Page 21 of The Boyfriend Gamble

Pretty damn rustic.

“They thinking of holding the ceremony here?” August looked around. “The tree canopy would be decent if you have it in late afternoon.”

“Yeah, but the bugs.” Julian shivered.

Both had valid points. “I’d thought maybe inside.”

“The house doesn’t have AC, right?”

“We’re installing it.”

August clapped me on the back. “You’re a good brother.”

“Yeah. The house has good ventilation, so they’ll only need to run it on super-hot days. We’re also installing solar panels on the roof and geothermal heating.”

Julian whistled. “I’m not even going to ask what that all costs.”

I was grateful he didn’t.

Felix thought I was doing this at cost.

I wasn’t. I was footing a decent part of the bill myself. I wanted my sister and her new husband to have the very best. They were making this a forever home. I intended to make it the best house possible.

“Hey, Jacob.” Darah waved out one of the guest bedroom windows.

A bedroom that would be perfect for a child.

My niece or nephew.

I waved back. “On my way.”

With a quick nod to August and Julian, I headed inside.

Chapter Three

Felix

Havingapoliceofficerattend our demolition party ensured all the people planning to drive stayed sober and those for whom that didn’t apply didn’t overindulge.

For which I’d be forever grateful.

Josette cozied up next to me in a matching lounge chair as we sat around the firepit. We’d had an unusually wet spring, so fire bans hadn’t come into play yet. But they would. They always did. And the world would be set ablaze again. Well, at least my province would.

As Josie took my hand, I tried to meet her smile. “Today we accomplished a lot.”

Her blue eyes sparkled. “That we did. Jacob says if they push hard, the renovations will be done in a few weeks.”

He’d said the same thing to me while shifting from foot to foot. Either his toe had been itchy or he had some doubts.

“I have one more week of school, and then I’m off for the summer.” I glanced up at the starry sky—the stars I could never see from our house in downtown Mission City. “I don’t know how much help I can be, but I’ll be here every day.”

“You and Jacob can have some bonding time.”

I nearly choked on the mouthful of sparkling mineral water I’d just drunk. I cleared my throat. “What makes you think Jacob and I needbonding time? We’ve known each other our entire lives.”

“Yes, but not as future in-laws. Not as the two most important men in my life.”

She had a point.

---