Page 24 of Quinn

“I’m concerned about having too many people here for dinner. Hannah says depending on how bad the PTSD is that the whole family could overwhelm him.”

From what he’d heard about Danny, and what Hannah had explained to him as well, he’d been worried about the same thing.

“Should I send out the all hands on deck, or leave things as they are with only those of us near the ranch?”

He shook his head. “I have never known your instincts to be anything but spot on. Let’s keep it simple. At least for tonight.”

“What about all that food?” His aunt looked truly torn.

“Woman, have you never seen your men eat?”

A burst of laughter had his aunt slapping her hand over her own mouth and looking over her shoulder to make sure she hadn’t been heard. “You’re right. What was I thinking?”

Having showered in record time, Quinn changed his clothes and headed back downstairs. The smell of Eloise’s cooking had only intensified. Hannah and her husband had arrived, along with Connor and Catherine, and Finn and Joanna. The women had settled at the kitchen counter and the men were in the living room.

Quinn had rarely given much thought to the social tendency of women to wind up in one room of a house and the men at another, but right now he really wanted to be in the kitchen with the women—or at least with Eloise.

The sound of tires on gravel had Eloise snapping her head up and practically bouncing with excitement. Quinn followed her to the front door, hanging back as she flew down the porch steps toward the parked SUV.

A tall man unfolded from the back seat. Despite the physical resemblance to his sister, Danny’s bearing spoke of military training. But the smile that broke across his face at the sight of his sister was pure joy.

“El!” He caught her in a bear hug that lifted her off her feet.

Quinn watched as Eloise’s already sunny nature somehow brightened even more. The siblings’ obvious bond made his chest tight. Suddenly, he was filled with the need to do all he could to help Danny adjust, and thrive. He would want to do that for any veteran, but right now, he especially wanted it for Eloise. To always see that glimmer of sheer joy in her eyes.

Danny set his sister down, taking in the ranch house. “So this is Texas?”

“This is just the beginning.” Eloise looped her arm through his. “Wait till you see what I’ve been cooking for you.”

“Thank heaven, I’m starved. The snacks on the airplane leave much to be desired.” Danny’s shoulders visibly relaxed as Eloise led him toward the house. His gaze swept the open landscape, lingering on the distant slopes. “We are definitely not in Chicago anymore.”

Aunt Eileen appeared beside Quinn, linking her hand in the crook of his arm. “There you have two very happy siblings.”

“Yeah.” He couldn’t take his eyes off Eloise. “Having her brother here means everything to her.”

The siblings reached the porch, Eloise making introductions. Danny’s handshake was firm but not challenging, his manner reserved but polite. Gray padded over to investigate, and Quinn noticed how Danny’s attention immediately focused on the dog. Gray slowly sniffed their guest the way he had done with Eloise at their first encounter. Only this time, instead of plastering himself against the visiting human the way Gray had done with Eloise, the dog lay down on the ground and submissively rolled over, belly and paws up.

A mirrored image of shock appeared on every family member’s face.

“Hey there, boy.” Danny crouched, gently rubbing the proffered belly. The dog’s tail swished merrily.

“Well, that’s new.” Staring, Aunt Eileen fisted her hands on her hips.

Uncle Sean came up behind his wife, hands on her shoulders. “Has he ever done that before?”

Multiple family members on the porch shook their heads from side to side as if choreographed.

“That’s Gray,” Quinn said softly.

“Nice to meet you, Gray.” Danny gave the dog one last belly rub and pushed to his feet.

To everyone’s surprise, rather than follow them inside, the dog bounded around to the back of the house.

“Well, that was interesting,” Uncle Sean muttered.

With a brief nod of her head, Aunt Eileen took hold of her husband’s hand. “Might as well all go inside. Eloise has been cooking up a storm, and we’re all anxious to get to know you better.”

“Over food,” Connor added.

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