The house smelled as welcoming as his parents’ house had when he was growing up. Trixie’s voice whispered through his mind. Inviting friends and family over every once in a while would make your house homier. She sure had that Southern comfort down pat. But she’d been starry-eyed all day, and he wondered if she was trying not to think about the fact that she was leaving tomorrow, too. He’d finally slowed her down in the shower, and he’d almost asked her if that was what she was doing, but he’d needed to be closer to her more than he’d needed to know. Showering with her, and when they washed each other, had become one of his favorite parts of the day. No matter what else was going on, that time together centered him, and he knew it did the same for her, because when he bathed her, she softened in ways that were different from any other time. He wasn’t looking forward to going back to his three-minute solo showers. And tonight he was as selfish as could be, because he wished he didn’t have to share her with everyone else.
Jesus Christ. Stop being a pansy.
“Are you even listening to me?” Trixie turned toward him with her hand on her hip.
“Huh? Sorry. I was just thinking about Pugsly.” He cocked a grin. “Wondering if I should leash him to my wrist to make sure you don’t steal him.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” she teased, and closed the distance between them.
She was gorgeous in an off-white dressy tank top with gold trim and a yellow floral miniskirt that hugged her waist and flounced around her thighs. He reached for her, drawing her onto his lap, her knees straddling his waist.
She pressed her lips to his and said, “We have so much to do before everyone gets here.”
“Shh, beautiful.” He brushed her hair over her shoulder and ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “I just want a second alone with you.” He gazed into her eyes, and that familiar zing of electricity sparked between them, but the hunger in her eyes was shadowed by sadness, landing like lead in his gut. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? We’ve had an amazing month, and we’re going to have a great time tonight.”
She tried to get up, but he held tight, keeping her on his lap. “So you’re not trying to avoid thinking about leaving tomorrow?”
“Of course I am, but if I talk about it, I’ll cry. So we’re not talking about it.”
He hugged her. “We’re going to be fine, darlin’. I promise.”
“I know. I’m just going to miss you. I got used to seeing your stubborn face every day. But we are not going to talk about it. I just did my makeup, and I don’t need to fall apart. I’ll have two hours in the truck to do that tomorrow.”
Hell if that image didn’t slay him.
She climbed off his lap. “Come on, we have a lot to do before everyone gets here.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms. “Slow down a second. I don’t want you to fall apart tomorrow. I want you to know, to believe with everything you have, that we’ll be okay. We spent a whole month together breaking down walls, overcoming jealousy, and figuring each other out.”
“Becoming a couple,” she said softly.
“Exactly, and you’re well on your way to making your dreams a reality. You need to be focused on that and trust in us, because there’s nothing we can’t do, darlin’.”
She kissed his chin. “I know, cowboy.”
“And you want this, right? Starting your business? A long-distance relationship?”
“Yes! More than anything.”
“All right, then. No falling apart. Now, what are you waiting for? Get your pretty little ass out there, before I strip off that sexy outfit and cancel the barbecue.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare after all the work we’ve done.”
“Wouldn’t I?” He touched the zipper on the back of her skirt.
She wiggled out of his arms, walking backward toward the door, a big-ass smile lighting up her eyes. “Oh no you don’t, Nick Braden!”
He took a step toward her, and she squealed and ran out of the room, taking a big ol’ piece of him with her.
NICK STARTED UP the grill as Trixie came out the back door carrying a stack of plates with all three dogs on her heels. They’d set up two tables, which he’d borrowed from his parents, and Trixie had bought navy-blue tablecloths and votive candles, which made the tables look elegant. She’d picked massive amounts of wildflowers, filling three vases for the outside tables and one for the kitchen. It looked more like they were having a party than a barbecue, but she was so happy, he’d gladly suffer through one night of guests. Only he didn’t feel like he was suffering at all. Her homey touches made the patio and the kitchen feel so warm and inviting, it made him want to spend time in both places. But he had a feeling it had more to do with the woman flitting around his house and patio than the material touches she brought.
She dodged the dogs to set the plates on the table and then loved up the pups. “My entourage is very needy today.” She smiled at Nick. “I hope we have enough silverware.”
“Should I call my mom and ask her to bring some?”
She moved half of the plates to the other table. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
He pulled out his phone, and the dogs went racing toward the front of the house. “I thought we still had half an hour before anyone got here.”
“Maybe your family came early.”
“I’ll go see,” he said as Beau, Char, Zev, and Carly came around the side of the house, followed by his parents, Morgyn, and Graham, stopping Nick in his tracks.
“Is this where the party is?” Zev hollered.
“Holy shit.” Nick shook his head to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. “What are you all doing here?”
“Mom said you were having a barbecue. We had to see it with our own eyes.” Graham threw his arms around him.
His brothers all shared the Braden dark eyes and athletic build, but while Graham could have been Beau’s younger twin, with the same short brown hair, Zev’s hair was longer and always looked a little wild.
“You didn’t think we’d miss this momentous occasion, did you?” Zev gave him a manly embrace. “I missed you, bro.”
“You too,” Nick said, as Morgyn, Charlotte, and Trixie ran into each other’s arms and tugged Carly into their group hug. Morgyn and Carly were as blond as Char and Trixie were dark.
“I’m so happy for you!” Morgyn exclaimed. “I want all the details that Jilly didn’t give us yet.”
“I can’t believe you’re all here for a freaking barbecue,” Nick said, as Beau embraced him.
“We’re here for you, bro, not the barbecue,” Beau said. “It’s not every day you have a special woman in your life. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“I talked to Jax as we were pulling in,” Graham said. “He and Jilly are on their way over.”
“That’s great.” Nick got a little choked up and tried to regain control as he hugged Carly. “About time you’re officially becoming a Braden.”
“From what I hear, it’s about time you let someone near that ironclad heart of yours.” Carly had a bronze tan and a shimmer of love in her eyes as Zev put an arm around her and kissed her cheek.