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And just like that, Mason was surrounded by all the people he loved most. He got into the game with his dad, uncle, grandfather, brother, and cousins. Lyric found herself pulled into the kitchen with his mom and aunt. He found her there laughing and chatting like they were all dear friends when he went to grab more beers for the guys. She held her glass of wine up to him and smiled, her eyes bright with delight. So he skipped the fridge and went to her, kissing her right there in the kitchen where his mom had spoiled him.
His mom and aunt both ran their hands over his head, like they’d done so many times when he was a kid.
He only had eyes for the woman in his arms. “I love you.”
“That’s perfect, because I love you, too.”
“Do you want to come watch the end of the game?”
“No, baby, you go have fun with your dad and the guys, while I get to know your mom and aunt.”
He knew she wanted him to reconnect with all the men who’d shaped him. Before he grabbed the beers, he turned to his mom. “Did you have time to stock the cabin?”
His aunt gave him a look. “Actually, your cousins volunteered to get it ready for your return.” Aunt Donna looked at Lyric. “I’m thinking Hawk wanted to do something for you.”
Lyric looked shocked. “I’m surprised. He’s been so resistant to my calls.”
Mason had expected Lyric to get the cold shoulder from Hawk. And mostly, she did. The handful of calls they’d shared over the last two weeks were short, nothing but Lyric asking about his work, his day, any plans he might have for going out. Which he never did. Lyric talked about what she was up to with a song, at the bar, with Mason, all without being asked just to fill the silence coming from the other end of the line.
And then the last call had been subtly different. Hawk asked her about the song she’d been working on, then asked her to play it for him. Then he’d asked her if she’d send him a couple easy recipes that he could whip up at home on a late night when he needed something fast. And just like that, Lyric breached the walls around Hawk’s heart.
Mason knew his cousins and asked, “Am I going to have to kill them for whatever prank they’ve pulled?”
Aunt Donna gave him a soft frown and a shrug. “Not sure. But they might surprise you this time. You’ve been gone a long time. They’ve missed you.” The look in her eyes, and his mother’s, said he’d been missed by everyone.
“I miss all of you.” He took Lyric’s hand. “We’ll be spending more time here, even though we’ll be working on our new house.”
His mom gasped. “You bought a place in Blackrock Falls?”
“Lyric did. This beautiful old house I’m going to fix up for us.”
“Does that mean you’ll sell the cabin here?” his aunt asked.
“Absolutely not,” Lyric interjected. “That’s home when we’re here.” She hadn’t even seen the place, and yet, she knew it meant something to him to keep his place here near his family.
“You heard her,” he said to his mom, to reassure her that she’d be seeing a lot more of them.
He couldn’t wait. Because dinner with his family was lively and filled with stories about him, because everyone wanted to be sure Lyric knew what she was in for with him. He didn’t mind. She laughed along with his family about the antics he used to get into withthe boys, as his parents and aunt and uncle referred to them most of the time. It reminded him so much of how things used to be before he’d taken the undercover assignments and had missed more than just dinners like these.
Now he was home, and Lyric was the center of his world, not work, the job that had been his life while everyone else’s went on without him.
It was his grandfather who held up his glass at the end of the meal and said, “We’re so proud of the work you’ve done, Mason, but we’re happy to finally have you home. And with such a beautiful woman at your side. I hope she turns you inside out and steals your heart and maybe someday gives us a much-needed sweet little girl to add to our table, though I’d never turn down another little rascal like you.”
Mason couldn’t help himself: he wiped away a tear.
Lyric squeezed the hand she held resting on his thigh. “You definitely stole my heart.”
He stared into her blue eyes and knew without a doubt he’d love her forever and beyond.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lyric loved spending time with Mason’s family. They were so kind and close, just like hers. But after being around all those men and trying her best to connect with his mom and aunt, all she wanted to do was be alone with Mason.
They pulled up to the A-frame cabin with the tall windows and cute cherry-red door. Surrounded by trees and lost down a long driveway, it felt like they were in the middle of nowhere, even though they were only ten minutes from his parents’ place.
“I love it,” she said, smiling at him.
“You haven’t even been inside.”
