Page 97 of Love in the Storm

Asa’s gaze landed on Lyric across the room. She scooped sandwich triangles onto a serving dish at a nearby table, all while smiling and nodding at Mrs. Harding’s story.

Lyric had no clue how much he loved her. He’d been trying to put it into words for months, but they all fell short. The woman had his heart wrapped up tight with a pretty bow on top, served to her on a silver platter.

He stepped up beside Mrs. Harding and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She turned to embrace him and pat his back. The Hardings were like family, and Mrs. Harding had babysat Asa quite a few times in his younger years. She had five boys of her own and a nephew. It wasn’t much different adding another boy to the mix.

“Jacob is a good one. He’s growing up so fast. I was just telling Lyric about the day he was born.”

Asa’s shoulders tightened. “Oh? What about it?”

Mrs. Harding narrowed her eyes at him with a smirk. “Nothing. Just that you were indisposed.”

Lyric whipped around to face them. Her dark hair fanned out around her before falling in light waves over one shoulder. “She said you passed out.”

“It wasn’tthatbad,” Asa defended.

“I heard you sat in a chair while a nurse fanned you. All while Danielle did the heavy lifting,” Mrs. Harding said.

Lyric chuckled and bit her teeth between her lips.

Okay, not his brightest moment.

“It was stressful. There was a lot of yelling in pain going on.”

Mrs. Harding patted his chest. “It was very tough first responder of you.”

Asa grinned. Mrs. Harding never pulled her punches, but no one expected her to after raising six boys. “I’ve had more honorable days.”

“You made up for it in spades since then. He’s a good boy. Gonna be a good man someday too.”

“I have no doubt,” Lyric added. “Speaking of Jacob, have you seen him?”

“I was looking for him myself. People are starting to leave, and they keep asking where he is.”

Lyric placed the last sandwich on the tray and pulled the plastic gloves off her hands. “I’ll help you look for him.”

They stepped out into the hallway by the dining hall, and Lyric slipped her hand into his.

Asa pressed a kiss to the soft skin on the back of her hand. “Thank you for making his party great.”

“I think he had a blast. Oh, and he’s gonna love our present when we get home.”

Heat spread in Asa’s chest.Ourpresent.Home. He wanted more words signifying their union.

He wanted it all. With Lyric.

They turned the corner and found Jacob and Dawson sitting on the last two steps of a staircase looking at something on Dawson’s phone.

Jacob jumped up when he saw them. “Dad. Lyric. Come here. You have to see what Dawson got me.”

Oh no. Asa hadn’t circled back around to the topic with Dawson. The present that wouldwinJacob’s birthday could be anything. Dawson had no limits.

Jacob grabbed the phone and held it up in front of Asa and Lyric. “It’s a car!”

“A what?” Lyric shouted.

“He found a ’69 Porsche 911! It needs some work, and Beau said we could work on it at his place.”

Asa stared at the image on the phone. Dang it, Dawson won. “That’s insane.”

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