Page 88 of Unbreakable Love

“Guess I can’t run now.”

“Give it thirty seconds and you won’t want to.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I said as he pushed open the door. He went in first and reached back, gesturing for me to enter.

As soon as I stepped over the threshold, chaos ensued.

I barely saw the home or anything in it outside a camel-colored worn leather couch because all I saw was people. A lot of them. Men, mostly. One who looked almost exactly like Gavin but larger and wider, and with his thick beard, he reminded me of a lumberjack.

“Penny. Meet my family. This is Dalton.” He gestured to the lumberjack and to the younger man next to him. He had lighter hair, brighter eyes, and wore an expression that said he didn’t take life too seriously if at all. “Bryce.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” They both came forward and shook my hands, and then the two women who had been standing back, came forward.

“I don’t do handshakes,” said the woman who could only be Jenny. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. In a blink, I almost cried. Her hug felt like a warm summer day, a stress-free vacation, and the bright, sunny morning after a spring rain all wrapped up in one. “Lovely to meet you, Penny. Josie’s told us so much about you.”

“She especially likes all your dresses,” the other woman said. “I’m Emily.”

I was hugged again, while laughing this time. “I didn’t know she liked my dresses.”

“Well.” Emily winked. “She said she only tells you she likes the pretty ones, not the ugly ones.”

“Emily,” Gavin scolded, but it was too late. We dissolved into a quick fit of laughter.

God, I loved that girl. Josie, not Emily, but she didn’t seem too bad, either.

“Josie’s amazing,” I said through my laughter. “And maybe I know who to go to for future fashion advice.”

“She’d love that,” Emily said. “This is my husband, Caleb.” She swung out her arm, and a man who was the spitting image of Cameron, who I only knew from the news in the last week, but with longer hair, stepped close to her, wrapped an arm round his wife, and gave me a quick but firm side hug.

“Good to meet you, Penny.” After his welcome, they both stepped back.

“I’d apologize for them for ambushing you like this, but it’s their way,” Emily whispered, “and you’ll get to used it.”

I hoped I was around long enough for that to happen.

Another man came forward, arm extended. He had a gruff exterior, dressed the same as Gavin and Dalton in a thick flannel jacket, but he wore a kind smile and there was a brightness in his eyes. “Charles Kelley. It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“Penny,” I said, “or Pen. Penelope. Whichever and thank you. I’m already half in love with your land and your home, and I’ve barely seen any of it.”

“Then you’ll fit right in.” His other hand clasped our entwined ones and with a firm and loving squeeze, he let go and glanced at Gavin next to me. “Should we give her the surprise now?”

“Yes! Please! I’m dying back here!” Josie’s shouts rang from the distance, hidden out of my view.

Chuckles echoed around the room.

“I guess that answers that,” Gavin said. “Josie, come on out!”

Dalton, Bryce, Caleb, and Emily, who’d been standing in front of some doorway, stepped to the side.

A beautiful, homey kitchen was revealed first. Then Josie. She had her arm extended, out of my view, and as she came forward, it was attached to something else.

No.

Someone.

My heart fell to the floor as my sister came into view and a cry tore from my throat.

“Hey, Pen-pen,” she said and lifted a champagne glass to her mouth. It was probably a mimosa disguised as orange juice. “Happy birthday.”

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