Page 66 of Wanted By You

Back in my truck, with two apple pies and a container of ice cream sitting in a bag at Cassidy’s feet, we’re on our way to my folks’ place. I spare a brief glance at her gazing out the window, fidgeting with her phone in hand. “What’s on your mind, darlin’?”

She sighs, her shoulders dropping. “Is it wrong if I decide not to unblock Madison? I mean, we were best friends for so long…I just don’t know if I can forget everything that’s happened.”

I gather she’s referring to her ex and the scene at the bar, but I wouldn’t doubt there’s even more to the story I wasn’t present for. “Your call,” I tell her. “But if she doesn’t bring anything good into your life, then what’s the point?”

Her light laughter has me glancing between her and the road. “What?”

“Nothing.” Her tone is teasing as she rests her hand over mine that’s been planted on her upper thigh since we got in the truck. “I love you.”

Music to my ears. “I love you, too, baby,” I say, pressing my thumb into the bare skin of her thigh as my hand eases a slow path upward. My fingers graze over the denim of her shorts andthe heat radiating from the apex of her thighs has me groaning. “Remind me again why you decided not to wear the sundress you had on earlier.”

She laughs, nudging my hand away. “Because of this exact reason,” she teases. “And I know it’s your favorite.”Damn right, it is. “I can’t have you distracting me while I’m trying to make a good impression on your family.”

I scoff for the hundredth time over her continued concern they won’t like her. It’s wild to me she thinks anyone could dislike her. “You’re with me, Sunshine. Trust me, they’ll love you,” I say, turning down the long drive of my parents’ property stationed about a mile down the mountain from my place.

She readjusts in her seat, leaning forward as the trees part to reveal the place I grew up. The white, mountainside farmhouse with oak accents sits facing the west, complete with a wraparound porch. It’s been pictured in severalCountry Homemagazines and is the object of my mother’s Christmas decorating obsession during the holidays.

“What if they don’t?” Cassidy’s whispered question has me stopping the truck before getting to the end of the driveway.

I throw the truck in park and turn to her. When she lifts those same doe eyes that hooked me over three years ago, I say, “I don’t care what they think. Haven’t I made that clear? No one else matters now but you.” She opens her mouth to argue my point, I’m sure, but I press on. “Sure, I care about my family and all that, butyou, Sunshine,youare my priority. Whether they like you or not doesn’t change the fact you’re mine.”

She nods weakly, meeting me over the center console. We kiss, soft and slow, until she sits back with a sigh. “Promise?”

A loud, long hold of a car horn blares from behind, causing Cassidy to jump.

I scowl, glaring in the rearview at Levi and Rhett carpooling in Levi’s piece of shit Ford. He waves, honking the horn several times in quick bursts.Idiot.

“You know I do,” I grunt, shifting the truck out of park and pulling into the spot beside Duke’s work truck before killing the engine. “And if any one of my dipshit brothers says anything to make you doubt how fucking incredible you are, you better damn well tell me.” I try to keep some of the bite out of my tone, but the very idea she could change her mind about me—aboutus—isn’t something I want in my head.

Duke’s already given his stamp of approval on Cass. Beau isn’t even stateside and I haven’t spoken to him in easily three months since he got shipped overseas for his third tour. Rhett’s head is on straight, but the guy can’t learn to mind his own fucking business. Levi might as well be crowned the town’s idiot playboy. And Lily can be a real bitch when she wants to be.

Damn. This might not be a good idea after all.

Her soft touch and sultry voice bring me back from starting this truck back up and throwing it in reverse. “Don’t go getting anxious on me,” she says teasingly. “Only one of us is allowed to have anxiety at a time.”

I chuckle, swiftly kissing her before pushing my door open. “Then let’s go.”

Taking the bag from her hands, I introduce her to my brothers, Rhett and Levi, as they come up behind us. It may be a small town, but Cassidy mentioned she doesn’tknowthem in any context of the word. Just knowsofthem.

Funny how the small-town gossip train can still be so lacking in the details when it’s everyone’s favorite pastime.

Cassidy takes my free hand, gripping it tightly as I lead us up to the porch. The moment the front door flies open, it’s a barrage of hellos and hugs from my parents and siblings with Cassidy at the center of it all. At first, her eyes widen and cheeks flush at theoverwhelming welcome to the point I worry I may have to haul her away just to let her breathe.

“You can call me Julie,” my mother tells her, releasing her from a tight embrace. “Or Mom, whatever you like. And this is my husband, Clayton.”

My father shakes Cassidy’s hand. “I’d prefer Clayton, calling meMomfeels too formal.”

I shake my head with a chuckle, as do my brothers. Our father has always been either a hard-ass or a jokester. There’s never been much of an in-between with him.

Cassidy wins over my father immediately with a genuine burst of laughter she gives his lame dad joke. And my mother snatches the grocery bag from my hand and whisks my girl away into the house. We all follow her lead, heading inside where it’s easy to see Ma went overboard. Yet again.

“Good one bringing your woman, Butch.” Levi claps me on the back with a laugh. “We’ll be eatin’ good tonight.”

Duke comes out from the dining room, a scowl on his face. “That’s no shit. I made the mistake of showing up early. Ma had me dusting before I could get my damn shoes off.”

I grin. My mother’s always been big on first impressions—I suppose she and Cass have that in common—and it warms my heart she’s going above and beyond to make Cassidy feel welcome. The sound of her laughter alongside the chatter from my mother and sister has my feet moving in her direction.

“Uncle Butts,” Parker shouts, barreling toward me.

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