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I’ll deal with him later. “No disrespect, but I think this is a conversation I should have with Ashlyn first. But know, I’m not going anywhere.”
“You moving in with her?” Andrew pushes.
“Oh fuck, son, let that go. Of course he’s moving in with her. She’s building her home meant for a family. I want to know when this will be official. Janie’s about to drive me crazy,” Dozer grunts.
“Soon, but as you know, Ashlyn has to be handled delicately.”
“You broke down those walls a long time ago. Don’t waste much more time.”
“It almost sounds like you like me.” I send him a cocky smile, raising my eyebrows.
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself. I figure the second time around she’ll pick a man who owns a razor. But for now, she’s got a slug who knows how to build her dream home. That’s what counts.”
This breaks the damn, and Pierce chokes mid-sip, roaring out as he doubles over. Evin, Dad, and Edward have the decency to contain their laughter to general obnoxiousness.
Austin and Andrew openly praise their dad with backslaps, and Dozer looks pleased with himself.
I take the drink beside me, gulping a few swigs, and let them have their fun. When the laughter dies down, I take my shot back. “Build her dream home, bring her back to herself, and openly adore her. There will be no second time around.”
Dozer sobers, his posture straightening as he locks eyes with me. “I’m trusting you on that.”
I tip my glass to him, giving him the southern gentleman’s handshake of respect.
“Everyone all straight now?”
“Not yet, I understand Pierce built his wife a bakery for their wedding present. What are you going to do to top that?”
“Yeah, what are you going to do to top that?” Pierce is now all out gloating, enjoying this too much.
“I have an idea,” I answer vaguely, not ready to share the news of my idea if she wants to go out on her own and open a practice.
Dozer finishes his drink, nodding.
“My sister is not knocked up-yet, she’s getting a move-in boyfriend who hasn’t put a ring on her finger, and you haven’t told us your plan,” Austin replies. “I’m still looking for answers.”
“I’m thrilled my son is bringing that ray of beauty into my family.” Dad finally adds something to the conversation. “Hopefully, you have the smarts to get her down the aisle soon before she realizes what a pain in the ass you can be.”
I narrow my eyes over the rim of my glass, wondering what the hell ever happened to loyalty. Then I figure it’s my turn to have some fun.
“Already booked the hotel in Vegas. I’ll make sure all your announcements arrive the day it’s inked.”
Every man’s face goes stone still, the brothers snapping tight.
“Touché, brother, that’ll be epic. I’ll follow your lead on that shit.” Evin, who isn’t affected by my announcement, clinks his glass with mine.
“You take my baby to Vegas and elope, I’ll bury you. No shit, I’ll walk away without blinking an eye,” Dozer growls.
I rest in my seat, letting it hang in the air, not showing any emotion. “Now are we all straight?”
“Almost. Since you want to be a badass, what are you doing about this city slicker calling my house looking for Ashlyn?”
The air changes, every man now sitting straight.
“He hasn’t called again, right?”
“No.”
“He does, you give him my number directly. I’ll deal. She’s blown it off, focused on everything else. Let’s keep it that way. Her money was transferred, her life is moving on, and she doesn’t seem to miss one thing about what she left behind. That fucker comes into play to mess with her head, he’ll deal with me.”
This seems to appease Dozer. “No problem.”
There’s a comfortable silence for a few seconds before the back door opens and Cole races to the railing. “Dad! Help! Darby can’t get off the sofa. Ashlyn tried to help, but she’s now on the floor rolling around hysterically laughing. Maya said the baby turned.”
Pierce, Evin, and Edward are all on their feet, and there’s a screech from Darby in the background for Cole to stop overreacting. This is my chance for payback.
“You got this?” I ask Evin.
He glances back, catching onto my play and nods, stepping around.
Pierce takes off, and I casually jump up at the same time, slipping my foot out. He goes flying into the pool, his eyes locking with mine with a deathly blaze.
“Karma, motherfucker,” I mumble, heading to help my poor overloaded sister-in-law off the couch while my soon-to-be family howls their asses off.
•—•—•—•—•
“We need to talk, privately.” This comes from Dozer, who’s five feet below me as I mud the last of the drywall on the staircase.
“I’m done.”
“Meet me out back.”
I climb off the scaffold and check out front first. “You okay?” I question Andrew and Austin who are almost finished laying the new porch.
