Southern Bombshell (North Carolina Highlands 5)

Hadley nods. “We can take more on, you know. You’re an excellent boss and an even better mentor. I’ve learned a lot from you and Thea.”

As I look at my employees, my heart is full to bursting. So much still needs to fall into place to make happily ever after a real possibility for Nate and me. So much still needs to be said. But I feel closer to happiness—to myself—than I have in a long time.

That’s got to count for something.

In the meantime, I’ll count my blessings—Thea and Hadley among them—and hope for the best.

I’m in bed with Nate, Lucy tucked between our legs, when I pop the question.

“My family is hosting an oyster roast for Thanksgiving.” I flatten my hand on his bare chest. His heart is still pounding from the doggie-style finish we just enjoyed. “Would you like to come?”

One arm flung over his head on his pillow, he turns to look at me. Even in the dark of his room, I can see his eyes are wide.

“You’re serious,” he says.

I trail my fingernails over his skin, making the firm plane of his stomach cave. “I’m not asking for anything in return. But I’m done keeping you a secret. You’re too delicious not to share.”

He scoffs. “You make a compelling case.”

“So come. I have it on good authority my brothers will behave themselves. Once they see us together—”

“They’ll take me out back and dismember my body while I’m still alive.”

“Maybe.” I give Nate’s nipple a quick squeeze. His breath catches. “Or maybe they’ll see how happy you make me, and they’ll welcome you as the fifth brother they always wanted but never got because Mom had me instead.”

He rolls onto his side, nudging Lucy closer to my calf underneath the covers. She’s a great snuggler, but I’m glad Nate makes sure to take her out of bed before we have sex.

He runs a hand down the slope of my side, his touch gentle and warm. “I don’t deserve your kindness.”

“You deserve better than how I treated you the first time around.”

“You deserve better too,” he says quietly.

I swallow. “We have to start somewhere, Nate. Making changes. I want this to work, and I’m willing to do what it takes to show you how much you mean to me.”

He cups my face in his hand, the gesture achingly tender. “You were so afraid to put yourself out there before. Now you’re . . . not.” He laughs, and I do too. “What’s changed?”

“I have.”

“Why?”

Talk about putting myself out there. “You bring me back to who I am. Who I really am, the red-blooded woman inside the productivity robot I became after you left. You’re a walking, talking reminder of what’s important.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Cassette tapes and brown liquor?”

“Yes. And wieners, of both the dog and human varieties.”

He laughs, his chest barreling out beneath my hand, and a warm rush moves through me. I love making this man laugh.

I love him. I want to say the words, but it still feels too soon. I’ll show him instead and hope like hell it doesn’t blow up in our faces.

“Come,” I repeat. “Let’s stop dicking around. I’m done wasting time.”

He searches my eyes. “I wanna be done too.” After a long beat, he sighs. “I’d love to come.”

My heart twists. My mouth curls into a smile so immediate and so big my face already hurts. “Really?”

“Really. I mean that—I would love to hang out with your family. Not gonna lie, though, I haven’t been this nervous since Lucy got spayed.”

“My brothers may be bigger than me—”

“Milly, Samuel’s the size of a bear. Literally.”

“But I’m faster. I can kick their asses if necessary.” I peck his lips. “Don’t worry, Nathaniel, I’ll protect you.”

“I know you will.” He lets out a long, thoughtful breath. “What can I bring?”

“Your whiskey and your drinking pants. And your charming personality.”

“Whiskey is easy. The charm? I’ll see what I can do.”

“Good.”

He smiles. “Good.”

For the first time, I feel like this could actually work out.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nate

My hands are so clammy the bottle of Appalachian Red I’m carrying nearly slips out of my grip as I climb the steps of Samuel Beauregard’s house. By some miracle I had the forethought to tuck the unmarked bottle of “Sherry Sunset” underneath my arm, keeping it extra safe. I have a feeling Milly’s brothers are going to like the stuff, and I need all the help I can get to win them over.

Samuel’s place is enormous, extravagant in a way that would make Jay Gatsby proud. A swooping cedar-shake roof presides over the stone mansion with soaring windows and more chimneys than I can count. The house sits on top of a hill and has a commanding three-hundred-sixty-degree view of the best the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer. On a clear, cold day like today, you can see for miles in any direction.