Page 82 of For the Win

“Okay,” she says breathlessly, long moments later.“We should go.”

I smile down into her eyes, giving her one last reassuring look.

Then I pat her ass when she moves to the door in front of me.

She flashes a mock reproving look over her shoulder.“Hey.”

“Couldn’t resist.You have such a sweet little ass.”

She pauses to lock the door, looking up at me from beneath her eyelashes.“Well, okay, then.”

I laugh and sling my arm around her shoulders to walk out to the street.

I’m trying to reassure her that this will all go well, but truthfully, I’m not a hundred percent sure of that.When my family gets together, things tend to go screwy.Today’s party will be smaller, though, so I hope that means uneventful.

It’s not far to Mom and Dad’s place.Apparently, we’re the last to arrive.I let us in the front door, but I hear voices out back, so we make our way through the great room and kitchen, and out onto the patio.

“This is the house you grew up in?”Arya asks with a whisper.

“Yeah.”

“It’s lovely.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty nice, I guess.”

Mom must have heard us coming, as she’s just about to enter the house as we step out.“You’re here!”She hugs me, but her attention immediately goes to Arya.“Hi!You must be Arya.”

“Yes.”Arya smiles and extends a hand.“So nice to meet you.”

“Yes, yes, likewise!”Mom studies her, smiling.

Arya hands over the bottle of wine she brought.“For you.”

“Oh, thank you!”Mom beams at her.

I wave at Everly and Wyatt.“You two already know her.Arya, this is Noah, my youngest brother.”

Noah politely stands from the lounger he’s stretched out on to shake her hand.“Hi.I’ve been hearing so much about you.”

Arya bites her lip.“Uh-oh.”

He grins.

“And this is Asher, who’s going to vouch for me for yesterday.”

Asher stands too, grinning hugely.He holds out a hand to Arya.“I gather we almost met yesterday.”

Arya’s cheeks go cherry red.“Almost!”

“What’s going on?”Mom asks.

“Tell you in a minute.Happy birthday, Dad.”I clap my hand on his shoulder and squeeze.“Arya, this is my dad, Bob Wynn.Dad, Arya.”

Dad also stands, eyeing Arya.“Another blonde?”

I close my eyes, heat washing through me.“Yes, Dad, she’s blond.”

Arya shoots me a playful glance as she shakes Dad’s hand.“Harrison likes blondes?”

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