Page 35 of Too Sweet

Summer

The following weekend, we celebrate Little Spoon’s grand opening with an after-party at the MacKenzies’ house in Gold Hill.

There are enough rooms for everyone to stay overnight, including Owen, Daisy, and our nephew Graham. Mills and Hayden have come all the way from California to celebrate. Mom is here too, with her new husband.

The guys treat everyone to a massive backyard barbecue. Mills, Mom, Harmony, and Daisy get tipsy in the jacuzzi, but I stick to the pool and avoid the booze.

Just in case.

When I tire of being around drunk people, I go looking for Graham, who I find attached to Carter’s leg on the side patio as Carter and Owen talk.

I hang back and watch the three of them before announcing my presence.

“You have a cool house,” Owen says. He clinks his beer bottle against Carter’s.

“It’s a little bit too Sopranos for my taste, but it’s big enough to raise a family in. Unfortunately, it’s in the wrong place.”

Carter laughs. “I know. That’s why I want to build a house in Fate with Summer.”

I clutch my chest. Did I just hear what I think I heard?

Owen looks surprised. “You’re that serious about her?”

“As a heart attack.”

“That’s good to hear because she’s crazy about you,” he says.

“And you approve?”

“Do I have a choice? If I didn’t approve, there still wouldn’t be anything I could do to protect her.”

Graham has now crawled over to Owen and wants up. My brother grunts and lifts the little guy onto his lap.

“I would take that as a good thing but I have a feeling there’s a but coming.”

“Damn right, there’s a but. I feel it’s my duty to tell you, these girls were hurt bad when our dad left. It takes a lot for them to trust men. Harmony more than Summer, but still. If you ever do her wrong, cheat on her, leave her for someone younger, Mills and Harmony, and I will make sure you never see her or the kids again.”

My hand goes to my stomach. Does he know something? Can he tell? I haven’t even taken a test yet.

“Kids? What the hell are you talking about?” Carter asks.

“I’m talking hypothetical.”

Carter looks relieved. More relieved than I feel comfortable with. “Owen, I can promise you right now that will never happen. Your sister is it for me. End of story. I’m not going to fuck around on her. She is my future.”

Later that night, as we’re snuggling under Carter’s ridiculously luxurious down comforter, Carter nearly makes me spill the beans before I’m ready.

“Babe, why didn’t you tell me?”

All the blood drains from my face.

“Tell you what?”

“Who your sister Mills is married to.”

“You know him?”

Carter laughs. “Who doesn’t know him? He’s only the company founder whose logo was on my gym bags my entire life.”

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