Page 70 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
Ansley smiled, her fingers curling around his.“I wanted to wear it.I needed to wear it.I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”He turned the band again, rubbing his thumb across the little diamonds.“I need you.I need your courage and fire.I need your smiles and laughter.You have a way of making all things seem possible.”
“All things are possible,” she said, holding his hand tightly.“We just have to stick together.”
“We’ll do it here, in Marietta,” he said.“You’re happy here and if we found a place close to town, my mom would be happy, too.I don’t want her feeling isolated anymore.”
“I agree.”Suddenly tears filled Ansley’s eyes.“And I promise to be a good daughter-in-law.I promise to be a good sister to Jasper and your sisters—”
“I have no doubt about it.”
She hesitated.“I have something to share, too.”Her head lifted and her blue gaze met his.“Some of my family has come out this week.It seems my brothers want to meet you, make sure your intentions are good.”
“They know we’re engaged.”
“I didn’t tell them.I only put the ring on after they’d all arrived and demanded information.”
“Then how?”
“My mom.”Ansley made a face.“She wasn’t trying to get them all out here, but she mentioned to Van that things were looking serious between us, and within two days the brothers were flying in.My uncle’s house is pretty full, so full in fact that three of my brothers are bunking down at the Wyatt’s.”
“When do I meet everyone?”he asked, sitting back to allow the waitress to set their hot plates in front of them.
“Today.”Ansley reached for the salt and pepper.“If you’re up for it.”
He thought for a moment, shrugged.“Might as well get the introductions over.It can’t be any worse than your first impression of us in Eureka.”
Ansley wrinkled her nose.“I wouldn’t count on it.The Campbell brothers are a whole thing.”She pushed the salt and pepper across the table, but he wanted the hot sauce.
“Long as they’re friendly.”
“No one should throw a punch, if that’s what you mean.”
Rye suddenly laughed.“Sounds interesting.”
“So you don’t mind if we head up after breakfast?”she asked.
“No.”
She suddenly frowned.“Oh, they still think I’m moving to Eureka, and just to lay all the cards on the table, there was some pushback.”
“Because Eureka is a long drive from Marietta?”
“There was concern that I was abandoning Uncle Clyde, and it seems from what he’s told Mom, my uncle has grown attached to me.”She laughed and shrugged.“Who knew?”
Rye had picked up his fork but for a moment he could only look at Ansley, all gold and glowing, so full of sunshine.He didn’t know why she loved him, but he wasn’t complaining.“Good thing we’re staying close.”
*
They left Ansley’scar on Bramble in front of the bed-and-breakfast and drove together to Cold Canyon Ranch in Rye’s truck.
“Tell me everyone’s names,” Rye said as they left Highway 89 and headed east for the mountains.
“My mom is Andrea,” Ansley said, “and my dad’s name is Callen, but he’s not here, thankfully.It’s going to be hard enough with the brothers.”She exhaled as if suddenly nervous.“The oldest is Vander, he’s a navy fighter pilot, and then it’s Knox, he’s a tech guy and lives in Austin, and then it’s Lachlan, Duncan, and Fin, he’s the youngest.Fin’s my favorite.We were pretty close growing up.He’s eighteen months older than me but we were just a year apart in school.”
Arriving at the house, Rye parked next to the vehicles already there, two cars and two trucks.Ansley’s mom came out of the house and met them in the driveway.She looked more Ansley’s older sister than her mom, wearing stylish jeans and a pink and white striped T-shirt that showed off a trim figure.Her long highlighted blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail.“So good to meet you,” Andrea said, giving Rye a hug.“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re here.”
“I understand your sons are here,” Rye answered.
