Page 4 of Country Contract

“Then I will make you risotto.” She hands me the dish and kisses my cheek.

“Ti amo,” I say.

“Ti amo.” She leads me out of the kitchen, and I march out of the house without saying goodbye to anyone else. I am talked out for the day.

Chapter 2

Harrison

“Eeeeeee!” High-pitched squeals bounce off the walls and echo through the house, followed by my stomping feet.

“Fe Fi Fo Fum!” I chant as I walk with a wide stance.

A small, blonde head bounds ahead of me, arms spread out wide as she takes off down the hall. I make a quick sound with my feet as though I am walking faster but keep my pace.

Blake turns and looks at me, almost falling over. Before she can hit the ground, Hunter scoops her up.

“Stop tormenting my daughter, Harrison.” He hitches her up on one arm.

“We’re playing,” I pout. Blake looks at my face, tries to mimic it, and looks at her dad. I see him instantly soften.

“Well, be careful. The last thing we need is her first set of stitches.” He blows a raspberry on her cheek, and sweet giggles fill the air.

“Dinner!” Cassidy calls from the kitchen. I look over to Hunter, the worry likely showing on my face.

He takes his free hand and uses his fingers to draw a smile over his lips before he smiles himself. My sister-in-law does many amazing things. She has a strong, smart, and stubborn head. She’s a wiz with numbers, a helluva rider, and a damn fine mom. But, and I say this with love: the woman can’t cook. I pray for one of the dozen decent meals she has mastered in the last few years.

For me, cooking is not that hard; you follow the recipe, plain as that. Cassidy never likes to be told what to do and always tries to add a little spice.

We walk into the kitchen where I smell something cheesy.

Please be her mac and cheese and fried chicken.

“What’s on the menu?” I inquire, lifting a brow.

“Chicken and cheese bake!” she says in a singsong voice, rubbing her hands together.

“I know you guys like my chicken and mac and cheese, so I tried to make up my own special recipe!” She beams with honest excitement.

Hunter and I stand a little straighter, knowing this experiment could possibly tear up our guts. Even if it does, we will only offer gentle criticism.

When Cassidy was pregnant with Blake, our ma came during her last trimester. She knew that extra hands would be helpful, especially retired ones. Cassidy has practically no experience with mothers, and ours took her in and loved her something fierce.

All that love and care had Cassidy wanting to be an amazing mother to her own little spawn, as they call her. She’s patient, sweet when she can be, stern when she needs to be, silly and fun. She reads to Blake daily and encourages her to try new things, even at age one. She doesn’t hoverover her daughter’s every move, but she definitely keeps a watchful eye on her.

“Smells great, darlin’.” Hunter walks over and plants a quick kiss on her lips before looking at the casserole dish sitting on the stovetop. “Is the middle of that thing cooked all the way?” He tilts his head. Cassidy quickly takes a fork out of the drawer and pokes around the middle.

“Fucking hell,” she states, putting her hands on her hips.

Blake giggles at her mother, and I can’t help but chuckle at her, too. I love seeing my brother’s family. They’re everything I could have ever hoped for him. They have a love that’s similar to my parents’ but also so different. Cassidy is all piss and vinegar, and Hunter used to be before he got whipped. Now he’s only piss and vinegar with me.

Cassidy tosses on her oven mitts and pops the dish back in the oven. She looks up at Hunter, and he rubs her back affectionately.

“How long do you think?” she asks him genuinely.

“Let’s give it twenty.” He kisses the top of her head.

“Beers!” she chants, making her way to the fridge.

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