Page 18 of Give Me Love

“You know Emily’s got dinner cooking.” Pops walks over to a rocking chair and takes a seat by his dogs.

“What brings you?”

I give my brother a wink as Pops reaches over for that fine cigar. Jace smirks and rolls his eyes.

A moment passes as Pops lights the cigar and rocks back as he rubs his full silver beard.

“Thought we’d come for a family visit,” Jace says, taking a seat on the porch and leaning his back against a pillar.

Pops looks from my kid brother to me. I take a seat beside the man.

“Wanted to check on Hot Sauce. See how he was recovering from the strangles.”

Pops nods. “He’s doing fine. Emily takes good care of these horses.”

I rock back. “I have no doubt in the veterinarian who holds this family together.”

Pops chuckles. “She’d say she was the man of the house.”

“She’d be right,” Jace says, taking a hit of his smoke.

We all look to the screen door as it opens.

“Speak of the devil,” Pops says.

The woman of the hour walks out in a blue jean shirt with her sleeves rucked. The buttons are open, revealing a white tank top that stands out against her tan skin, and I’d be shocked if I saw her in anything but a pair of worn blue jeans and Durango boots.

She’s one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen, and we all adore the hell out of her.

“You better get your asses up and hug me,” she says with her hands on her hips.

I stand and walk over to her with a smile reserved just for the woman who’s always been there besides our Aunt Lou. She wraps her strong but tiny arms around me before I let her go and Jace grabs her up, spins her around, and gives her a big kiss right on the lips.

She slaps his shoulder. “Boy, you better stop doing that. You’re gonna make my heart stop.”

He smiles that big Jace smile—perfect teeth, all playboy.

Wise lines crease the side of her whiskey brown eyes as she smiles back. “Well, come on. Let’s go check out your horse. I know that’s what you’re here for.”

“How’d you know I didn’t come just to see you?” I ask.

She turns around from the porch step. “Boy, you don’t come see women. They come see you.”

“But you aren’t a normal woman,” I reply, following her to the barn and leaving my brother and Pops behind.

She entwines her arm with mine. “And you better not forget it.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Missed you, lady.”

“I know. It’s been a while since you’ve visited.”

“You know I’m busy in the city.”

“Yeah, but busy doing what?” she asks.

I look ahead, glad she can’t see my face. I was never good at lying to this one, and even though she doesn’t look up, I can sense she feels my body stiffen.

She pats my arm. “Just be careful,” she says as we walk into the barn.

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