Page 72 of Love on Deck

My gut reaction was to ask them not to tell anyone about the elopement, but by now I was guessing it wouldn’t matter. Kevin and Amelia planned on approaching his parents tonight to give them the news.

“Congratulations,” I said to Tucker. “I hear it’s a big accomplishment.”

“Thank you.” His smile looked like Jack’s, but the rest of him was pretty different. He was built more like a linebacker than for a suit and a boardroom. Neither of them were as tall as Colt.

Tucker faced his brother again. “Didn’t expect you, though.”

“I thought I’d surprise you after Annie told me about the party.”

Tucker’s neck went pink. “I just didn’t want you to feel obligated to come out, man. Everyone’s making a big deal out of it, but—”

“It is a big deal,” Colt said, cutting him off. “You worked hard to get here, Tucker. Don’t minimize your accomplishments.”

I liked Colt already.

“Says the slacker.” Tucker grabbed Colt by the head and bent it down into his armpit or somewhere in that region. I wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but it looked like some sort of brotherly wrestling move. “It doesn’t take much to impress you.”

A woman stepped from the kitchen, wearing a cherry-dotted apron. Her blonde hair reached her collar bone, but the back was teased high and kept in place by at least half a bottle of hairspray. She had dainty features, and I could see a resemblance with Annie right away. “My boys,” she said, lifting her arms until Jack returned the hug.

“Hi, Momma.”

Well, melt my little urban heart. Who knew a man could be so attractive for openly loving his momma in that faint Texan drawl? I was pretty sure it had gotten thicker when we entered the town boundaries.

“Who’d you bring?” she asked, turning eagle eyes on me that carried the weight of one of the longhorns we’d passed coming inside.

“This is my friend, Lauren. Her sister just married Kevin on that cruise I told you about.”

Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes lit up. “Congratulations. We like Kevin.”

“He’s pretty great,” I agreed.

“Well, don’t be staying out here too long. We have cake in the kitchen, drinks in the coolers. We are a bit casual,” she added, leaning close and squeezing my shoulder. “And always happy to have one more.”

I felt it. I felt the way she was welcoming me, a complete stranger, into her home. The warm smile she gave me that slid back over to her son was authentic. Her subsequent scowl was just as fierce. “Now quit standing around here and get this girl a piece of cake.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jack led me toward the kitchen.

Annie had disappeared, but I saw her sitting on Levi’s knee on the end of the couch. Everyone was so comfortable with one another here, one giant mash of people who were happy to spend the night chatting and munching on treats.

It was so relaxing, the vibe in the room comfortable. This was what a big family felt like? It was exactly what my dreams had been filled with for the last twenty years, but I hadn’t even known it.

The kitchen was the same farmhouse chic as the living room, except a little heavier on the farmhouse. This place wasn’t decorated from a trip to Waco and Joanna Gaines’s warehouse—it was the type of house that inspired people like Joanna Gaines. The farmhouse and the chic were both here, authentic and warm and clean. Three pans of Texas sheet cake lined the counter surrounded by a mishmash of cookies and bars and things people had brought with them.

“Which one’s the good cake?” I asked.

Jack lifted an eyebrow, cutting and dishing up a portion of the Texas sheet cake and handing it to me... of which there was quite a lot left.

I took a bite. Mmm delicious. “Why are y’all calling it a cake? You know this is a brownie right?”

“Brownie isn’t in the name.”

“Everyone knows it’s a brownie, though,” I said.

“Then why is it called Texas sheet cake?”

“Not relevant.”

He grinned, cutting himself a piece and taking a huge bite.

---