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“Family dinner?” I asked. “We don’t do family dinners.”
“We do now. I’m starting a new tradition. Just like Mama.”
Mama Ryker had her kids trained to attend family dinners weekly. Honestly, I envied that. So I didn’t know why I was resisting, aside from the fact that they were trying with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to include Jameson in our family.
“What time is family dinner?” Jamie asked.
“Six,” Sera said.
“Lovely. Count us in.”
I sighed.
“What should we bring, love?”
“You don’t need to bring anything. Just your smiling faces. Ooh, but maybe your guitars? I’d love a sneak peek at what the two of you are working on.”
I stiffened, but Jamie shot me a reassuring glance. “I don’t know if our stuff is quite ready to share, but I love any opportunity to play. So I’ll bring my guitar. Absolutely.”
I loved the way he was with my family. Easy. Kind. He was a good man. There was no doubt in my mind. Sera left, her ponytail swinging, and I turned to face the rock star standing in my kitchen.
“We don’t have to go to family dinner.”
“Why? You don’t want me there?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Good. I could do with some time with more of the Wilde clan. Especially when they’re doing so much to help keep me comfortable.” He knocked back another swallow of beer before coming back into the living room. “We’ve still got a few hours before we need to get there. Shall we crack on?”
I nodded, trying to control my happiness at his willingness to be part of my life. Two hours later, after we wrapped up, I came down fresh from the shower and found Jamie standing in the entryway, guitar case in one hand. It was the grin on his face that sent my heart fluttering, though. He was truly excited.
“So, who is going to be at this family dinner?” he asked as we walked together across the grounds toward the main house.
“Well, by the look of it, we’ll have Mav and Clara and their little girl, Sutton and Sera for sure, and their two kids. And…yep, that’s Luke coming down the drive now. So it looks like the gang’s all here.”
“Kids?”
“Yes. Lots of them.”
“You are quite the uncle, then.”
“That’s me. I’m very good at it. I’m the fun one.”
“You know, I have heard that. I like kids. They’re funny, and they say what’s on their minds. They won’t hesitate to tell you if you look weird. Or when you look nice.”
He was right. My nieces and nephews didn’t hold back. They also loved me unconditionally. They didn’t care that I was a fuckup.
We walked through the door, and I was instantly taken out at the knees by my niece. She was all fire and fury. Sweet and sour all at the same time.
“Hey, Sour Patch,” I said, scooping her up.
Her blonde curls bounced around her face as she wriggled in my hold. “Who’s dis?” she asked, pointing to Jameson.
“That’s my friend, Jamie. He’s staying with me for a while.”
She stared at Jameson. Assessing him. “You look like a prince,” she said.
His grin was fucking heartwarming. His whole face lit up. “Oh, do I, little one?”
