Page 3 of Curvy Girl and the Ex-Military Cowboy

"I'll get it, Uncle Aaron!" she calls over her shoulder, her little cowboy boots clomping across the hardwood.

"Lily, wait—" Vincent starts, but she's already yanking open the heavy front door with the determination only a five-year-old can muster.

I follow quickly, painfully aware of all my brothers trailing behind me like some bizarre parade. And there she is.

Elena stands on our porch, looking exactly like her pictures but somehow completely different in real life. Her dark hair is pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she's wearing a modest blue dressthat looks both professional and pretty. A small suitcase sits beside her, and she's clutching her purse like it might float away if she lets go.

When our eyes meet, I see a flash of panic that I'm sure mirrors my own. This is not how this was supposed to go.

"Hello," Lily announces grandly before any adult can speak. "I'm Lily Covington. Who are you?"

Elena's startled expression softens as she looks down at Lily. "Hello, Lily. I'm Elena." Her accent is subtle but present, her voice softer than I remember from our calls.

I step forward, trying to ignore the feeling of four pairs of curious eyes burning into my back.

"Elena, hi. Welcome to Covington Ranch."

She gives me a small smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Hello, Aaron. Thank you for having me."

I can practically feel the questions forming behind me.

"Aaron," Jackson says, stepping forward with his hand extended. "Care to introduce your... friend?"

I clear my throat. "Right. Everyone, this is Elena. She's, uh, an old friend. We haven't seen each other in a long time. Elena, these are my brothers—Jackson, Cole, Ethan, and Vincent. And you've met Lily."

Elena shakes Jackson's hand politely. "Hello. It's nice to meet you all."

"An old friend," Cole repeats, not bothering to hide his skepticism. "From where exactly?"

"We met... online," I say, which isn't technically a lie. "Through a... mutual friend."

"Online," Ethan echoes, left eyebrow arched.

Vincent, bless him, seems to sense my distress. "Well, any friend of Aaron's is welcome here. Are you staying in town?"

Elena glances at me, clearly uncertain how to answer.

"She's staying here," I say firmly. "In the guest room. For a while."

The silence that follows is deafening.

Jackson crosses his arms. "Well, isn't that interesting. Aaron's never mentioned you before, Elena."

"Aaron doesn't mention a lot of things," she responds quietly, and I have to suppress a smile at her quick thinking.

Lily tugs on Elena's dress. "Do you like horses? We have lots of horses."

Elena's expression softens again. "I do like horses, very much."

"Then you should stay forever," Lily declares with the absolute certainty of childhood.

I watch Elena's cheeks flush pink, and our eyes meet again over Lily's head. There's something there—uncertainty, yes, but also a quiet determination that matches my own. We're in this strange situation together now, for better or worse.

"Why don't we all go back inside?" Vincent suggests, gently pulling Lily back. "Ethan's making lunch, and I'm sure Elena would like to get settled."

As my brothers file back inside, with Lily chattering excitedly about showing Elena all the animals, I hang back for a moment.

"I'm sorry," I say quietly. "This isn't how I planned it."

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