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“I thought she had a date tonight?” I asked.
Wyatt frowned. “I have no idea what she’s playing at,” he grumbled.
“What she’s playing at?” Amelia raised an eyebrow. “She’s not allowed to date?”
“Whatever,” Wyatt shrugged. “When’s dinner going to be ready? I’m hungry.”
“In about 30 minutes,” Amelia replied. “And Beau, Austin rode off to the log in a huff, so he won’t be joining you guys tonight.”
“What bee got into his bonnet?” Wyatt looked around the kitchen.
“What do you mean?” I asked, wondering at his choice of words.
“Austin goes to the cabin when he wants to think.” Wyatt did air quotes as he said “think.” “What does he have to think about so much, anyway?”
“I’m sure he has a lot on his mind.” Amelia looked at Beau and then at me, and I blushed. What did she know? Why was she looking at us? Was that just a coincidence?
“Come on, Lucy. Let’s go and sit by the fire pit,” Beau nodded at me. “It’s a nice night tonight, Ma. Maybe we can eat outside?”
“Perfect idea.” Amelia nodded in agreement. “You and your brothers set up the picnic table, and Ranger, you get the fire going, okay, dear?”
“Yes, my love.” He grinned at her.
I envied their easygoing relationship. I would love to meet a man that looked at me the way that Ranger looked at Amelia. He was such a tall, gruff guy. People that didn’t know him would never guess he was a soft, loving teddy bear of a man.
I looked around at the Hamilton family members in the kitchen, and I almost choked on how deep the love was. This was a family that cared and whose bonds were stronger than I’d ever seen before, and I was both jealous and happy. Jealous because I wanted to be a part of this crazy clan, and happy because I was here and being embraced without them even knowing me that well.
“Can I take some pictures of you guys tonight?” I asked, wanting to capture their essence in photographs. “Just some casual shots,” I said quickly.
“That would be lovely, dear,” Amelia nodded. “It’s a pity Austin and the other boys aren’t here as well.”
“I know, I can’t wait to meet your other sons. I’m sure they must be amazing as Austin, Beau, and Wyatt.” I noted that I mentioned Austin’s name first and I hoped no one else noticed.
“What the hell?” Wyatt exclaimed and I looked at him in surprise. Was he really that taken aback? “Sorry, not you, Lucy. I just called Sadie to ask if she wanted to come over for dinner and then go to the bar later, and she sent me to voicemail.”
Amelia smiled blandly at her son. “Seems like she’s busy, dear. You will have to get used to that. She will soon find a husband and then you will find she will have even less time for you, and then once she has kids …” Her words trailed off.
Wyatt frowned. “She’s not ready for that life. We’re too young for marriage and kids.”
“Well, you might be too young,” Beau chuckled, “but obviously she’s not.”
“So annoying,” Wyatt slammed his phone down on the countertop. “Frigging voicemail again.”
“Why don’t we go outside?” I suggested. “And maybe you can text her about coming to the bar later. Maybe she’ll be free then.”
“Maybe.” Wyatt was definitely in my grumpy mood now.
“So, Lucy,” Beau linked arms with me as we walked outside, changing the subject. “Did I ever tell you about my mushroom foraging hobby? We should totally go some time.”
Had he forgotten again that I didn’t like mushrooms?
“Um, yeah, that might be nice,” I mumbled, trying to ignore the feelings of self-recrimination as I talked to him. I had no interest in Beau, absolutely no interest at all. All I could think about was Austin, and all I wanted was to be at the log cabin with him right now.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I’m so sorry we didn’t get to go to the bar last night,” Beau told me after breakfast. “I really didn’t anticipate that we’d have to work after dinner.” He shook his head. “It’s just a really crazy time for us right now.”
“Yeah, Austin was telling me something about you speaking to developers?”
