Page 112 of Echoes of You

I chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her. It was warmth and comfort and home. “Love you.”

“More than I thought possible,” Maddie whispered against my lips.

“Good. Now let’s go because I’m starving.”

She laughed. “What else is new?”

“Hey, sometimes it’s good to be predictable.”

I guided my SUV up the steep drive to my childhood home. I pulled into a makeshift spot next to a row of other vehicles. It looked like we were the last to arrive.

A panicked look overtook Maddie’s face. “I thought you said dinner was at six.”

“It is. I think people just got here early for drinks and appetizers.”

She scowled at me as she grabbed a plate from the back seat. “We’re late.”

I sighed. “We aren’t late.”

But Maddie didn’t even hear me because she was already out of the SUV. I couldn’t help but laugh. I loved that she cared so much about what my family thought. But they already loved her like a member of our crazy brood.

I hurried to catch up with Maddie, taking her hand as she climbed the steps. I opened the front door without knocking and almost ran into Lawson’s eldest son.

Luke simply grunted and kept right on walking toward the basement.

His younger brother, Drew, rolled his eyes as he followed him. “Luke’s in amood.”

“Shut up,” Luke called without looking back.

Drew grinned. “Probably pissed because I just kicked his ass in Halo.”

I held up my free hand for a fist bump. “My man.”

Drew made a show of dusting off his shoulders. “I’ll school you if you want.”

I grinned. “After dinner. You and me. Just don’t go crying to your dad when I decimate you.”

Drew shook his head, a devilish smile on his face. “Don’t you whine when I make you cry in front of your hot new girlfriend.” He winked at saidgirlfriend. “Hey, Maddie.”

She choked on a laugh. “How old are you again?”

He straightened to his full height. “Thirteen.”

“Going on twenty-two,” Maddie mumbled.

“Don’t go trying to steal my girl,” I warned my nephew.

Drew’s smile only widened as he took off down the hall. “Not my fault she might want a winner.”

“Maddie!” a little voice yelled as a blur of motion caught my eye.

Maddie grinned as Charlie skidded to a stop in front of her. “Hey, Charlie.”

“Cady said you got a dog. Did you? Did you?”

“I did. Think you want to come over and meet him one of these days?”

He bobbed his head up and down. “Whadya name him?”

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