Page 31 of The Chance

They were back at the ranch now. Genny had demanded their presence for a cookout her family apparently put on every year. Aubrey was just going to have to go, whether she liked it or not—that was what Genny had made absolutely clear. Not that Aubrey had protested that much.

Ayla was beyond excited. It was the first time they’d done a cookout since they had been with a foster family when Ayla had been eight. Cookouts weren’t exactly prized by their former foster families. And she and Ayla hadn’t had any other connections to have those kinds of events with as adults. Aubrey was far more nervous than she wanted to admit.

“Cookout or man getting you all jumpy? Or just that you are so old now?” Ayla asked, out of the blue, as Aubrey maneuvered her SUV down the winding driveway to the ranch. “And wow. There are a lot of cars here right now.”

“No kidding. But Genny said there would be. This is an annual event, apparently. Lots of people from everywhere.” Aubrey fought the nerves as she parked near a familiar rather large SUV. “That’s Caine’s SUV right there.”

“And there is Jake’s van,” Ayla said. The librarian and his wife were people Ayla knew well. Felt comfortable with. “See, we’ll know other people besides just Gunn’s family, grandma.”

Her sister had been making jokes about Aubrey being old all day. Because Aubrey was thirty now. She was always a brat on Aubrey’s birthdays. She probably always would be.

“Gunn. Not Greer. Not the best friend you’ve ever had, but her big—and seriously hot—brother? I am so confused.” There was a lot of that going around. Greer had shown up on her doorstep with a confession two days ago. More confused than Aubrey would have ever thought possible. Poor kid. What had happened to her was…well, Aubrey had her opinions.

“Well, so am I.” Ayla just looked at her and grinned. Her sister had one of the sunniest dispositions Aubrey had ever seen.“I am having fun trying to figure him out. That is the most confusing man on the planet.”

“Second-most. His older brother takes the trophy.”

“Oh, I think Dr. Hiller is pretty easy to figure out. I love how he looks at you, with those eyes of his. I am partial to their eyes,” Ayla said. “Gunn has beautiful eyes.”

Her baby sister just sighed dramatically. But…was Ayla actually interested in Gunn? Aubrey had asked her—Ayla refused to answer. Little sisters could be so difficult sometimes.

“They all do. No denying that.” And Guthrie Hiller had been eyeing Aubrey with clear intent. For three days. She had spent the majority of her non-working hours with him. He’d even shown up the evening before—after their shifts had ended—with dinner ingredients and two movies to watch. He’d told her he was there because Gunn had sent him to babysit Ayla.

Apparently, Gunn thought Ayla was being difficult lately and Guthrie was doing his duty to save Aubrey from her sister’s clutches. In reality, he had had his brother drop him off at Aubrey’s while Gunn went and visited a shut-in elderly woman six doors down from Aubrey’s house and delivered her groceries. Gunn had joined them by the time dinner was ready. Dinner Guthrie had prepared in her kitchen.

They’d curled up in her living room, Ayla and Gunn in the armchairs that were more comfortable for her sister, and Aubrey somehow snuggled up on her own couch, with Guthrie cuddled close to her side.

Because the movie scared him.Wonkus McBubbles Rescues Rufuswas terrifying for obstetricians, after all. Why they had watched a children’s movie she didn’t have a clue, but she and Ayla had enjoyed the evening immensely.

“There they are.” Ayla pointed to two men on the long front porch of the Hiller Ranch. They were very distinct but… “Well, Ithink that’s Gunn. It could be Grady, I guess. But I’m pretty sure it’s Gunn. It’s not that hard to tell them apart or anything.”

Well, no. Not now that she was getting to know them. Gunn had a bit of a softer look around him, and Grady was more edgy. Broody. Even in how they held themselves. The men were definitely waiting. Aubrey would bet money that was Gunn up there.

She’d seen how he looked at her sister now. She just didn’t know what was going on between them.

Then Guthrie was next to her door—and his brother was at Ayla’s.

No. Aubrey had an inkling here—Guthrie was serious about what he’d said. He wanted to take a chance. With her. A chance on forever.

She was terrified. No denying that. But the first thing she had to do was get out of the car. And she’d just go from there.

“Good morning, you two seriously terrifying women.” Guthrie gave a tiny bow. Like he was welcoming them to the ranch they’d been to before.

“Good morning, Dr. Hiller, Pastor Hiller.” It was Gunn; no denying that. He was helping Ayla from the car, and her sister was already chattering at him about the puppies. They’d discussed it. If the Hillers decided to give away the puppies they were going to adopt one. They just didn’t know which one yet. “There are a lot of people here.”

“There always is. My parents have been doing this forever.” He held out a hand to her. “Come here. I will protect you. I promise.”

Well, maybe she needed that. “I’m not sure exactly what to do at a cookout. Especially one this big. I haven’t been to one in at least fifteen years.”

“It’s because she’s so old now,” Ayla said.

“Ayla, I’m going to feed you to an alligator if you make one more old joke today.”

“I will tell you. Beautiful Aubreys find Lucky Guthries at these kinds of things—and just spend the day with him. He’ll handle the rest.”

“And Aylas?” her sister asked, as she got her crutches arranged and got herself balanced. “What do Aylas do at cookouts?”

“Find Pastor Gunns,” Guthrie told her. “He is always in demand at these things. The unmarried ladies of his congregation have made it their mission to take care of him, I think. You should protect him. A lot of the younger ones are competing for the honor of being the preacher’s wife someday soon. The older ladies think he needs to settle down and raise preacher’s kids, I believe. They keep introducing him to nieces and goddaughters from out of town, that kind of thing. It’s rather entertaining to watch.”

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