Page 95 of A Dream for Daphne

A partner, and he knew right away that was what he’d been waiting for his whole life.

He walked into the house, found the beers, poured them, and brought them out.

He’d never had the talk from a father, let alone a brother, before, and was about to get it now.

He handed the beer over and the two of them walked down by the water.

“I love your sister,” he said first.

Aster turned. “That took the wind out of my sails. Are you fucking kidding me? I’m not getting to have any fun today.”

“Sweet,” he said, grinning. “I hadn’t said it for that to happen. Just wanted you to know. But say what you’re going to anyway. You’ll feel better knowing you said it even though I’ll never do anything to hurt her.”

“Jesus,” Aster said. “You’re ruining this for me. I’ve been waiting years to give a guy dating my sister a hard time.”

The smirk on Aster’s face said he was joking and relaxing. That maybe he’d just been putting on a front. He hoped.

“You can still do it,” he said. “Or we can say you did and she can give you a hard time on principle for doing it because I know she’s going to be annoyed with you over it.” He turned to see Daphne watching the two of them and he lifted his hand by his chest and wiggled his fingers in a wave.

Daphne shook her head after she threw her hands in the air and laughed.

“She has your number,” Aster said.

“She does. I think we have a good thing. I don’t think she’s laughed enough in her life. I don’t mean to be an ass or a wuss. Just saying. But she seems to laugh a lot now. I tend to have that effect on people.”

“I’ve heard,” Aster said.

“That I don’t take things seriously?” he asked, frowning. “I can assure you I take the right things seriously.”

“I believe that,” Aster said. “Laurel has said nothing but wonderful things about you. Poppy too. Daphne just needs someone that will be there for her. In her corner. She doesn’t ask for much.”

“She asks for nothing,” he said. “It’s almost annoying.”

“Very much,” Aster said. “And here they come.”

“Don’t you trust your brother not to toss me in the water?” he asked when Daphne came up and put her arm around his waist.

“I can toss you in the water myself if I think you need it,” she said. “Remember that, Aster.”

“You’re not likely to let me forget,” Aster said.

“See why I love her,” Abe said.

Daphne’s mouth opened. “You told him that?”

He wasn’t going to be hurt. Instead he covered it up with a laugh. “Was it supposed to be a secret? You should have said something.”

“It’s not a secret,” she said. “I’m surprised you said it, but then I remembered how much you like to talk so I guess it’s not surprising either.”

“I’ve heard that too,” Aster said. “From Laurel.”

“Did she tell you what size I wear too?” he asked. “I didn’t realize she talked so much about me.”

“Nah,” Aster said. “She doesn’t say much. I think she wanted to make sure I knew you were a decent guy and Daphne was in good hands.”

“I’m in great hands,” she said. She picked his free hand up and threaded their fingers together. “And can we stop all the protective macho man bull crap?”

“Only if we don’t talk about dresses and the wedding,” Aster said. “I told Raine she can have whatever she wants as long as I don’t have to pick between color swatches or cake flavors.”

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