Page 23 of Forbidden Flame

“Not unless it interferes with your health. You’re not just a member of my crew. You’re my cousin, really like another brother to me.”

That warmed my heart even though I knew I wasn’t. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”

“If you want to talk about something with a girl, or even your family—”

My jaw tightened. “I don’t.”

Heath let out a breath. “I’m glad you were able to talk to Daphne. If you want to see her—”

“I don’t.” Daphne lived with her family, just like I was a guest on the Monroe’s farm. Our positions were precarious. She gave her allegiance to her family, just like I did. “She doesn’t want to see me again. It was a onetime thing.”

Heath nodded. “The reason I came over here is because Mom wanted me to invite you to dinner.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have time. I have to do—”

“I’m your boss, and I’m telling you that you’re done for the night. And you can’t work on the farm either.”

I groaned as I stood.

He raised a brow. “You love my mom’s cooking.”

“It’s the socializing I could do without.” When the family got together, it was loud. Not something I was used to in my family unless you counted drunken shouting.

“You’re part of the family, and everyone wants you there. Can I count on you to show up?”

Everything he was saying sounded good. I just wasn’t sure it was the truth, and especially not with Emmett. “I’ll be there.”

Heath clasped my shoulder. “You know you can talk to me.”

“I get that.” Not that I ever would. I was too embarrassed by my father’s behavior to talk to his family about it. I stuffed my reality down deep.

That’s what made it more surprising that I’d shared it with Daphne.

Heath waved a hand in my direction. “Go home and wash up. You stink.”

I shook my head. The Monroe brothers were all the same. They joked around and gave each other shit, but they loved hard. It’s why I was drawn to them.

I was one of the last ones to pull up to the main house for dinner. It was different without my uncle alive.

Now that I was an adult, I stayed at Heath’s cabin instead of the main house. It afforded me more privacy, and I could avoid family gatherings. The thing was, I enjoyed being around the family, but it made me feel like more of an outsider.

I took a deep breath before I knocked on the door.

Lori opened it and immediately pulled me in for a hug. “You came.”

“Heath might have threatened me—” I began.

Lori waved me off as I stepped inside. “He did no such thing.”

“You have an inflated view of your kids, Aunt Lori. They’re wild and uncivilized. No manners between them.”

Knox punched my arm. “Who invited this ass—”

“Watch your mouth,” Aunt Lori chided him.

I went into the kitchen to grab a beer and snag some appetizers while conversation went on around me.

Thankfully, everyone’s attention was on Talon and Holly when they arrived. There was talk about some new ornament she was making in Talon’s workshop. I drank my beer, snacked on cheese and crackers, then moved to the dining room when it was time to eat.

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