Page 18 of Sweet Obsession
“Money?” Kade’s jaw twitched from the pressure of grinding his teeth.
“Okay, boys.” Rachel pushed between her two brothers and came to a stop in front of Kade. “Suck it up, buttercup. You know what we’re all doing so quit with the macho big brother bit.”
Now Kade’s eyes rounded and he spun around to face Blake. “This is all just for show?”
Both he and Jillian nodded, but it took Blake a few seconds to find his words. “Chet didn’t sit well with me either. I promised you I’d protect them and I meant it.”
“You what?” Jillian spun around to face him.
Blake shrugged. “I meant it at the time. I just didn’t expect my life to go the way it did. But I’m back now, at least for a short while, and I’m going to keep my word.”
“Oh, my.” The porch door slamming shut, their mother’s eyes were big and round and her smile spread from ear to ear. Within seconds she bolted across the living room floor and had her eldest son swooped into a hug as if he once again was a little boy. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would have made your favorite foods.”
Those words made everyone smile.
“I wanted to surprise everyone.” Kade held on tightly to his mother before the two finally separated.
Apparently, tonight was a night of surprises for everyone. But Kade had at least one thing right; Blake needed to assure everyone that his intentions were to help save the ranch, nothing more.
“I bet you’re hungry.” Alice Sweet stepped back and darted toward the kitchen. “It will only take a minute to warm up a plate for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Kade blew out an easy breath.
“Welcome home, bro.” Garrett bumped shoulders with his brother.
Rachel followed her mother, Sarah Sue right behind her. “Let me help, Mom.”
“Me too.” Jillian darted after her sister and sister-in-law.
Kade turned, and lowering his voice, looked less viciously at Blake. “You really up to this?”
He could have been an ass and poked at his lifelong friend’s lack of specifics, but now was not the time for that. All he did was nod. “As a matter of fact, I have a different show to put on. Excuse me.”
Trying not to feel like he was walking the plank, Blake joined the women in the kitchen. Jillian had popped a few rolls into the oven to warm and he eased up beside her. Slowly, he eased his fingers through hers. “Can I talk my favorite tag along into a quiet walk outside?”
He knew full well that would catch her mother’s attention, but it took Jillian a few moments of surprise before understanding dawned and she nodded. “It’s a nice night for a walk.”
Still holding her hand, he led her to the back door, feeling Alice Sweet’s gaze on his back with every step. He sure hoped he knew what he was getting into.
Everything about this evening felt oddly surreal. First having all her brothers under one roof was a blessing beyond measure. Now, walking hand in hand with her childhood crush, even if it was just for show, the world seemed to have either tilted on its axis or spun out of orbit and she didn’t have a clue which one it might be.
“I hope you didn’t mind, but I figured, if we’re on a short timetable, then we need to figure out a few things and nooffense, but your brother’s breathing down my neck didn’t seem like the right circumstances.”
“Agreed.” She hadn’t decided what she thought of all this, or if she could even go through with it. Any of it. With Blake, or Chet, or anyone. Everything had worked out for her siblings, but odds of five out of five successful matches weren’t encouraging.
His thumb began drawing swirls around the back of her hand and an odd sensation fluttered past her wrist and up her arm. “I don’t quite know where to start.”
“That makes two of us.” Finally, she had a full sentence come to mind.
“It will take a little time to get Grams to the doctor in Miller’s Creek, so I’ll be here for that long, but there’s a lot going on with the band and the next tour and I won’t be able to put it all off for too long. Not without costing the company some serious money.”
She bobbed her head. “I suppose you’re having to leave to go back on tour would be a simple and legitimate reason for wanting to rush into marriage.” At least she hoped so. If she went through with it.
“You’re not sure, are you?”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him for the first time since leaving the kitchen. “Right now, I’m not sure of much of anything.”
“Were you more sure about Chet?” He continued walking.
