Anya and I share a glance of shock.

“What?” my mom asks, swatting at us each with a towel. “It’s essential get your lady a drink earlier than one in all your brothers steals her away. She’s a catch.”

I look on the bottle of lemonade in my hand and nod at my mom. “They’d by no means steal her away.”

“You positive about that?” my mom asks and my coronary heart plummets.

I rush again into the lounge, and Brock and Tripp have proven up whereas I used to be within the kitchen.

Tripp’s obtained his arms round Hartford, wrapping her into a decent hug as they change hellos. My insides boil over with anger. I’ve seen Tripp hug Hartford 1,000,000 instances through the years and I’ve by no means been jealous earlier than. Perhaps mildly jealous, however nothing like what I’m feeling proper now.

Hartford’s stunning in a light-brown gown with shiny yellow flowers throughout it. It’s brief, and she or he’s paired it with a pair of brown cowboy boots. Her auburn hair is down and curlier than regular, and her make-up makes her eyes actually pop.

She’s breathtaking, and now I’m watching my brothers fawn throughout her. Even my father has his consideration targeted on Hartford.

“I heard about your own home, sweetheart. Let me know in case you want something,” my father says after Tripp has completed hugging her. Which took method too lengthy in case you ask me.

“Thanks, Don. I respect that. I’m good although. I’m staying with Paxton whereas the repairs occur and between the insurance coverage and my aunt, there’s no cash out of my pocket, fortunately,” Hartford says.

My dad nods. “An important factor is that you simply weren’t damage. Every little thing else is replaceable.” He appears at me and again at her. “You’re irreplaceable.”

That’s the rattling fact.

“You’re candy, Don,” she says.

“Dad, give up hogging Hartford. I haven’t gotten my arms round her but,” Brock says, hugging her as he lifts her.

“Asshole,” I mumble.

“What’s unsuitable with you?” Shepherd asks.

I pull my eyes away from the apparent show to piss me off—which labored—and take a look at Shep. “Nothing.”

“Proper,” he says with amusement on his face.

“Hey, Hartford. Sorry about your own home. Hope my little brother is making you’re feeling welcome,” Callum says.

“He’s,” she says, attempting to cover her smile. Which makes me puff out my chest with delight.

I am going over and wrap my arm round her, squeezing her aspect. “She’s properly taken care of. Don’t fear.”

“Oh, she is, huh?” Brock asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Sufficient, Brock,” my dad says, shaking his head.

I grin as I lead Hartford again to the love seat. Shepherd and Callum are nonetheless seated on the sofa, and Tripp plops down on the sofa subsequent to them. Brock heads into the kitchen to say hi there to our mom, and I need to wrap my arms round Hartford and have her snuggle down beside me as we watch the sport on TV.

That may be too apparent, and I don’t need to give my brothers any ammunition.

Brock heads again into the lounge, leaning in opposition to the body of the entryway from the kitchen to the dwelling space.

“You’ll be able to have my spot,” Hartford says, getting up, and I attempt to attain out as a result of I don’t need her to go. “The place are you going?” I ask her, hoping she’s not attempting to make the nice escape. I do know my household will be overbearing at instances, however Hartford’s been at my home extra instances than I may even rely. She’s additionally been a visitor of many Sunday dinners through the years, so this shouldn’t be an excessive amount of for her.

“I’m going to hang around with the women within the kitchen,” she says, strolling away from me.

Brock throws his physique into the spot Hartford simply vacated, and knocks me within the shoulder. “What’s unsuitable with you?”

“What?” I ask.

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