Page 74 of The Backup Bride Proposal

“And spoiled, too, aren’t you?”

The dogs’ tails whipped back and forth.

“Come on, let’s go in,” he said.

She walked side by side with him up the wide wooden steps onto what had to be the biggest front porch she’d ever seen. The Bellinis’ house had always impressed her, but this place? This place was something. It had all the looks of a modern log cabin, making Mae wonder who had built it.

“My grandparents designed this place about ten years agoand some fancy contractor built it. My grandparents’ first house was a two-bedroom. Imagine my dad and three sisters sharing one bathroom.”

She could envision that. “Your poor dad.”

He laughed. “Yeah, he tells me the teen years were no picnic, and his sisters were mean to him.”

“Your dad’s a big whiner,” Tess said as they walked into an amazing kitchen that anyone who enjoyed cooking would fall in love with.

“I’m gonna tell him you said that,” Kane said, taking a seat at the oversized kitchen island. The dogs had come inside with them, all filled with energy and playfulness until Tess told them to go lie down. Which they did, right near Kane.

Tess shrugged. “Go ahead. I might be younger than him but I can still kick his ass.”

The back door opened and a tall, gorgeous brunette came in. “I heard our favorite nephew is here.”

Kane stood and wrapped the woman in a huge hug before turning to Mae. “This is my aunt’s wife, Donna. Aunt Donna, this is my friend Mae Wallace.”

“Hey, Mae, nice to meet you.” Donna came over and shook her hand.

“Great to meet you as well.”

“You gonna hoard that lemonade or are you pouring?” Donna asked Tess.

“I don’t know. You gonna ask nicely?”

“Babe, I’d love some of your awesome lemonade, please.”

“That’s better.” Lemonade was poured and Mae pulled up a seat at the island. The lemonade was tart and sweet and utterly delicious.

“Where’s Grandpa?” Kane asked.

“Out working with one of the horses,” Donna said. “Hesaid you and Mae could come join him if you wanted once you get unpacked.”

“Your room is ready,” Tess said. “You can take your stuff up whenever you want.”

Kane nodded. “Okay, thanks. Hey, have you talked to my dad?”

Tess gave him a questioning look. “Not in recent weeks. A couple of months, maybe. Why? Haven’t you?”

“No. I mean yeah. We talk. I just thought…never mind.”

“You thought what?” Now Donna looked concerned. For that matter, so did Mae, but she was going to stay silent.

“Kane,” Tess said. “Is something going on?”

“No. Everything’s fine.”

Tess pulled up a chair on the other side of Kane. “Everything’s not fine. I know you. Tell me what’s up or I’m calling your dad right now.”

Kane had a tell. Mae hadn’t known him forever or anything, but when he was frustrated or something was on his mind, he pulled his fingers through his glorious mane of hair.

He did that now, then inhaled and let out a forceful sigh. “He’s not talking to me. I mean, he talks to me, but it’s all generalities. The weather, how’s work going, Mom is fine, that kind of stuff. Our conversations are short like he doesn’t want to stay on the phone.”

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