Page 15 of Belong With Me

He nodded and they both stood from their place at the table. I watched with curiosity as Logan leaned towards Savannah and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be back for that dessert in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

My attention left them the moment Ryder leaned down and grasped my shoulder with his hand. “Anything else you need me to get from the car?” His hand was warm and it comforted me on some level.

Looking up at him, I shook my head. “Nope. Just the three bags in the trunk, please.”

“No worries, I’ll grab them for you.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you?” I asked.

Logan responded this time. “Nope. This is a man’s job, sugar. You stay here with the girls and relax. We won’t be long.”

My eyes tracked to Logan who was already in the hallway. “Okay. Thank you.”

Ryder left the table, meeting up with Logan in the entryway. “Let’s get this show on the road.” Logan switched his baseball cap around, so it faced backwards. “Back soon, ladies,” he called as I heard the front door swing open.

I busied myself with the plates, stacking them up and scraping the leftovers into one of the empty serving bowls. For the amount of food that was on the table, and how quick the meal was, there was surprisingly little left. I guess that’s what happened when two country boys were at the table.

As I followed Mackenzie into the kitchen, I noticed she picked up the remaining sausages and chopped them. “The dogs love cold sausages. I’ll give them to Ry tomorrow for when he’s out,” she explained, happily talking away. She scraped them into a Tupperware container, fastening the lid before placing them in the fridge. I noticed she left only one whole. “But I can’t have our brother complaining either, he already says they are spoiled.

“Are you talking about the two dogs he had with him when he came across me?” I asked.

“Yeah. They’re his boys: Milo is the collie and Oz is the other one, he is an Australian shepherd. He’s had them now for about three years. Dotes on them like they’re his children,” Savannah informed me, while she began to wash the dishes.

“Where can I find a tea towel?” I offered. After putting the plates down, I felt like I needed to do something else to help out.

“In the middle drawer near Kenzie’s legs.”

I bent down to grab a towel out, only just avoiding her knees, and walked to stand beside Savannah. Taking the first plate from her hands when offered, I set to the task of drying and then placed the crockery on the bench beside me. From there, Kenzie took them and started putting them away, making us one productive chain.

“So, where are you from? I can’t seem to place your accent.”

Biting my lip, I pondered how much of the truth I should give away. “Louisiana. Although I spent some time in Massachusetts a few years back. Is my accent really that obvious?” I laughed half-heartedly.

“Well, it’s a darn sight different to ours,” Savannah told me.

“You must have some amazing shopping where you’re from, if you can get Chanel and Hermes,” Kenzie piped in.

Her interruption was the perfect segue into a conversation I could happily have.

“I’ve always wanted a Vera Wang dress when I get married.” Kenzie put the last plate away before starting on the cutlery Savannah had placed in the dishrack. “Though I’ve also wanted a Dolce & Gabbana dress for a few years now.” She proceeded to name almost every designer I could think of.

“You’d probably love my wardrobe back home then,” I told her, handing her the last serving platter. “In fact, when my luggage gets here, I’ll let you have a look at what I brought. I think I’ve got five or six outfits for nearly every day I’m here.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened and she paused when I heard a noise outside. The dogs started barking loudly.

“That would be the boys, just as everything is finished up. As per usual.” Savannah sighed. After opening the fridge, she began pulling bowls from inside.

“Kenzie, can you grab a few spoons for these?” Savannah asked as she walked the bowls through to the dining room.

“Can I bring anything in?” I called.

“Only yourself,” Kenzie told me as she headed out.

Taking a moment, I leaned against the counter and cracked my neck. My back was starting to ache a little bit, and I was in desperate need of a hot shower and a soft bed.

“Oh my God.”

I quickly walked out to where I heard Kenzie’s excited squeal. “What’s wrong?”

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