“Why were you worried?” She knew why. Because of what Clint did to her. But she really wanted to hear Skye’s take on it.
“You’re the one who checks on everyone. You take care of your brothers. But after what happened, you’ve been . . . quiet. I think Declan said it best. Clint locked you in your head.”
Like he’d trapped her in that trunk. She definitely felt that way sometimes. In the beginning, she couldn’t get out of her head to save her life. It had scared her how the darkness sucked her under and wouldn’t let go.
Skye rubbed her hand up and down Trinity’s back. “You’ve excused your way out of all the other family gatherings, except for Declan’s proposal and the dinner that followed. Otherwise, you always say you’re too busy.”
In her defense . . . “We opened two more stores.”
“Adria found the time. You didn’t want to, or couldn’t bring yourself to take it and face us with whatever you were going through.”
“I didn’t want you guys to see,” she confessed.
Her brothers would worry. They’d tell her what to do or order her to snap out of it. None of it would have worked. And although she’d wanted to be with them, she’d desperately wanted to be left alone.
“You should talk to Drake. He knows what it’s like to live in nightmares. He might be able to help you.”
“He’s happy now. He’s looking forward to the future with Adria and his babies. I’m okay enough not to mess that up for him by reminding him of his past.”
“We all want you to be better than okay.”
“I know. I’m getting there.” She distracted Skye from asking more about her with another tidbit about Jon. “I have a breakfast date tomorrow morning.”
Skye’s bright smile returned. “Date number two. Excellent.”
Feeling giddy, she admitted, “It’s just a means to get him to kiss me again.”
Skye nearly spewed soda all over the place. She held her fingers to her lips and swallowed while also smiling and laughing. “Well, that’s a good way to do it.”
“It’s the first time we’ll actually be alone.” She couldn’t wait.
“He has a little girl, right?”
Trinity nodded, her heart melting when she thought about the little one. “Emmy. She’s four. And adorable.”
“Sweet.”
“Her mother’s not.” Anger flashed for Emmy and Jon. “She seems to give Jon a difficult time and doesn’t seem to take very good care of Emmy.”
Skye frowned. “That’s sad.”
“He moved back here to be a better dad and spend more time with Emmy.”
Skye’s eyes lit with approval. “What does he do for a living?”
“He’s some kind of businessman. He owned several companies I think, then sold some before moving here. But now he wants to simplify his life. He’s fixing up his family ranch.” Maybe he’d like to run cattle for Almost Homemade. Declan and Tate had about all they could handle here, but they could partner with Jon.
Something to think about.
“Sounds like he’s got his priorities straight.”
He cared. And she loved that about him. “He’s a great dad. Watching him with Emmy, it just makes my heart melt.”
Tate overheard them. “When do we get to meet this guy?”
She met Tate’s gaze across the kitchen. “Actually, I gave him your number. He wants to buy a couple horses for him and Emmy to ride. I thought you could hook him up with one of your buddies.”
Tate held up his beer bottle. “No problem.”
“He’ll probably need your help and one of the trailers picking them up and getting them over to his ranch.”
“His ranch?” Declan asked.
“Mr. Crawford decided to move to a senior place in town so he’s not so lonely.”
“So Jon is living there now, right?” Declan nudged her for more details.
“Yes. Emmy stays with him Friday to Monday. Mr. Crawford is still recovering, but Jon says he’ll be chasing women and playing poker any day now.”
All of her brothers smiled and saluted with their beer bottles.
She shook her head, but smiled with them.
Liz released Tate and leaned over the counter. “I heard you cooked for him and Emmy on your first date.”
Adria smirked. “He walked right into the store and said he needed to see her. The man was on a mission.”
Trinity tried to play it off. “Because he wanted to reschedule our date. His ex couldn’t deal and asked him to pick Emmy up a day early.”
Adria added, “But you invited him into your place, cleaned up the little girl, and made them dinner.”
“She looked like a bedraggled rag doll. I don’t know when her mother last fed her, but she devoured a plate of spaghetti like she hadn’t eaten in days.”
Drake’s eyes narrowed. “Sounds like there’s some trouble there. You sure you want to get involved in that?”
She had a fierce attachment to them already. “I like Jon. I feel for Emmy. It can’t be easy for either of them to deal with the mom. Maybe his life is a bit complicated, but I’m not going to hold it against him when he’s been nothing but nice and forthcoming about his situation.”
“Okay then.” Drake dropped it. But he’d pick it right back up if she indicated at any time that Jon wasn’t treating her right.
Her brothers would be all over Jon then.
“Great. I’d at least like to get through a few more dates before you guys grill him about his intentions, or whatever.”
Drake and Declan both glanced at Tate, which meant they’d leave it to him to check out Jon when they set up the horse deal.
“You knew Jon in high school,” she reminded Drake.
“That was a long time ago. People change. And he wasn’t interested in my baby sister.”
Maybe she should have warned Jon about her brothers. Then again, he could hold his own. He’d have to if he wanted to date her because while he came with Emmy, she came with three overprotective brothers.
Tate started the questions. “When are you seeing him again?”
“Tomorrow morning. Breakfast date.”
“Nice,” Liz said. “He doesn’t mind your wonky schedule.”
“He seemed fine with an early dinner and now breakfast.”
He made it clear he just wanted to see her. If the happy surprise she’d seen on his face when she showed up at his place unannounced said anything, it’s that he wanted to spend a lot more time with her.
Her phone dinged with a text. She pulled it out, hoping she didn’t have to go into work for some emergency, but smiled when she saw Jon’s name come up.
JON: Thank you
JON: So yummy!!!!!
The picture of him and Emmy with empty plates smeared with cobbler remains made her heart melt and smile widen.
“Share,” Adria called out.
If Jon was going to be a part of her life, that meant being part of her family. She flipped the phone around and showed them all the picture.
Liz touched her chest. “Oh my God, she’s adorable.”
Skye chimed in. “She looks like her dad. Dark hair. Those blue eyes. Wow, Trinity, he really is gorgeous.”