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“She’s ten years younger than you.”
“And? She’s an adult. She’s twenty-two, I’m thirty-two. Yes, there are some years between us, but I don’t notice them when I’m with her.” I’m not just blowing smoke up his ass. I know that the ten years are there, but I don’t feel it. At least not yet. Besides, there isn’t anything he could say that I haven’t thought of myself. I’ve fought an internal battle from the day I laid eyes on her, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I just don’t give a fuck. I don’t care what anyone has to say about our relationship. The only people who matter are Ramsey and me.
“Fine. You treat her right, and we won’t have any issues. I’m telling you, man, she’s blood, and if you fuck her over, you’re going to have my brothers and me to deal with,” he warns.
“Trust me, that’s not going to happen, and the last thing I want is nine Kincaids after my ass. Even the younger ones.”
“They’re closer to her age than you are,” he quips.
“Fuck off.”
He roars with laughter, the sound ringing in my ears through the cell phone. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The girls went to get suits, and we already grilled out, so I figured I’d just order pizza.”
“I’ll pick up some beer. Brooks and Declan are with me. Sterling is hemming and hawing around and can’t decide what he’s doing tonight, so he might be with us too.”
“They’re all welcome. You should warn them about Rams and me.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell them.”
“Later.” I end the call, sliding my phone into my front pocket. That went better than I anticipated. I knew the age difference would be an issue for others, and I know it should be an issue for me as well, but I just can’t seem to find it in me to care. Not when I’m kissing her.
Walking into the kitchen, I clean up our dinner and head upstairs to change into some swim trunks. I take the stairs two at a time as excitement courses through me. It’s not just the time I get to spend with my little sister and my girl, but also the guys. I need to make more time for life outside of work. I don’t want to wake up in another ten years and have nothing but my job. I’m settled within the practice, and I’m the obvious choice to buy them out. If they don’t choose me to do that when they retire, then I’ll just start my own practice.
It’s time to start living.
Orrin and his brothers show up before the girls get back. The four of them file into the room, and although they’re all smiling, I can feel the tension all around us. “Just say what you have to say.”
“She’s family,” Brooks speaks up.
“And too damn young for you,” Declan adds.
“Too sweet to be tossed away,” Sterling comments.
I turn to Orrin. “Let’s hear it.”
“Nah, I think my brothers did just fine.”
I expel a heavy breath as I face the firing squad. “Look, I already told Orrin,” I start, but the front door opens.
“Honey, I’m home,” Palmer calls out. All five of us turn toward the door and the sound of her voice.
They walk into the room, and my eyes immediately lock on Ramsey. She’s wearing the same cutoff jean shorts and top as before, but there’s a bag now hanging off her shoulder. I want to go to her and wrap her in my arms. I want to kiss the breath from her lungs, showing her overprotective cousins that she’s mine.
But I don’t. Instead, I wait her out. I want to see how she’s going to handle this situation. I’m already feeling things it’s way too soon to be feeling. I’m more than willing to stand up to them, to fight for this, whatever it may be. We’re dating, it’s new, but it feels old. However, I need to know it’s not just me. I need to see how she handles this. She’s younger than me, and there’s a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me she might not be ready for all the things racing through my mind where Ramsey is concerned.
“Rams.” Orrin opens his arms, and she doesn’t hesitate to walk into his embrace and return it. She steps out of his hold and repeats the process with Declan.
“Why does she get all the hugs?” Palmer teases. Orrin opens his arms for her, and she laughs as she gives him a hug.
They both hug all four of the Kincaids standing in my kitchen, and then there’s me. Ramsey releases Brooks and turns toward me. Her steps are slow, but she takes them. When she’s standing close enough, she wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head on my shoulder.
