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West made a face. “He says he has a surprise waiting for us. I don’t like the sound of that.”
She wondered if Porter’s surprise was anything like Nash’s. He and Emily hadn’t told anyone in his family that they’d gotten married, but knowing the twins, Porter’s bombshell was just as earth shaking.
With difficulty, Eva kept herself back from letting out a squeal that West would definitely not appreciate. “You’re all so interesting! Your parents must be so amazing to raise you all!”
West exchanged glances with his brother. “Well, don’t get too excited. We don’t all exactly… get along.”
“Of course, we do,” Nash translated. “It’s just West that doesn’t.”
That was a creative way of putting it.
West treated his brother to a hardened glare. She was thrilled to see more of his real side lately; it especially came out with the appearance of his mischievous twin brothers. “I don’t have much choice lately,” West said. “Someone’s got to make sure that we don’t lose everything to the bank.”
Nash arched a brow at his brother. “You have an interesting way of making that happen.” He seemed a little more serious than usual, despite his wife’s soothing touch on his arm. “Maybe you should pull back a little beforesomeonegets hurt.”
Strangely, he seemed to include Eva in his gaze. Shehadbeen a part of Lynch’s downfall, after all.
“I’m not a fainthearted chicken heart like you,” West retorted. “I’m doing whatever it takes.”
He’d done everything short of selling his soul for his family, from saving their ranch to fighting for his momma’s right to have her name on that heart transplant list. Why couldn’t anyone see what he was going through? His momma’s poor health was partly the reason he was so distracted all the time. West’s heart hung on that woman.
Nash looked far from happy about West’s flippant response. “Whatever it takes?”
“I’m not going to kill anybody to get Momma her heart if that’s what you’re worried about,” West said with a grumbled laugh.
Nash burst out with his own. Eva never really understood the brothers’ gallows humor that they sank into when they were together, but it was clear they cared about their own, even if they had different ways of showing it. “I’d suggest donating your own heart,” Nash retorted, “but we all know how cold it is. Momma would never be the same.”
“Oh! That’s not true at all!” Eva protested. “You’ve got a heart of gold, West. You do so much for your momma.”
“Ugh… Eva, open your eyes.” Nash stretched to his feet. They’d come to a complete stop at the hangar. “Love is blind, but you take it to another level.”
Emily’s concerned gaze shot to Eva. “Don’t listen to him. I think you’re fantastic.”
Nash took her hand. “Isn’t that what I said?” Smirking, Nash hustled his wife down the aisle of the plane closer to the exit to make their escape from them. Eva didn’t take it personally. He was just excited to surprise his family with his latest news.
It also left her blessedly alone with West.
He turned back to Eva, sliding his fingers through hers. She almost startled at the unexpected advance. She managed to play it cool just in time.
“He’s right,” West said. “My heart’s a bit tarnished for my momma to use. That’s the truth, but…” he lowered his voice, “sheisamazing. I’m sure she’ll love you.”
She was struck dumb by the sentiment. Gathering her courage, Eva whispered back to him. “I hope as much as you do.” The flirtatious side of her always played with men this way, but this time? Eva was desperate for validation.
His eyes locked with hers as his brother shoved open the door of the exit and carried his wife over the threshold. West cleared his throat. “Yeah… yeah,” he answered in a gruff voice. “Who wouldn’t love you?”
Was there a deeper meaning in that?
She couldn’t help the smile that crept over her lips. This didn’t sound like a man who would send her packing. “Well, that took long enough to get out of you, Mister Slade. You don’t have a problem talking about your feelings, do you?”
He laughed at her sarcasm. “Well,yousure don’t! I can’t imagine trying to keep anything from you—you’d drag every confession out of me.”
Her cheeks flushed with happiness. They were so good for each other. “Youlikeit.”
“As much as any man under torture.”
“Hmm. I have all sorts of tortures devised for you.” She ran her free hand across his perfectly sculpted jaw. There was a hint of stubble there after a long day—nice and manly, just how she liked it. With difficulty, she kept herself from touching those lips with her own. She knew they were soft and smooth in comparison… and hungry.
“I don’t doubt that you have all sorts of plans for us,” he muttered.
