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Laverne gripped Fred’s hand at her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
Clay glanced down at our linked hands and his eyebrow arched. I’d hoped to talk to Clay alone, but things hadn’t worked out the way I’d planned since the day Willow Doyle had strolled into that bar less than a week ago.
It felt like a million years ago and a blink at the same time.
“As some of you may have noticed, I’ve been glued to Chaos’s hip for the last few days.”
“Do I need to find my shotgun, son?” Justin asked with a grin on his tanned face.
“Nope. I already asked her to marry me.”
She slapped my arm. “Jeez. You have no tact, Ransom.”
My lips tipped up at one corner as I glanced down at her. “Hit them with the good news first.”
Laverne popped out of her chair and rushed over. “Oh my God. You don’t waste time.” She hugged both of us.
A half dozen voices started at once. I lifted my arm. “All right. Yeah, it’s quick, I know. But we aren’t taking away from the happy festivities coming up. We just wanted to let you know.”
“Not that I’m not happy to hear it,” Fred’s eyes crinkled with his wide smile, “but I’m assuming an emergency family meeting wasn’t for that announcement.”
I sighed. “Afraid not.” I found Clay in the back of the room, our gazes connecting. “Sorry, man. I wanted to tell you before I did this, but something happened last night.”
Laverne went back to her chair. “Nothing… I don’t even want to speak the words.”
Chaos rushed forward and crouched beside her chair. “No. No one is sick or anything, Aunt Laverne.”
The older woman blew out a breath. “Okay. We can handle anything as a family, but I’m glad it’s not that.”
Chaos stood and came back to my side, then looked up at me.
I nodded. She should be the one to tell them.
“Most of you know about what happened to me in college.”
Justin and Hayes straightened, their arms both lowering to their sides as they fisted their hands.
“Unfortunately, my job has a few downsides.” She glanced up at me as she hooked her pinky with mine. “Ransom and his friend Aidan have been helping me deal with a fan who…well, he’s gone from nuisance messages to a more active and in person role.”
“Role?” Clay came forward. “What the hell does that mean?” He turned back to Rachel, and she rushed forward.
“Clay. Just let them finish.”
I swiped a hand down Chaos’s curls. “My friend is Aidan Roth.”
Clay’s jaw dropped open. “Roth Defense?”
“Yeah.” I hated seeing my best friend’s eyes shutter with hurt.
Hurt I’d inadvertently caused.
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Aidan has a specialty in handling celebrity security. Chaos—sorry, Willow—has a unique background. It shouldn’t have been easy for anyone to find her, let alone a stranger. Since her college problem with a stalker, she was very careful to make sure none of her personal information was on the internet.”
“That’s why you were upset about the packages.” Laverne’s eyes teared up. “Oh, honey.”
“I didn’t want to worry anyone.” Chaos closed her eyes, her throat rising and falling as she swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to ruin the wedding or bring any of this home to you guys.”
