Page 97 of Love Is Brewing

But there was this fear that he didn’t feel the same.

And if she said it and he didn’t, would it ruin what they had going?

She liked what they had.

What they joked could have started casual but now turned into so much more.

She’d said she didn’t know how long she planned on staying in the area, but after three months she had to admit she was happier than she imagined.

Could it be because of Elias?

“Your family,” she said. “Tell me about them.”

He turned to look at her, just stared for a second, and then said, “My Uncle Austin, who is my mother’s brother, and his wife, Carolina, have nine kids. Phoenix is the oldest and is engaged to Crystal. They had a baby the day after Christmas. I don’t think they are coming. The baby has been sick and is better now, but it’s best not to travel and they don’t have anyone to stay with Camden. Crystal’s family doesn’t live in the area.”

“Got it,” she said. “I’m not sure I’d do that either.”

“After Phoenix are twins, Paris and London. They won’t be on the flight. They are flying in from somewhere else. Dallas, Bronx, and Siena are triplets and Siena is flying with us, but not Dallas and Bronx. Rome, Memphis, and Raleigh will be with us too.”

“Your mother had to have given you a list, didn’t she?” she asked, smirking.

“She told me,” he said. “I’m surprised I’m remembering it. I don’t always.”

“Just like me,” she said. “Too many facts at once.”

“My Uncle Logan was my father’s younger brother. He and my Aunt Amber are flying with us. They are driving from a few hours away. But none of their kids are on the private jet. Sullivan, Adeline, Eliza, and Gideon are all coming from somewhere else. Not sure where. I can’t keep track.”

“Sounds like you did a good job. Everyone is single?” she asked.

“All but Phoenix that I’m aware of. Or if they are dating someone, I’m not positive they would have been invited to this. Jamie is high profile. Laken could be considered so as West’s sister, but it’s more about Jamie. This is a big wedding, but many would be vetted.”

“You can’t tell me that some of Jamie’s player friends might not be bringing a date,” she said, laughing.

“Wives or serious girlfriends vetted only,” he said. “There are rules that are followed in that circle for several reasons.”

“And it extends to family? Was I vetted?” she asked. Why the hell had that not occurred to her? “We’ve only been dating two months.”

“Immediate family is different,” he said. “And trust me when I tell you few are let in to begin with.”

“Huh?” she asked.

Why was she just hearing these things now?

Talk about making someone nervous!

She’d never been nervous in groups or crowds of people. Not even wealthy people.

If she thought moving to Southern Pines made her feel out of place, she realized she might have seen nothing yet!

“Sorry,” he said. “It’s not like we all haven’t dated, but I didn’t make a habit of introducing women to my mother.”

“She dropped in on us,” she said quietly. “So if she hadn’t, you wouldn’t have done it?”

He reached his hand over. “Hey, relax. I didn’t mean anything by it. I would have. Think back to everything that happened. Five of my siblings knew. I can’t tell my siblings and not my mother. If I didn’t want my mother to find out, I would have been careful of who else knew. West is the one who is the most cautious of us all. He’s the one who brought it up to bring you.”

“He told you to bring me?” she said. “Not that you asked if you could?”

“You’re getting worked up,” he said. “Why?”

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