Love Again (Cowboys & Angels 4)

Jonathon placed his hand on my lower back, and my entire body trembled. He must have felt it because he pulled me closer, pressing his lips to my ear. “You nervous?”

I shook my head. “That’s just what you do to me.”

I loved how his eyes lit up and that crooked grin appeared. I was falling in love with him faster as the seconds ticked by. And this family made falling in love with him even easier.

“This isn’t even the living room where we open presents,” Jonathon chuckled.

“No way! That tree is amazing!”

“Oh, our mother is a nut when it comes to decorating for fall, Halloween, and Christmas. She starts in August,” Hollie said.

“August?”

Hollie rolled her eyes. “Don’t even get me started with it. Come on, my folks are in the kitchen, and I’m sure my mom is chomping at the bit to see you.”

Hope pulled me along as Jonathon kept his hand on my lower back. We walked through a large dining room with a huge farm table completely decked out. My mother would have decoration envy if she saw this house. There were even name holders for the table seating.

To my right, I could see into the large kitchen. A beautiful older woman, maybe in her late forties, was standing at the island making a pie crust. Her dark hair looked exactly like Jonathon’s. She smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen. I could see where Jonathon got his good looks from. His mother was breathtaking.

“Waylynn Parker! My goodness, look how beautiful you’ve become.”

I didn’t really remember Jonathon’s mom. Maybe we’d met a few times when she had dropped Jonathon off at the house, but I never paid close attention to my brother’s friends.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she took it off and tossed it onto the island. Her arms were extended, and Jonathon gave me a small push toward her. I was quickly engulfed in a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered into my ear before pulling back and giving me a once over. “My goodness. You are a pretty thing.”

“Alright, Mom. Don’t scare her off. Waylynn, this is my mother, Kristin Myers. Mom, Waylynn Parker.”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you officially, Mrs. Myers.”

“Please, call me Kristin. It’s my pleasure meeting you. Jonathon has told us so much about you. Your life in New York! The dance studio. I can’t wait to see it. Hope has been begging to take dance lessons, but I didn’t have the time to drive to Uvalde. To have a place right here in Oak Springs, it’s so exciting!”

My heart leapt with joy. “I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m certainly excited. We’re going to have an open house next week and do tours for those who are interested in signing up.”

Kristin’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I’m going to tell my reading group! They have been asking.”

I grinned. “Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.”

“Mom, we can’t stay long. Waylynn’s family is decorating their house today for Christmas.”

“Wait. What? You mean she comes from a normal family that doesn’t go from cutting the turkey to putting up the tree all within an hour?” Hollie chipped in.

“Stop that, Hollie. I have to get it done so I can go shopping!”

Kristin turned to face me. “Black Friday and all that.”

I shrugged. “I’ve never gone shopping on Black Friday.”

“Oh hell,” Jonathon whispered as Hollie slowly shook her head.

“You’ve gone and done yourself in, Waylynn.” She looked at her brother. “You better marry her before next Thanksgiving or Mom will scare her off for sure if she takes her shopping.”

With a chuckle, I said, “I love to shop…”

Jonathon put his hand over my mouth. “If you know what’s good for you, don’t say another word.”

My eyes widened as Hollie and Hope laughed. Kristin grabbed a handful of flour and threw it at both girls, then tossed her napkin at Jonathon.

“Don’t listen to them, Waylynn. I’m not that over the top.”

“Oh, sure Mom,” Hollie said. “You only leave the house on Thanksgiving night at midnight, and we don’t see you until Sunday morning at church.”

Hope covered her mouth and laughed. “Last year, Momma fell asleep in church and Dad had to keep waking her up.”

“We talkin’ about Black Friday shopping?”

A tall man with light blonde hair walked into the kitchen. He was handsome as hell and looked exactly like Hope. She ran over and jumped into her daddy’s arms. The way he kissed her and then Hollie made my heart skip. I already knew that Hollie’s birth father was Ned Turner, Jonathon’s dad. But the way Rip loved both of them was absolutely equal.

He made his way over to Kristin and planted a long kiss on her lips. I peeked over to Jonathon who gave me a wink.

“Rip, this is Waylynn Parker. Waylynn, this is my dad, Rip Myers.”