Page 63 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Peachy, but we’re not talking about me,” Uncle Asher said.

“Actually, we’ve come to a decision about that,” Birdie said. “We’ve decided we don’t want all the trimmings, just the ceremony at our house.” She smiled up at her man, and he leaned down to kiss her.

That was love, Ryder thought, and he couldn’t be happier for his bear of a brother. Compromise, understanding, and just being there with each other. These two opposites had found that together.

“So let’s do that, then,” Robyn said.

“It’s winter,” Brody said.

“Your chill blains playing up again, bud?” JD heckled him.

“Let’s do it!” Birdie said. “On the deck at our house soon.”

Ryder smiled at her enthusiasm.

“Okay,” Sawyer said. “Let’s do it, but it’s going to be simple and just our people there.”

“One of the other couples who want to marry in summer can use all that prep work you’ve done,” Robyn Duke added, looking pleased with herself.

“We’ll do it next,” JD said, beating Brody to it.

“You think maybe you should ask me first?” Zoe said, but she was looking happy.

“To marry you?” JD asked. “Sure.” He nudged Phoebe out.

“What are you doing?” Zoe sounded a bit panicky now as JD dropped to one knee.

“This is so you, Hopper,” Sawyer said. “Always the grand gestures.”

“Zoe Duke, will you marry me?” JD said, holding his fingers in a square.

“Shouldn’t that be a heart?” Libby whispered.

“Lyntacks do squares,” Ally whispered back.

“Right, because of the fixation with square dancing. I remember now.”

“It just gets better, doesn’t it?” Ryder drawled.

“It’s something, that’s for sure,” Libby said with her eyes on Zoe as she started to cry.

“Well?” Robyn Duke demanded of her daughter.

“He’s al-already asked me, and I said yes,” Zoe said, climbing over Phoebe to get out. “But yes again!” She then threw her arms around JD’s neck.

“Are we absolutely sure we want that man in our family?” Brody asked. “For one, his fashion sense is odd at best.”

“I know what you mean,” Dan added. “Those Elle and Riley cashmere sweaters are really something.”

“So what date?” Robyn Duke demanded of the couple still hugging on their knees.

“I love being part of this family,” Ally squealed. “You’re next, Dad and Phoebe!”

Ryder’s cell phone rang, and he pulled it out.

“I thought we had a rule. No phones at the table,” Sawyer said, looking smug.

“Yeah, yeah, I forgot to turn it off,” Ryder said. “Hello.” He got out of his seat and walked a few feet away, listening to whomever was on the other line. “You have got to be kidding me!”

---