Page 64 of Hello Quarterback

Joanne said, “Ford, what do you have planned for the weekend in Cottonwood Falls?”

I took a sip of coffee and answered, “I’d love to show Mia around the ranch where I grew up. We have horses and cattle. A few pigs. And then all my family lives there. I’d like for her to meet them.”

Mia dropped a package of cookies on the floor. “Sorry... clumsy,” she muttered.

“That sounds lovely,” Joanne replied. “Does all your family work on the ranch?”

I shook my head. “It’s really just enough for my dad to manage, but they help him out when they can.” I told them about Fletcher’s and Hayes’s businesses, Knox’s job as an officer, and how well Bryce had been doing in college.

Her dad said, “Your parents must be proud.”

I nodded. I hoped my mom would be proud of me, but I knew my dad sure was. “You must be proud of Mia here,” I countered as Mia set the cookies on the counter, a few to a plate for each of us. She kept the broken ones for herself.

“Of course we are,” her dad said, giving her a warm smile. “But we always knew she’d do big things. I knew it when she was thirteen months old and handed me her diaper then laid down on the pad, like ‘I’m waiting.’”

Mia covered her face, but I could still see the tips of her ears reddening.

Joanne chuckled as she dunked a cookie in her cream-colored coffee. “Mia, I’m sure between a dad and four brothers, there will be plenty of stories about Ford too.”

My stomach dropped. I hadn’t thought of that.Why hadn’t I thought of that?

Like he sensed my inner turmoil, Hugh patted my shoulder. “Good luck.”

Mia shook her head at us.

Her mom gave us a thoughtful look, like she was comparing Mia and me as a couple. “Are your parents supportive of the age difference?”

Mia and I glanced at each other, and I could feel her nerves as she waited for my answer. “My family’s very much a ‘live and let live’ kind of bunch. They’re happy for me if I’m happy...” I reached across the counter for Mia’s hand and squeezed it. “And I am... happy.”

She smiled at me. “I am too,” she almost whispered.

For the next fifteen minutes or so, we held hands as we all sat at the Carrera marble island, chatting and getting to know each other. But then Joanne and Hugh excused themselves, saying they better let us get on the road. Mia and I went with them down the elevator, her bags in tow.

When we reached the ground floor, she hugged them both, long and hard. And then they surprised me by hugging me too.

“Drive safe with my girl,” her mom said.

“I will,” I promised.

They got into their silver sedan, and Mia and I both waved as they backed out of the parking garage and drove away. When they were gone, Mia immediately said, “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to spring that on you. I know meeting the parents is a big deal and?—”

“Whoa,” I said, running my hands down her arms. She looked adorable in green, her hair pulled into a knot at the nape of her neck. “You’re meeting my dad, my whole family. I think it’s more than fair.”

She tilted her head. “Is it though? They even asked about our age difference. And the diaper story...” She winced.

“And I like your parents. Your dad’s a card. And your mom is trouble.”

She tossed her head back and laughed. “True. Thank you for being so kind to them. They’re going to tell all their friends how they know a famous person now.”

I dropped the tailgate of my pickup and lifted the shell to put her bags inside. “Maybe we should drop by and visit them, give them more to talk about.”

Her expression was unreadable as she studied me. “You’d do that?”

After I finished loading her bags in the truck bed, I went to her, kissing her forehead. “For you? Of course. If you can’t tell, Mia, I kinda like you.”

“I kinda like you too.” She reached around my waist, holding on to me for a moment. Then she looked up at me and said, “Have I mentioned how hot you are in cowboy boots?” Her hand wound down to my backside, giving it a squeeze.

She might have meant it playfully, but after two weeks apart, I was desperate for her. It took all I had not to pick her up and take her right in the garage.

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