Giving In To Love (Strong Brothers 2)

"You want a place like this? Because I will get you one. Anything you want." I’d buy her the moon if she wanted.

She stopped me before we reached the doors to go outside and tugged me to a halt. "I don't need any of this, Hunter. I just need you."

"But something like this would be nice, right?" The contrast between Natalie and my ex was so stark that it made me feel like an idiot that I hadn’t noticed it earlier. My ex not only took everything I offered, but demanded more. The idea that all Natalie wanted was me, not my money, not my name, made me feel loved in a way I’d never felt before.

She gave me a coy smile. "Well, if you wanted to live in a place like this, I wouldn't complain."

I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Are you ready?"

She nodded, looking a bit like I felt; both giddy and nauseous. She slipped her arm through mine as we exited the house onto the terrace.

My grandmother sat next to my father at the table talking about something. Kellie sat in a chair with Ryan behind her with one hand on her shoulder, the other one sipping a beer. Noah was laid out on a lounge chair. His eyes closed in his hands clasped over his belly with his face turned up to the sun, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, and his boots, so clearly he hadn't been working. Carter sat at the table between my grandmother and Kellie, talking to Ryan.

When Natalie and I stepped out onto the terrace, all eyes turned to us. Immediately Ryan's gaze drifted down to where Natalie’s arm was linked to mine.

Natalie leaned in close to me and whispered, "No matter what, I love you."

I patted her hand that was on my arm.

"There he is," my father said, turning in his chair to get a better look at us. "Oh, and he's brought Natalie with him."

"It better be good news," I could hear my grandmother mutter.

My gaze stayed on Ryan and Kellie because I knew they were the ones that would need to bless this union.

Natalie leaned toward me again as we made our way across the terrace. “You should do it like a Band-Aid. Just rip it off. Say it fast."

I looked down at her, the amusement starting to push away some of my fear. "You do like it fast, don't you Princess?"

Her cheeks blushed.

Noah stirred from his lounge chair and looked over at us. "So, what's so important that I had to be dragged all the way out here for?"

We had finally made it to the table. Like a Band-Aid, Natalie's words came back to me.

"Natalie and I are getting married."

Then because I felt a little sick to my stomach, I looked down at Natalie. She squeezed my arm and looked up at me with a grin. Then she turned to the group and thrust out her left hand with the lavender colored diamond I had purchased for her yesterday on one of my many errands in my plan to win her back. Buying it had seemed so natural and automatic that I knew it had to be the right decision.

"Congratulations," my father said, extending out his hand to me.

I shook it, and then leaned over to give him a hug. "Thanks dad."

"Come here Natalie, let me get a closer look at that," my father said to her.

I was so glad that my dad was the type of man that he was; loving, gentle, giving. I was hoping he’d offset whatever negativity or animosity I might get from the others.

"That's it?" Noah asked.

"Yes, that's it. I just wanted to tell you all together."

Noah stood from his lounge chair and walked over towards us. I stepped out of the way from where Natalie had been showing my father the ring.

Noah reached out to her. "Let me be the first to hug the bride."

"Just don't hug too long," I warned him.

"I really feel like I've missed something." Carter said.