Page 74 of Whiskey Proposal
“She’ll fit right in here,” Myles says. “We’re a crowd of volatile kids.”
Wynter smirks. “Elsa and Devon, not so much. But when a storm would hit when I was a kid—watch out.”
She shares a special smile with Myles that leaves a green stain on my heart. I know the story of how he could calm her by reading to her. The teen who’d almost aged out of the system and the little girl who had just lost her parents. It’s the first special connection between them.
I have a tattoo of a pickup, but I want more. I want everything.
Emerson nibbles at her s’more but ends up with a smear of white on her cheek. She dabs at it and brushes the back of her wrist against her skin to get it off. If I didn’t think she’d pack up and leave, I’d lick it off.
“The moon’s out tonight,” Myles said. “You should show her the valley from the overlook. You can take the side-by-side.”
“Thought I’d grab a couple of the horses,” I joke.
Emerson pauses mid-licking of her fingers. “It’s been a good twenty years since I’ve been on horseback.”
Myles cocks a brow. “Lane could change that if you want.”
“I could,” I agree. “But we’ve been busy getting the hens settled in.”
Emerson smothers a giggle. “And Phillip.”
“He’s a loud one.”
She shoots me a knowing look. I would’ve said he’s a loud cock, but Myles would find a way to pay me back when his kids aren’t witnesses. The hear it, don’t repeat it only applies to uncles when the parents aren’t around.
“Wanna go?” I ask Emerson.
Wynter slides off Myles. “Time to hit the hay, kids. Devon, remember to dig out your sleeping bag for Uncle Lane.”
Emerson glances at me and frowns.
“Lane said you might not want to share a room, and we only have one spare room,” Wynter says apologetically. “Lane doesn’t like sleeping on the couch.”
“There was enough of that back in the day.” For various reasons I don’t care to remember. “You get the bed.”
“No, I . . .” She bites her lip, her gaze scanning everyone watching us. “It’s fine. We’re adults. We can share a bed.”
Elsa does a little wiggle and grins, oblivious to the warning stares from her parents and me. Devon’s got an earbud in and isn’t paying attention.
“I promise I don’t steal blankets,” I tell Emerson. Will she be more comfortable if she thinks the others don’t know we slept together just last night?
“I’m a fighter, so be prepared if you take one more inch than is yours.” Emerson picks up the last of her s’more.
A smile spreads across my face. “Is that so? What if I get lost on the way back from the viewpoint?”
“I fight bears too.”
Laughing, I eat my sweet treat.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Emerson
The side-by-side’s engine drones loudly in the trees, and it’s a relief when Lane kills the motor. A wide-open sky sweeps above us, visible behind me until the mountains block the way. The dark blanket of the valley spreads out before us.
“It’s gorgeous.” I rub my arms. The day was warm, but with no sunlight, I’m not prepared for the chill.
He reclines against the back of the Ranger and draws me to him, my back to his chest. When he hooks his arms around me, I’m secured to him, and the contentment that fills me is boundless.
