Page 18 of Dreaming About Forever

“You can call me Alicia.”

Clint flashed a white smile beneath his short beard. One crooked tooth on the bottom only served to make him more charming. “And you can call me whatever you want, as long as you call me.”

Alicia’s eyes widened as her cheeks heated. Clint knew how to lay it on thick, but the flirting made her smile nonetheless.

Jordan stepped up beside her. She felt his presence like a breeze before a storm. Harmless, yet promising something stronger to come. “Cut it out, Clint.”

Clint held up his hands. “I’m just being friendly.”

A huff drew Alicia’s attention toward Jordan beside her. She had to look up at him, which was intimidating on its own. Add in the death stare he was giving Clint, and Alicia’s feet itched to run for cover.

“You can’t do that the entire time she’s here,” Jordan said.

Clint leaned in and whispered, “He’s always a wet blanket.”

“Clint,” Jordan said, low with a careful warning.

“Boys,” Vicci said with all of her motherly authority.

Alicia took a deep breath and clasped her hands in front of her. The tension was palpable in the small entryway, and the hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end.

“Well, um. Is there anyone else I might meet today?” Alicia asked, desperate to change the subject.

“You’ll meet our daughter, Caroline, soon. She’s working right now, but I’m sure she’ll be around later. She’s been chomping at the bit to meet you.”

“She’ll squeal. You’ve been warned,” Clint said.

Vicci leaned in to whisper, “She’s quite a fan of your music. She’s our only daughter, so she’ll be happy to have another woman around.”

“That’s sweet. She doesn’t work on the ranch?”

“She works at The Cakery in town,” Clint said, leaning against the doorframe.

“The Cakery?” Alicia asked.

“It’s a bakery, but they make specialty cakes too,” Vicci explained.

“That sounds like fun. I’d love to see it sometime.” Alicia hadn’t been to a bakery in years. Her pre-tour diet didn’t allow sweets of any kind, and type 1 diabetes only allowed them in moderation.

“Lillian sent me a list of approved foods for you. I’m sure cake is on there,” Vicci said with a wink.

“Oh, it’s probably not.” Alicia’s whole face burned. Not only was she invading the privacy of their home, but Lillian expected them to cater to her dietary restrictions.

Vicci shrugged. “It can be if you want it to be. I’ll just pencil it in at the bottom. Cake is good for your soul, sweetheart.”

Alicia looked around the cabin, blinking back the moisture in her eyes. Vicci was right. Alicia’s soul was starving. There was a hollowness inside her that she hadn’t been able to fill in years.

She cleared her throat and put her hands behind her back. “Are there any other Taylor siblings?”

“Well, there’s Dom,” Clint said.

“We don’t talk about Dom,” Vicci, Grant, and Jordan said in unison.

Alicia’s gaze darted between the family members. “Who is Dom?”

Vicci pasted on a smile. “Dom is our middle boy. He’s taking some time to himself.”

“He’s in prison,” Clint clarified.

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