Page 68 of Outlaw

“Well then, I bet you can swim.”

“Mommy says I swim like a fish.”

“You are going to have to show me while you’re here for sure then,” she said, then stood back up and turned to me. “I’d tell you I’ve heard so much about you, but, well, what I’ve heard was about your childhood. I look forward to getting to know thegrown-up.”

She wasn’t an elitist because she’d been brought into this world from what sounded like a much different one. I couldn’t imagine living in a camper with Stevie. I wanted to hear that story.

“I’m intrigued by the camper. I look forward to getting to know you as well. Thanks for having us. Stevie is well behaved, and she won’t be a problem.”

Fawn threw back her head and laughed, then looked back at me. “Then, there will be one well-behaved kid around here. Because when Blaise and Maddy bring those boys over, it’s wildness.”

I grinned, remembering Blaise as a kid. Trev had been little and not around as much. His mother had been Garrett’s second wife and a more involved mother, I thought. I wasn’t sure really.

“I remember what Blaise was like,” I said with a grin.

She blew out a breath. “Whew. I can only imagine.”

“You look good, Branwen,” Garrett said, coming up behind Fawn. “Glad you came.” His voice was deeper, and there was a huskiness to it.

He might have aged well, but the life had changed him. There was a difference in his eyes. As if they’d seen and done things that marked his soul.

“It’s good to see you, Garrett,” I told him.

He chuckled, and his eyes cut to Linc. “She doesn’t look all doe-eyed anymore, ready to follow you to the ends of the earth,” he told him.

He had no idea.

“Don’t,” Linc said, nodding his head slightly toward Stevie, as if that was why he wanted to change the subject.

Fawn turned slightly to him, placing a hand on his chest. I almost choked on my own saliva when the rock on her hand caught the light.

Holy Mother Mary, mother of Jesus! What size was that thing?

“Don’t tease,” she scolded him. “Let’s go sit and visit.”

He stared down at her with a possessive adoration, then winked at her while reaching up to take the hand she had on his chest and kissed it. A pang of envy stung my chest. What must that feel like—to be loved by someone you loved so deeply? It sounded like she’d had a Cinderella story, and this was her happily ever after. Maybe, for some, dreams did come true.

“I’m thinking of buying this horse. The last few races he was in were impressive, but he’s not done one of the big ones yet. Come give me your opinion,” Garrett told Linc. With his hand on Fawn’s lower back, he started toward the sofa they’d been sitting on when we arrived.

Stevie rushed ahead and stopped to look over the table of appetizers and treats that were set out in an array of different serving pieces. Sweets were on two-tiered trays that sat in the center while silver trays surrounded them with savory items. The miniature cupcakes with impressive toppings caught her eye immediately, and she looked back at me with pleading eyes.

“They have cupcakes, Mommy,” she told me.

“I see that,” I replied.

“Ms. Jimmie brought these out for everyone to enjoy,” Fawn said.

“All right, you can have one, but only touch the one you are getting,” I told Stevie.

She studied them as if it were the most important decision she would ever make.

Linc took a seat to the left of Garrett, leaving several spaces between them, after he picked up a glass of what I assumed was whiskey. He hadn’t glanced my way or acknowledged me, so I went over and sat down on the opposite side. Stevie picked up a pink cupcake and came to sit between Fawn and me.

“Would either of you like some mango lemonade?” Fawn asked, reaching for the silver pitcher on the table.

Stevie began to nod her head while chewing her first bite of the cupcake.

“That sounds nice,” I told her while I reached over and took a napkin, then placed it on her lap. I had a feeling she was going to need it.

---