning weddings.”
“Yet. But I’m a fast learner,” April replied impishly, sitting up straighter. I was so proud of this girl. Following in my footsteps already. I sighed, looking around the table contentedly. All my favorite people in the world were gathered around me. What more could I ask for?
“Carter, you’re going to have your hands full by the looks of it,” Landon commented.
Carter winked at me. “I can handle my ladies.”
Hours later, after everyone left, the house was quiet. The girls had gone to bed. When Carter went to check on Peyton, I was alone in the living room and seized the moment, taking out my phone and ordering those boots I promised April. The website was a pain in the ass. It took forever to place the order. I was just moving from the shopping cart to the payment page when a muscular arm wrapped around my waist. I threw the phone on the couch, but I was fairly certain Carter had caught a glimpse of the screen.
I whirled around, lacing my arms around his neck. He feathered his lips along my jawline, keeping me so close that our hips were touching.
“Wait until we’re upstairs to unleash your seductive charms on me, mister.”
“Why? So you can sneak behind my back some more?”
Oh crap.
“I was doing no such thing.”
“Val.” His voice held a note of warning, but then I felt him smile against my cheek. “I’ll pretend I haven’t seen the website.”
“I like you more and more every day.”
“Is that why you’re siding with April?”
