Page 13 of The Plan

At thirteen, she was definitely a brat. But he loved her and Genesis and Giavonna anyway. Having sisters so much younger than he was had always been an adventure. And he adored them—all three of them. They’d almost lost Greer when she’d been nine. He would never forget the fear.

“Veronica, please, have a seat. The rest of you, dinner is ready,” his mother said, as Gene and Giavonna came in, bickering. “Would you like something to drink? We have soda, and water, and tea, and milk…”

“Some water would be fine,” Veronica said, quietly.

The rest of his brothers stood and headed for the table. “Once everyone is seated, George can introduce his guest.”

“Hi, Ronnie. What are you doing here?” Giavonna asked. “I thought you escaped Georgie months ago.”

“Your brother brought me. Against my will, I might add—so apparently no escape this time.”

“I’d be happy to rescue you.” Gene took one look at her, and appreciation filled his eyes. He was almost four years younger than George—and had that wild shagginess that far too many women found appealing.

Gene was a bit of a cad where women were concerned, George’s mother had said before.

George fought the urge to slug his brother just for looking at her that way. He bared his teeth at his brother, over Veronica’s head, and glared.

Gene just snorted, and raised his hands. “I… need to go wash my hands. I look forward to getting to know you better, Veronica.”

“Please, it’s Ronnie. Only George uses Veronica. It’s very irritating, actually.”

Well, Veronica was definitely still angry. She looked up at him, and that was clear.

Still, George had heralmostright where he wanted her.

11

It wasn’tfair that one family had gotten such good genetics. There wasn’t a single one of the men who wouldn’t make a woman’s heart go wild if they looked at her. The girls were even more gorgeous. Even Genesis, who had the kid-sister thing going, was a beautiful young woman.

Ronnie felt beyond frumpy right now. He hadn’t even let her brush her hair before he’d forced her inside. Of course, she hadn’t protested too much. But what else was she supposed to do—hide in his scorching hot truck while he ate dinner with his family?

That wasn’t going to happen.

She stayed right where she was, held captive next to George—literally, the man had her hand in his beneath the table. Even when she tried to pull away. He just shot her a look that told her if she didn’t behave herself, he’d say or do something in front of everyone.

She didn’t trust that man one bit.

Ronnie just ate her dinner and tried to keep up with the conversation around her. While plotting. No denying she was trying to think here.

His mom shothim a look as dinner was concluding. George followed her to the kitchen quickly.

“I wish you had given us warning you were bringing Veronica tonight,” she said quietly, loading him up with the pies she’d baked for dessert. “We have a bit of a family discussion planned.”

George hesitated. “I have something important to discuss with you, too. And… Veronica wasn’t exactly planned. But just stick with me. Everything will be clear in a bit. I promise. And if you want to talk about something private, she’s very circumspect. She won’t gossip.”

“It’s not that. I just don’t want to put her in an awkward position, by her having to see your brothers and sisters… when we tell them our news.”

That didn’t sound good at all. “Don’t worry about me and Veronica just yet. I’m here for you and Dad tonight, too.”

“That’s because you are a good boy, George. And you always have been. How long have you been in love with her?”

That was his mother—distract then pounce. George was just like her—his father said so all the time. George just smirked at her. “Who says I am?”

“I can see it in your eyes when you look at her. A mother knows, sweetheart. A mother knows.” And Gayle Hiller knew her children very, very well.

“Then the answer is… from the very beginning. Now I just have to convince her of that. Fast. I screwed up three months ago, and she left. Now is my chance to fix it. Before time runs out.”

“There is no rush, no time limit on love. Don’t push her into something she—or you—aren’t ready for.”

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