Page 149 of Tangled up in You

“I know. And I appreciate it.”

Josie draped an arm around her shoulders. “Want to help me with the tater tot? I think one of his brothers-in-law-to-be should meet him.”

Jesse laughed. “Sure.”

MARK

By the time Mark finally ended his shift and raced home, he found two black SUVs parked outside, and two of the private security men standing on their front porch.

They didn’t move or react except to nod when he walked up. “Sir,” they both said.

He warily pulled up short. “Is everything okay?”

“We have guests, Mark,” Chris called from inside. “Get in here.”

Oh, boy.

The only thing that had been on his mind was getting home and getting Jesse in his arms again.

And never letting her go.

But in their living room sat Jesse’s dad and mom. Her dad held the baby.

“We’re in the kitchen,” Chris called out.

“Um, hi,” Mark said to them.

Her dad stood, looking stern. “We weren’t properly introduced.” He shifted the baby to his left shoulder and extended his right hand. “Gudbrand Klevenson. Jesse’sfather.”

Mark shook with him. “Mark Powell, sir.”

“Daddy, don’t you dare tease him!” Jesse called from the kitchen.

At that the man’s expression broke into a smile. “You’re no fun, kiddo.” He sighed. “You can call me Brand,” he said to Mark.

“Thanks.”

Josie smiled as she stood and hugged Mark. “Don’t worry, we’ll bail after dinner.”

“After…dinner?”

“Lasagna,” Chris called from the kitchen.

Come to think of it, the house smelled great.

He honestly didn’t process much of what they talked about during dinner. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Jesse was back and everything he’d written off as a hopeless fantasy was not only real, but better.

What he wanted to do was crawl into bed with Jesse, lay his head on her tummy, and talk to their baby.

Even before he’d met Chris he decided he wasn’t inclined to have kids. After his willing estrangement from his family he felt relief to know the dysfunction would end with him.

But now…

A new future lay ahead of them.

The security men had been invited in to eat, but they opted to take theirs out to the porch to keep watch.

Just for what, Mark wasn’t sure considering this was Yellowstone, but he didn’t argue.

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