Jack had to admit he was a little envious over the general camaraderie that fell among the siblings and their partners. Even Henry, who barely managed to avoid being trampled by Cruz when he raced toward the ball only to get thumped a second later with it in the back of his head, seemed to be included in the fun. Even if it was as a good-natured target.
He, however, despite Daisy’s earlier warning, was being treated with courteous if distant politeness. The last serve sent his direction sailed in the air almost in slow motion, landing practically in his hands. It had been hard to miss the glance that Daisy had passed with her sister before getting lost in the game again a second later when Benny spiked it.
Jack glanced at the perimeter of the backyard where one of the officers assigned as his security team was keeping a guarded eye on him. That was probably it. The guys didn’t want to risk being pinned to the ground.
At that point, a piercing wail filled the air and Kate and Dominic paused, sharing a look as their newest addition to the Sorensen clan, little Marianne, made it known she was in need of attention.
Up on the deck, Elena Sorensen, Daisy’s mother, hopped nimbly to her feet. “No, no. You all continue playing. I’ll see to her.”
A minute later, the older woman with dark eyes and hair just like Daisy’s came out with the baby in her arms, cooing softly to calm her. Her husband, Petter Sorensen, who with his light blue eyes and blond hair had sat quiet and stoic through dinner, almost like a Viking warrior as he stared at Jack with a ferocious intensity, broke his silence to say a few soft words of his own to his granddaughter. Even rubbing the baby’s thick crown of golden hair when Elena came close enough for him to reach over.
It was hard to miss the soft spot the grandparents had for this new baby as well as their own children. Daisy had been pretty lucky. No, they all had been.
A few minutes later, their team declared victory after Cruz, in an attempt to shield Payton from a hard spike, ended up careening into Henry instead, leaving the ball to fall in front of them.
Daisy shouted in victory and in a surprised moment, threw herself into Jack’s arms with such force he nearly fell to the ground before he steadied them both. Since first seeing her tonight, standing at the doorway of her parents’ house in that sleeveless turquoise dress that skimmed her ankles, her dark hair bound up like it had been the first time he’d met her, Jack had been fighting the urge to pull her into his arms and show her exactly what she did to him.
Common sense had told him that mauling her in front of her brothers might be bad form, so he’d refrained.
But now, with the adrenaline still high from the win, her body slightly against him, it felt natural for him to hold her closer and tip her head back so he could kiss her red lips, enjoying the smile that tugged at them when he finally drew away.
It took him another moment to realize that the backyard had grown strangely silent, and he glanced around, realizing that all eyes were on them. The women all shared conspiratorial grins and seemed genuinely hopeful and excited. It was the brothers whose eyes had narrowed perceptibly, their stance almost offensive as they studied him.
Any tension was immediately broken when the kids, who had been playing on the tree swing in the front, came barreling through the house shouting that it was their time to play on the zip line that ran across the length of the backyard. Lily was among them, her eyes shining and happy, and any anxiety he’d felt about this evening completely evaporated.
Her brothers might not be certain what to make of him just yet, but he wasn’t going anywhere so they’d have to grow accustomed to seeing their sister being kissed by a man in love.
In love.
He said it again to himself. Yeah. He was definitely completely head over heels in love.
Not that it was something new, this rush of emotion that hit him when he thought about Daisy. Jack was fairly certain he’d felt this way almost since the moment he’d laid eyes on the woman.
But it was nice to finally admit the truth to himself. He wanted to spend the rest of his life protecting her, caring for her, and always letting her know she was loved.
…
“Sorry, babe. We’ll have better luck next time,” Henry said, draping his arm over her sister’s shoulder, seemingly unaware of the tension in his soon-to-be brothers-in-law.
Daisy met Benny’s eyes, both of them definitely aware of the undercurrents.
Starting with her brothers’ lack of the usual cheap moves they played on any newly introduced boyfriends. It was tradition, a hazing of sorts.
But today’s game had been downright…polite. Not exactly what she or Benny had expected, which was why Benny had taken the initiative and hidden the badminton rackets earlier that day. The men in question, Cruz and Dominic, were being pulled along to the deck by their wives, who seemed to sense they were in dangerous waters.
“Jack,” Natalie called. “Can you come play with us?”
“Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?” Henry asked, feigning outrage.
Once upon a time, Natalie and Jenna were glued to the man’s side, nursing their own little crushes on him, alongside their aunt.
“Come play, too!” Paul called. “You can play with Jenna and Lily. They’re going to need the help.”
“We’ll see about that,” Lily said.
“Looks like you’re going to have your hands full for a bit. I’m going to go help by mom with the dessert. You’ll be okay?” she asked Jack.
“I think I’ll be able to hold my own. You game, Henry?”