Page 62 of Nashville Lights

“We were at Travis’s country house. It’s not all that far. The girls are busy with their sister and her baby visiting and they’re having some kind of ladies lunch. So we had nothing better to do.”

“I highly doubt that. Write another album, how about that, while meanwhile minding your own business.”

“Your business is our business, Rox, you know that. You going to let us in or what?” Vaughn’s impish smirk is one I’m very familiar with.

“Depends on what you’re going to do once you get in here.”

Nate appears at my side. I’m almost shocked when he slings a burly arm over my shoulder, protectively. And possessively. It’s an intimate move. And it confirms beyond a shadow of a doubt what my brothers are here to find out. Then again, I’m also wearing Nate’s shirt, which is huge on me, and no pants. “Hey, boys. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Hey, Nate. Yeah, fancy that.” Travis and Vaughn both grin at Nate. Ithinkthey’re friendly smiles, but there’s clearly a very protective curiosity behind them.

Kade was always the one I was most worried about, as far as reacting to this news, but both Travis and Vaughn area lot more hot-headed than Kade. And Vaughn’s especially unpredictable.

“Can we help you boys with something?” The deep husk behind Nate’s question gives me light goosebumps as it stirs a memoryof what it sounds like in the dark—possibly not an ideal time to be thinking about that, but Ilovethe sound of his voice. And the low menace behind his words makes no mistake about it: my brothers can accept that this is happening or they can take it outside.

I always think of my brothers as big men, and they are, but Nate is even taller and more built. And it’s a new dynamic. He’s tellingthemhow it is.

Instead ofthemtellingmehow it is.

Not that I’ve ever really felt controlled by my brothers, but it’s true that they dominate my life. And it’s freeing: I’m making my own rules now. And Nate’s here to make sure I can.

“Just checking in on our little sister to make sure she hasn’t fallen innocently under the spell of the Heartbreak King of Sugar Falls.” Travis’s smile is layered.

“Travis, for God’s sake. I’m twenty-three.”Not fifteen.

Nate gives Travis a level glare. “I thought that was your title, Travis.”

Vaughn glances at Travis. Then at Nate. “I thought it wasmytitle.”

Nate shakes his head. “Whoever’s title it was, it was six or seven years ago now. I like to think we’ve all grown up since then.”

“Just making sure your intentions are pure, Boone.”

Nate’s eyes barely narrow. He doesn’t owe them an explanation. But he gives them one anyway. “My intentions are to make all her dreams come true.” There’s so much sincerity in his answer, it catches both of my brothers off guard. “And there’s not a damn thing either one of you can do to stop me from doing it.”

Travis notices the way I’m holding Nate’s arm—and wearing his shirt. “He’s already made good on most of my dreams,” I tell them. “And it’s only been the weekend.”

Vaughn’s grin widens.

“Either way, I’m amazed that you two think you have any say in it whatsoever.”

“Chill, Rox.” Vaughn takes a swig from his flask. “It was a good excuse to come see the Boones again. Hell, colorful past or no colorful past, we all know Nate’s done well for himself and everyone else. It’s all just a lot to take in.”

Nate laughs. “Shit, boys, it might be time to start relying a little less on your sister and maybe look after yourselves for an entire weekend. And there’s nothing more colorful about my past than there is about yours, Vaughn. Now, are you two here to fight me or do you want to come in?”

“We wanted to make sure our sister was okay,” Travis says. “We wouldn’t be doing our duty as brothers if we didn’t.”

“Fair enough. But I can assure you, Roxie’s just fine.”

“More than fine,” I confirm, just to rile them—even though I have to admit, meddling busybodies or not, theirgenuine concern for me is sweet. We’ve all been looking out for each other for a long time, because no one else was going to, and it’s a habit that’s dug in.

Travis shakes Nate’s hand. “It’s good to see you, man. It’s been too long.”

“It has.”

Then Vaughn. “I guess it’s welcome to the family then, Nathan Waylon. Again.”

A soft little voice enters the conversation. Daisy’s tugging on Nate’s shirt. “Uncle Nate? Who arethey?”

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