Page 30 of Long Road Home

“And now Toby,” I agreed. “Which is why she’s anxious to see him.”

She set down her glass of wine and finally uncurled, stretching her long, slim legs before sliding forward on the couch. With her shorts so damn short they went on forever. I looked away from the appealing vision.

“Of course she can get to know Toby. I want that for him. I want him to have it all, I swear to you. And I’m very sorry for both of you, losing so much, so quickly. But can I ask, if we wait a week before he heads out there? I’d like for him to spend more time with you first, getting to know you. Your sister can be, well…a lot.”

I chuckled. Rebecca had a personality larger than the ranch for sure. At least she always had until Joseph died, but then Cooper showed up and started bringing out those parts of her again. I owed him my life forever for bringing my sister back to me.

“Between her and Kelly and Brooke not much has changed there.”

“So it’s loud over there.”

“Pretty much all the time.”

She laughed softly and shook her head. Kelly had always done the best at trying to include her. My sister and Brooke were two years older than us. Kelly had been in our grade and maybe that made it easier for her. Still, she wasn’t thrilled she was back and all of them wanted a piece of Toby.

“I can probably hold her off until next weekend, but I’m warning you now if I give her that much time to plan for it, she’s going to throw one hell of a party. And I want you there.”

Why? Jesus. That was stupid. It was throwing her into the flames of my sister’s wrath with her son present. Maybe that would help.

It still didn’t explain my undying need to throw her back into this life and this town and with everyone I knew and loved. But fuck it, I needed that. I wanted that support for Toby. I wanted him to see my friends and see how good of a man I was.

I wantedhimto fall in love with the town so he wouldn’t leave.

This. With Destiny in that small living room, a drink in hand and softly spoken conversations and our son sleeping in his room safe and sound, it was all I’d ever wanted, with the woman I’d always wanted.

And fucking hell. I was going to prove it was still the best damn thing either of us ever did.

The trick would be in convincing her.

A soft rappingon the door pulled me from sleep. The sun was already shining, telling me it was morning, but not too early. But who in the hell would show up at Tillie’s this early?

Probably Rebecca finished with her morning chores and unable to keep her tits in check while she waited to meet her nephew.

The knocking turned louder, and I shoved my feet to the floor, tugging on my jeans. My head hurt from lack of sleep and possibly too many emotions yesterday. I typically did a good job of keeping my emotions in check, those bitches were a pain in the ass, but throw Destiny into the mix and it all swirled around.

Whatever.

A knock hit the door again. This time louder and I hurried to the front door, still zipping my jeans.

I yanked the door open, expecting to get shoved to the side by Rebecca.

Instead, a man was there, his hand still raised. Black-framed glasses grabbed my attention first, then the tanned, olive skin and blond hair. Followed by the short-sleeve polo shirt. This guy looked like he loved his cardio and golfing—exactly the same type as some of the douchebags I met on the course.

He gawked at me.

“Can I help you?” I asked, forgetting about my jeans still undone.

“Where’s Janey?”

Shit. He had to be Paul. And I was standing in the doorway to her house, looking like I’d rolled out of bed with her.

Yeah…I wasn’t really pissed about that.

“She know you’re coming? She didn’t say anything.” So maybe sometimes I liked being a dick.

“And you are?”

He threw open the storm door and stepped forward.

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