Page 107 of Gorgeous

“You’re thinking this poor girl will never have a date because no boy will be crazy enough to walk onto the plantation withfive uncles who know how to snipe him from the driveway.”

Did my heart start beating again? I think it did.

Breck squeezes my hand, feeling the tension coiling in my body and the sigh of relief I let out. Anniston wants to stay and raise this little one with all of us.

“I don’t know about y’all, but I’m thinking now when Theo hearsDaddyit won’t quite have the same kind of appeal.”

We all laugh as Theo lunges at Hayes and they exchange playful blows.

“Wait.” It’s just occurred to me what Anniston said. “It’s a girl?”

Her lips tip up with blatant satisfaction when she nods and says, “Theo doesn’t stand a chance.”

I look at Theo, at the glare he’s sending my way, and double over with laughter. “That’s karma for you, Von Bremen.” He flips me off. “Two women bossing you around …”

We all join in this time, laughing at Theo’s expense. He takes it good-naturedly by throwing the ice from his drink. He still has an arm, so it hurts like a bitch when he pelts me square in the chest.

After our laughter dies down, and everyone gets a turn rubbing the small baby bump on Anniston’s stomach, we open gifts and enjoy the love and laughter of each other’s company.

“Cade. Can I see you outside for a moment?” I shift Breck off my leg and nod to my mom.

On the porch, I gesture to the swing for my mom to sit. “What’s up?” I ask, sitting down next to her. A small wrapped package is clutched in her hand. I want to get up and go back into the house. Whatever she is about to give me will be a game changer. I can feel it, but I show respect and keep my ass planted on the swing.

“I wanted you to have this.”

I don’t know if I can take any more surprises today. I swallow hard and nod, reaching for the square gift wrapped in basic red wrapping paper. Slowly, I unwrap it and reveal a black, velvet box.

“It was my mother’s. I want you to have it.”

That hot, prickly feeling rushes along my skin again, this time making it up to my eyes. I already know what it is. Tradition is important to my mom’s family. Clutched in my hand is my grandmother’s ring that would have been for my brother. It’s tradition to pass down a family heirloom to the firstborn. I can’t open and look at it. Instead, I hand it back to her.

“I can’t accept this.”

She pushes back. “You can.”

Another push. “I insist.”

She shoves the box at me. She’s done asking. “I know you think you don’t deserve this, Cade, but like it or not, you are my son. I may not have birthed you but I’ve loved you as my own. I still love you. I have prayed for you every day.” Tears flow freely from her eyes, making me feel like a total jackass. “You are my son. Honor me by taking this ring and continuing my family’s legacy.”

Fuck. With my finger, I swipe away her tears and pull her into a hug. She sniffles, squeezing me tight.

“It will be my honor, Mama.”

As my mother cries silently into my chest, purging all the pent-up pain and anguish, I open the box and see an old, handcrafted setting with brilliant diamonds, and I know one thing.

This ring was made for Breck.

Winding down the mountain roads with the windows down in Cade’s truck feels a lot like riding a roller coaster, except Cade is driving so slowly that we may never reach our destination—a big fat secret he won’t tell me. All I know is we’re headed into the North Georgia Mountains, this horrifically long road the only route there.

“You know, babe, if you went over twenty-five miles an hour we may actually get there this weekend.”

Cade clutches the steering wheel like at any moment a bear will dart out in front of us and he’ll have tofast and furious itout of the way. I’m not complaining because the motion causes the muscles in his forearms to flex, and well, I can appreciate that view for the next few hours.

“How about you get your feet off the dash and let me drive?” He cuts his eyes to my freshly painted toes wiggling against his leather-wrapped dash.

“Why do I have to put my feet down? Do my feet stink?”

His jaw tics as he tries to hold back a grin. The three-day scruff he’s rocking is so sexy when he pairs it with an annoyed facial expression. If I have to piss him off this entire ride to ensure that jaw and scruff are between my legs upon arrival, then so be it. I’ll take one for the team.

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