good to Morgan. Even with a little gray at the temples, he still looked strong as an ox and far too imposing, but around Misty, he was all heart.
“It’s true,” Morgan said to his wife. “You’re even sexier now than the day I met you.”
Shohn’s mother smiled. “As I recall, you almost ran her off.”
“Not true, Honey. Your sister is far too pigheaded to turn tail and run, even from me.” He kissed Misty and murmured, “Thank God.”
Shohn’s dad, always more somber, got up from the swing and came to sit on the step with him. “Something on your mind other than Morgan trying to embarrass us all?”
Misty laughed. “Stop it, Morgan,” she chided when he continued to nuzzle her.
“You’re still a hot little—”
She smashed a hand over his mouth. “One day, he will mellow,” she promised everyone.
Morgan said, “The hell I will.” Then he looked at Shohn. “So spit it out. What has you brooding here with us? Did some young lady finally turn you down?”
“What makes you think it has anything to do with a girl?”
“Because I know the look, having been there and done that.” Morgan grinned. “Sawyer knows what I’m talking about.”
“Thank God it was a long time ago. Unfortunately I had to put up with your uncles all butting into my business.”
Shohn looked at his mother, and saw her smiling. No doubt there was a good story there, but he’d save it for another time. “I’m not brooding. I’m just waiting for Amber.”
Honey said, “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
Oh, great. He could tell by his mother’s tone that she, too, thought he was brooding. “Maybe I’ll just catch up with her tomorrow.” But he no sooner said it than headlights shone down the hill at the bottom of the long driveway leading up to the houses.
His dad and uncles owned fifty prime acres surrounding the lake. His parents lived in the same house that had once belonged to his grandma. Morgan had built a nice house farther up the hill but well within visiting distance. His brother Casey lived down the hill with his wife and kids. Uncle Jordan had moved into Georgia’s house back when they’d married. And Gabe kept a place in town with his family, closer to where he worked as a handyman.
One day, Shohn thought, he’d build his own house on a piece of this land. It was what the family wanted, what he wanted. He couldn’t imagine living away from the lake. Not forever.
“Why do you need to talk to Amber?” his mom asked.
“I told you, Honey.” Morgan grinned. “Women trouble. You know Amber is the resident know-it-all.”
Misty smacked his shoulder. “She’s very helpful to everyone.”
“So helpful that she has them all wrapped around her little finger,” Morgan said.
True enough, Shohn thought. Gabe’s daughters, Kady, April and Briana, rarely made a move without consulting with Amber first. Garrett, Amber’s younger brother by two years, gave her hell about being nosy but any girls he actually liked he brought to Amber for approval. Adam, Jordan’s son, who was twenty-eight, wasn’t averse to listening when Amber doled out her unique brand of wisdom. Only Lisa, Jordan’s daughter, who was a regular barracuda in the business world, seemed content to keep her own counsel. At fourteen and twelve, Casey’s kids were still a little too young to need dating advice, but they showered Amber with proper adulation.
“My girl missed her calling working in a bookstore,” Morgan said. “She should have been a bartender.”
“Morgan,” Misty and Honey said at the same time.
Sawyer laughed. “At least that way, she’d always have an ear to bend.” He slapped Shohn on the shoulder. “I have early appointments tomorrow, so your mom and I are heading home. You going to stop in before you leave?”
His dad saw more patients now than ever, but still worked from home. Shohn shook his head. “I’ll help Amber round up Rookie and then head on to my own bed. I’m leading a school field trip through the gap tomorrow. Second-graders.”
Honey smoothed his hair, bent and kissed his ear and said, “If you need to talk, you know where to find us.”
After shooting a dirty look at Morgan, which only made his uncle grin, Shohn tipped his head back to see Honey. “It’s fine, Mom. No worries, no women troubles, nothing like that.”
“Famous last words,” Morgan said. Then he stood with Misty held in his arms. “Tell Amber we’re inside. You’ll have five minutes to talk before I come out to get her.”
“Yes, sir.” Knowing how Morgan adored his family, Shohn appreciated the effort. When Amber’s truck pulled into the long driveway, he walked out to meet her. Rock music blasted from the radio, and when she cut the engine, near silence fell around them. Only the chirping of crickets and rustling of leaves disturbed the darkness.
Long dark hair windblown from the open windows, Amber hopped from the truck, saying, “Hey, cuz, what’s up?”
He heard the worry and hurried to say, “Not a thing. Rookie’s in the house, playing with the other dogs.”
The animals all got along well, but together, they could be a handful. Though Morgan and Misty always offered, Amber liked to leave Rookie with Nadine for overnight stays.
“Nadine let you have him okay? Sort of sounded like she was hesitant to turn him over to you.”
“It’s a liability thing.” He hefted her heavy suitcase from the truck bed then spotted some boxes, too. He set the suitcase down. “I can carry this stuff in for you in a minute.”
Amber paused, her expression alight with curiosity and anticipation. “What is it? What’s going on?”
Yeah, she did that to everyone, already knowing stuff before she was told. “I wanted to talk to you about Nadine.”
Throwing up her arms, Amber whooped. “I knew it! She’s perfect for you. Marry her and let her have your babies.”
Whoa. “What the hell, Amber. Are you nuts?”
She laughed then slugged him in the arm. “Just teasing. What about Nadine?”
Heart still pounding, Shohn scowled at her. “No way. You were serious.”
Holding her finger and thumb close together, Amber said, “Just a little, maybe.” She hugged his arm and leaned into him. “She really is perfect for you. But the babies can wait if you’re determined to drag your feet.”
Jaw loose, Shohn tried to shake her off, but she clung like a damned monkey. “I’m not marrying anyone.”
“Start with a kiss and see how that goes.”
Already done, and it had been oh-so-hot. But no way would he encourage Amber by telling her so. “You’re nuts.”
Amber grabbed him by his ears. “Have I ever steered you wrong?”
No, but today seemed to be a day full of firsts. Like the first time he’d really gotten turned on by Nadine, the first time he’d kissed her.
The first time a woman made him brood, just as Uncle Morgan claimed.
Shohn smothered a groan and asked, “Why Nadine? What makes you think she’s so great?”
“Oh, my God, it was incredible.” Always a little dramatic, Amber hunkered in close as if telling a state secret. “I was dropping off Rookie. He loves that place, you know, which makes it easier not to fret about him when I’m gone. I mean, he loves Mom and Dad, too, but the doggy hotel is like a vacay for him. Anyway, Nadine was filling out the paperwork, and two other chickies were in there.”
“Chickies?”