Page 27 of The Truth

“What I want… from my life, that kind of thing.”

“Anything interesting? What exactly does a Gunn Hiller want from his future?”

One Ayla Fisher in his arms. That would be a good place to start. “I’ll tell you later. How late are you staying tonight?”

“I’m not entirely certain, actually. Aubrey wanted to be here with Genny, and she was for a little while, then she got called back in. Guthrie drove her. I think we may be staying for dinner,though. Grady was asking me what I like, that kind of thing, too. He’s working so hard on his concoction I don’t want to be rude. But… is it going to be any good? It looks a little complicated and everything.”

“Grady’s the best of us in the kitchen, so probably. I would love for you to stay.”

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When hadhe moved so close? He had helped her down from the chair, and his warm hands had been around her waist. Then he had pulled her just a little closer. She liked it. He smelled good. He looked good. And the air even felt a little different now that he was here.

She’d sat there at the island and studied Mr. Grady Hiller, trying to figure Gunn’s clone out. He was just as beautiful as his identical twin. A little quieter and less affectionate, overall. Maybe. He was a lot more serious than Gunn, too. A tiny bit leaner, less… soft, maybe. Both Hiller twins were incredibly gorgeous creatures.

Of course, Hala had been snarking at him since they’d gotten there. Grady had kept watching Hala when she wasn’t looking. Snarking back, too.

But while Grady was very beautiful, hot, attractive, and nice—he didn’t make Ayla feel fluttery at all.

But now… was she even breathing?

She pressed a hand against Gunn’s chest, just to kind of steady herself—balance really wasn’t herthingsometimes, especially with sudden changes of position—and she justfelthow perfect he seemed beneath her palm. Hard, muscly, strong, perfect.

She was seriously in trouble here. The door opened. Her sister was there, then. Ayla pulled back before she did something totally crazy and curled up against Gunn Hiller’s perfect man chest and let him hold her.

Withnosuper-thick blanket between them this time.

Kind of like Genny was curled up against Chad’s chest, actually. Chad had been at the hospital—he’d driven in right behind Guthrie. They’d come in together. Gunn had introduced his quiet houseguest to her sister—Ayla had seen the inevitablelookin Reverend Riordan’s eyes when he first saw Aubrey; her sister was so beautiful—and to Guthrie.

Guthrie, who had had his hand on Aubrey’s uninjured shoulder, like they belonged together or something.

Like they weretogether.

She hoped so. Her sister had an actualhappylook in her eyes all through dinner. And Guthrie was making it very clear he was interested in Aubrey. Everyone just acted like they were together, too. Even though no one reallysaidthey were.

She was going to have to sister-interrogate tonight. No doubt about it. Because there was definitely something going onthere.

Ayla spent dinner right next to Gunn, aware of every move the man made.

Although, he had put his arm around her in her own backyard “garden” as Aubrey always called it. There had been a thick blanket between them, and Aubrey had been just inside, but nothing reallyimproperhad happened.But she hadn’t even told his sister that they had been out there together for several hours. Just talking.

She had neverjust talkedwith a man like that, and definitely not alone and that late, in her entire life.

“You are quiet tonight.”

She turned.Hewas looking at her. Right there. Between her and his friend. “I’m just people watching.”

More people came in. Loud ones. Hala’s brother was there to get his son, and Greer’s oldest brother’s entire family—George and Ronnie had four little girls—and Gene and Gunn’s father, Max. There were Hiller people everywhere. Of all sizes. The Hillers were so lucky to have each other. She used to wish when she was little that she and Aubrey had had a family just like this to love them. But alas, that had not been in the cards for them back then. But… maybe for Aubrey now?

She couldn’t think of anything more wonderful than that. Her sister, with a real family to love her, too.

“Crowds are a little overwhelming sometimes,” Gunn’s friend said. “Gunn’s very lucky. To have a big family.” Oh, mind reading powers with this one—she had been thinking that very thing, after all.

“Totally. I only have Aubs. We’ve stuck together my whole life. Mostly. We had a few years we were separated by the evil old state. Do you have a big family?” There was something a little sad about this Emerson Riordan. A hurting look in his blue eyes. But she sensed he was a kind man at heart. Just a little… hurting. Well, Ayla understood that, too. “Brothers or sisters?”

“I have an older brother. Collin. He’s the sheriff back in Evalyn, Nebraska. My father was the sheriff before.”

“Is he married? Do you have nieces or nephews? Ihopeto have lots of nieces and nephews very soon,” Ayla said. She shot her sister a grin. “Aubrey just won’t get to it, though. She’s a little stubborn. Just a little.”

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