Page 89 of Shelter from the Storm

“Do you?” Mila asked.

“No,” Theo grumbled, as Gretchen shoulder-bumped him. “I need to get better at planning ahead.”

“You’re bad at sharing,” Gretchen teased him.

“It’s not that I’m bad. It’s just that I was one of seven boys. Growing up, you had to get in there and grab what you wanted or you’d never get anything,” he explained, giving her a quick kiss.

Gretchen’s cheeks flushed pink every time he kissed her or hugged her in front of his family, which was why he did it as often as he could. He loved to see the color on her face, as well as the exasperated eye roll that always followed. Gretchen thought they should keep their blooming relationship more low-key, while Theo would hire a plane to write in the sky that she was his if she’d let him.

“You guys are so sweet, I swear I’m getting a cavity,” Jace said, grinning widely.

Theo picked up one of the throw pillows from the couch and tossed it at his kid brother’s head. “You’re jealous.”

“Maybe,” Jace admitted. “I mean, I’m looking forward to meeting my girl and falling in love at first touch. But until then, I still have a lot of wild oats to sow.”

Gretchen shook her head. “You guys and that love-at-first-touch story. You do realize there are a ton of nice girls here in Gracemont who’d be perfect for you, Jace. Why not ask one or two of them out and try the dating thing? Why do you think there needs to be this instalove connection?”

Jace considered that. “I’m not saying I don’t already know my perfect match. After all, Levi and Kasi knew each other forever. It’s just that the time isn’t right yet for me and my Miss Right. When it is, fate will let me know.”

“With a touch?” Gretchen asked.

Jace nodded, confidence radiating from him. “With a single touch.”

She didn’t continue the argument, and Theo knew why. She’d confessed a couple of days ago that she’d felt the same spark he had when they shook hands that first day. She’d also heard Kasi and Levi’s story a few times, from both his brother’s and his girlfriend’s perspectives, as well as Mom and Dad’s, and he suspected she was slowly becoming a believer.

“I have been sent from the kitchen to fetch Gretchen to the queen,” Sam said regally, acting like some sort of squire.

On Sundays, they referred to their mother as the queen, because she presided over the kitchen and the dining room, treating both as her domain. As such, they were used to following her orders on how to set the table and what the menu would be. Just as they knew a summons to the kitchen meant Mom wanted a heart-to-heart…over wine, of course. No doubt she was worried about how Gretchen was doing following the Briggs ordeal.

The fact Gretchen hopped up without reservation warmed him all the way through, because he loved the way his mom and his true love had bonded.

“I’ll be right back,” Gretchen said, with a sunny smile.

Theo chuckled. “No rush. I think it’ll probably take the two of you a little while to polish off the bottle of wine she’s got stashed in there for you.”

“Oooh, wine.” Gretchen clapped her hands. “I stand corrected. I won’t be right back.”

Sam waited a few beats, until Gretchen was gone, before he said, “Only two and a half months on this farm and she’s already acting like a Storm.” His brother’s grin told him how much Sam liked that idea. “You’re a lucky son of a bitch, Theo.”

“Buy the ring yet?” Jace asked.

Mila giggled. “I bet he’s had it for weeks.”

Theo leaned back and sighed. “Not going to lie. The last three times I’ve driven by Becker’s Jewelry store, I’ve been tempted to stop. But I keep on driving because Gretchen’s nowhere near ready for that. She’s just gotten out of a nightmare relationship that lasted six years.”

Jace moved to the couch and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing, bro, giving her time. But considering the way Gretchen looks at you, I’d say she’s not as far away from where you want to be as you think.”

Theo hoped his brother was right, because every day he spent with her solidified his belief that the only life he wanted was one with her.

“Thanks, Jace. Excuse me a second,” Theo said, when his phone started ringing. He pulled it from his pocket…blowing out a slow breath when he saw the name on the screen. “I need to take this.”

He stepped out of the living room as he answered, quickly walking for the front door. He wanted to have this conversation in private.

“Hello.”

“Hi. This is Shaw Parker. Is this Theo Storm?”

“Yes,” Theo replied, hoping he hadn’t made the mother of all mistakes. After all, he’d spent last night reassuring Gretchen he didn’t want to control her life, that he only wanted to be a part of it.

---