Page 107 of An Unfinished Memory

A black pickup coasted to a stop in front of the camper. Austen poked his head out the window. “Heard you were going to try to have a party without us.”

This trip got better and better. My entire family was here.

“You weren’t invited,” Wilder snapped and grinned at Eliot behind the wheel.

Eliot scratched the side of his face with his middle finger.

Wilder shook his head, a smile playing over his lips. “Glad you two troublemakers could make it.”

Austen’s grin was wide as usual. “You tell me you quit and are having a party? I’m not missing out.”

He and Eliot hopped out of the pickup.

“How’d you get leave so fast, Austen?” Aggie asked. Her husband came to a stop beside them, Ro on his hip.

Austen’s trademark lazy grin was wide. “I’m retired. Surprise. I had to rush a few things when Eliot told me what was going on, but I made it happen.”

Delight ran through me. I had enjoyed Austen’s visits, more because of the way he could draw out Wilder’s lighter side. Austen was the only brother he hadn’t been in competition with.

“The real surprise is that Austen kept a secret,” Wilder grumbled, but he rose and slapped his brother’s back.

Austen let go of Wilder and held his arms out. It was like the guys had all woken up and coordinated their outfits. Jeans, boots, and a hoodie with the name of one of the Knight family companies. “Sutton, bring it in. You made him squirm, and I’m sad to say I missed most of it.”

“Jackass,” Wilder muttered under his breath.

I gave Austen a hug. He lifted me and squeezed. He was as big as his brothers, but he had a strength that didn’t show in his lanky body. “Glad to have you back, second sis.”

“Nice you could make it.” I patted his back after he let me go. “Cody and Aggie brought a ton of chairs. Pull one up.”

Wilder sat back down and pulled me on top of him. I happily settled on his lap.

Austen took the seat next to me and nodded to Tova and Ansen. “Hey.” He switched his gaze to Vienne. She was fiddling with the jangles on her wrist. “Hey, V.”

She gave him a polite grin. “Austen. Nice to see you again.”

“KitKat,” he said in a teasing tone, and Catherine fought to keep her lips shut around her mouthful as shegrinned. She wiggled her finger in greeting. “Or should I say ‘Howdy, neighbors?’”

Vienne’s eyes widened. “Neighbor?” She’d always been aloof around Austen. He’d flirted with her as much as he did every woman who crossed his path. She’d never said a thing about him, and I assumed she’d kept her distance since Aggie was his sister, and Tova and I were second and third sisters. She wasn’t interested, and she didn’t want us to think she was.

He kicked his long legs out. “I bought the house Cody used to rent.”

She tightened her fingers around a metal band. “It was for sale?”

“Nope. Cody hooked me up with the owners, and I made an offer.”

“Oh.” Vienne sat back.

“Yep.” Austen adjusted his ball cap. His hair was longer than he usually kept it. How long had he been retired? “It’s gonna need a lot of work.”

A choking sound came from Vienne. “That house is over one hundred and twenty-five years old. It’s one of the original houses in Crocus Valley.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “It’s pretty damn old.”

Her eyes flared wider. I exchanged a look with Aggie and then Tova, who was already peeking at us to see if we noticed the same thing. Vienne was not happy about the house getting purchased by Austen, and she didn’t seem to be thrilled with her new neighbor.

Austen swiveled his attention to me and Wilder, oblivious or uncaring about Vienne’s house angst. “When’s the wedding?”

Catherine snorted, and Vienne shot her a warning look.

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