Page 14 of Finding Chloe

I stepped into the mudroom of the Kingston mansion and took off my boots.

“Hello?” I called, my voice echoing around the large foyer.

“In here,” someone called. I followed where I thought the yell had come from and ended up in a crowded kitchen. Everyone was gathered around the kitchen island, sitting on a variety of bar stools I assumed were collected from around the house.

“You’re here,” Jessie yelled. Apparently I had missed the first round of drinks. I smiled and hugged my aunt, then a few of the other women. Victoria and Blake had their arms full. The tiny babies cooed as they rocked in their mothers’ arms.

“Didn’t you have twins?” I asked Tori, searching for the other one.

“She’s sound asleep in the other room. Her brother, on the other hand, does not want to go to bed.” She looked down affectionately at the little boy. “But that’s okay. Neither does Melanie over here.” She tilted her head at Blake, who was swaying back and forth on her feet.

I smiled. Baby fever was far from my mind, but it was adorable seeing them like this. I had to wonder how much the men got to be with their babies when they worked such long and odd hours. I knew a lot of the men who worked here since they grew up in town, but I had never imagined them being fathers.

As if on cue, Andrew and Gavin walked in. “All right ladies, hand over the babies,” Andrew said, coming to Tori and kissing her on the temple. He scooped his son into his arms and nuzzled his head. “Caleb is grabbing little Samuel from the other room.” Tori nodded and brushed her lips against Andrew’s in a tender kiss.

“We’ve got it from here. We have enough bottles ready at home. Stay out as late as you want, but text me.” Gavin grabbed Melanie from Blake and held her against his chest. “Have a good night.”

It really was a sight to see Andrew and Gavin all googly-eyed for their women and their children. I’d known them all my life, and it was like I’d stepped into an alternate reality.

I used to fawn over the twins growing up. Even in high school, I had a crush on them. They weren’t much older than me but were Gavin’s kid brothers, so I saw them all the time.Now that my crushes had faded, they were more like my older brothers.

Once Gavin and Andrew left with the babies, Alex opened the fridge and produced a pitcher of something red. “Sangria, anyone?”

We laughed and accepted a glass, except for the mothers. As if knowing she was needed, Mrs. Roberts, the Kingston housekeeper, came in and made a mocktail for them. If I ended up having more than one drink, I might just have one of those myself.

Mrs. Roberts then opened the oven, and mouthwatering smells wafted through the kitchen. It was Jessie’s night off, so Mrs. Roberts was cooking.

“How’s Matt’s studying going along?” Alex asked. “You guys actually studying or just making out like high schoolers?”

I rolled my eyes and shot her a knowing grin.

“What about Hunter?” Abbey tilted her head, acting all innocent.

“What do you meanwhat about Hunter? She’s with Matt,” Blake said.

“But this isChloe.” Abbey gestured toward me with a flourish.

Blake continued to give her a blank stare, and I cursed my fair complexion as my cheeks heated.

“The one Hunter has been talking about…” Abbey looked at me meaningfully.

Well shit. Who else knew?

“No way.” Grace gasped. Her eyes were wide, almost like she was seeing me for the first time.

“Right? Hunter is crazy about her.” I didn’t have to guess how Abbey knew. Ranches were like small towns; eventually, the gossip reached everyone, and right now, I was the focus.

“But she’s with Matt,” Jessie chimed in, her brow creased.

“True, but I think she’d be so cute with Hunter and Kyle,” Tori gushed.

Jessie’s eyes zeroed in on me. “What’s going on?”

My hands fluttered before me. I wasn’t even sure what was going on. Who was Kyle?

“Well, Hunter and I…” I trailed off, not sure how to finish, but clearly my lack of words didn’t make it hard for Jessie to figure it out.

“New York,” she whispered in disbelief.

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