Page 164 of Major Love

He stretches out his big hands in his lap. “My trigger finger’s working just fine.”

I smirk at the blacktop ahead. “I bet it is,” I rumble.

“You. Me. A couple of guns.”

“And real good timing now that I’m dating your sister,” I say drily. “You want to show me just how accurate your shot is?”

“Just thought it might be worth reminding you.”

I chuckle and shake my head, and his cheekbone tics in amusement. We’re both only teasing, but I know he’s always been super protective about Sunday. Not growing up with a dad, and then losing Cash the way that they did, Case always tried to take on that mantle even though Sunday never would have asked that of him.

“I’m real good to her,” I tell him, my voice deep and rasping. Neither one of us wants to have this conversation but we might as well get it out of the way before he starts seeing me wrapping my arms around her. “I’m always going to be good to her. She’s always been the one for me.”

Case is quiet for a moment before taking another sip of his coffee.

“Remember that right-hook I gave you when she bunked school with you that time?”

I breathe out a chuckle. “Yeah.”

He nods to himself. “Well, I can still do that.”

I almost smile at that. “I don’t doubt it, brother.”

He claps a palm on my shoulder and I return the gesture to his gut, our non-verbal way of saying that everything’s good and there’s no animosity.

“Whose place are we heading to?” he asks, finishing the coffee and then dropping the drinks tray in the back.

Case doesn’t know that Sunday knows about him purchasing the bar, so he doesn’t suspect that it’ll be done up for his homecoming when we reach the town square.

I slide a look in his direction and rumble inconspicuously, “You’ll see.”

His ears pique at that, his body instantly on high alert. “Jace,” he says gruffly.

I up the speed. “We’re almost there.”

And in under ten minutes we’re pulling up at the town square, Casey’s brow furrowing deep with confusion as he scans the area, no homes in sight.

And then he sees the bar.

His eyes flash to mine.

“Sunday knows?” he asks immediately, but the nature of his job allows him to remain composed, having expected nothingbut unpredictability and danger for the entire time that he was away.

“Not exactly,” I reply slowly. “And she only knows that you bought it because she found the paperwork at your place.”

“But she doesn’t know why,” he finishes for me, and I nod, my gaze fixed on the bar’s open door.

Even from here, it looks fucking beautiful – the outside polished and painted, with two new windows set on either side of the doors. It isn’t open for business yet but, after Case and Sunday have their impending conversation, I’m pretty sure it will be soon.

“Everyone’s in there?” he asks quietly, tugging off his seatbelt as I put the car in park, and I give him a nod as he glances over to me, knowing exactly what he’s feeling. The simultaneous combination of relief and pressure, gratitude and discomfort coursing like adrenaline through your muscles.

“It’s low-key,” I tell him, knowing that there’ll already be country music playing softly through the speakers, only his closest family members and friends resting against the booths and looking forward to seeing him. His mom, Sunday, Haven, Tucker…

He breathes deeply for a couple of long quiet beats and then clicks open the door handle, hunching down to step out from my truck.

I do the same and round the hood, leaning against the panel as I wait for him to straighten his uniform.

“Miss it?” he asks quietly, when he sees me taking in the fatigues.

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