Page 38 of Fixing to Be Mine

A week and a half of hand-holding, rodeos, family dinners, and pretending I’m not attracted to the most irresistible man who’s too young for me will be fine … said no runaway bride ever. But even so, moving forward with him feels like everything I need in my life right now.

CHAPTER TEN

COLT

The second I finish getting dressed, I regret every life choice that led me to invite a woman I hardly know to my family dinner. It’s a big deal, even if we’re only friends. An unspoken rule that’s always been followed is to only bring someone to dinner if they mean something. My brothers have only invited women they were serious about.

Tonight is a statement.

They’ll see the truth in my eyes, especially Remi. She always reads me better than any of them. Twin life, I suppose.

I hear something fall in the bathroom, and I move into the hallway. She continues humming a soft tune, so it must have been nothing.

For the past hour, Sunny’s been holed up in the bathroom, like she’s soothing herself before walking into a lion’s den full of Texans who love nothing more than being nosy. I’m already praying they don’t bombard her with questions. But I know they probably will.

I think what scares me the most is that I want them to like her as much as I do. If they don’t, it will be confirmation that there is no future for us. My family is everything, and I need a woman who fits into my life.

I rub a hand over the back of my neck and try to remind myself that I’m thinking too far ahead. This is a temporary two-week situation that’ll end in time to ruin me.

I lean against the hallway wall and wait. She’s been quiet for over a minute, and that worries me more than the humming.

Eventually, I move to the bathroom door and lightly knock twice. “You alive in there, darlin’?”

“Partially,” she calls back, voice muffled but teasing. “Your bathroom lighting is offensive. I’m scared I look like a clown.”

I smirk despite myself. “Didn’t realize. I’ll upgrade it for you. I’m sure you look great.”

The door opens a crack, and I meet her green eyes, which sparkle like gemstones, then roam down to her red lips. She bites the corner, and I force myself to take a step away before I cross a line that we’re not ready to tumble over.

Sunny’s wearing a cute sundress that’s a soft sage green. It hits mid-thigh and clings to her in a way that makes me forget how words work. Her dark hair is down in loose waves, and for the first time, I notice she’s wearing earrings—diamonds that flash every time she moves.

She tilts her head and smiles. “You’re staring.”

“Yep,” I say because I’ve given up pretending. “You’re dazzling.”

She gives me a slow once-over, her eyes trailing up to my cowboy hat. “You clean up nice too, cowboy.”

I’m wearing a plaid pearl-buttoned shirt and dark jeans, along with my nice boots. The belt buckle isn’t obnoxious, but it’s there. This is my usual Thursday best. Mama doesn’t care if we show up looking like we rolled with pigs because she’d rather us come messy than miss a gathering.

“Who am I meeting tonight? Can you give me a quick run-down?” she asks sweetly as I follow her into the bedroom.

I lean against the wall as she sits on the bed and puts on some strappy heels.

“Okay, so take a deep breath first.”

“Um, not sure I like the sound of that,” she says, glancing up at me.

“Hope you’re good at remembering people.” I grin. “There’s my older brother, Beckett. He’ll be the one checking you out like a parole officer. His wife, Summer, is sweet and owns the bed-and-breakfast over at Horseshoe Creek Ranch. She’ll probably ask you to stay forever. She and Beckett used to hate each other, but now they’re inseparable. Also, Summer is Kinsley’s best friend.”

Sunny laughs. “That’s a cute love story.”

“It wasn’t cute when they were trying to rip out each other’s jugular.

“Then we have Kinsley, my oldest sister. She’s real woo-woo—charges her crystals during a full moon, and she might try to read your palm if you get too close. Her partner is Hayden Shaw, and his family owns Main Street Books. He’s got the best book recs in town. A nice guy who treats my sister right. They were high school sweethearts, and then they broke up. A couple of years ago, he moved back to Valentine to be with Kinsley.”

“Oh. Now you’re spilling tea.”

I shoot her a wink. “You won’t forget them because of it. Now, Remi’s my twin, who you already met. Cash, the guy at her place when you waltzed in, searching for yours truly, is her husband. They got married a few weeks ago. He’s the only equine vet around town. The clinic is on Horseshoe Creek Ranch. You might’ve seen it when you stopped by.”

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