I love the dynamic between Owen and his brothers. I love that they can laugh and joke, but I know if any one of them needed something, the others would be there, no questions asked. I’ve never known this kind of family dynamic, and I’m thrilled I can be a witness to it. That I get to be a part of it, even for a little while.
“Did we come here to spend the day on the water or whine about your brothers?” Sawyer pulls her hand out of Royce’s and links her arms through Sam’s and holds the other out for me. I step out of Owen’s hold and we head off toward the boat that’s hooked up to Grant’s truck.
The rest of the day is filled with much of the same. The brothers, and Jase giving each other a hard time, and loving every minute of it. Sam, Sawyer, and I laid out in the sun, swimming, and getting caught up. We helped Sawyer brainstorm ideas for the wedding while watching our guys in the water. I got up on the skis and lasted an entire minute before falling into the water, which is a win in my book. It was one of the best days I can ever remember having.
“I’m exhausted,” I say as I place our wet clothes into the washing machine. “I’m ready for a shower and bed.”
“You did great today, babe,” Owen says, carrying our bag into the kitchen.
“I wouldn’t call a minute great, but I did it, and that’s more than I thought possible. I was sure I’d never make it to stand up on those things.”
“You’ll get the hang of it.”
I nod. “I’m determined to be able to ski next to you and your family and not look like a fool.”
“You didn’t look like a fool.”
“Oh, I did.” I laugh. “But I’m good with it. I had a great time. I can’t believe this is how you grew up.”
He steps next to me and wraps me in his arms. “My brothers and I raised a lot of hell out on that lake.”
“Raised?” I ask. “To hear Sam and Sawyer tell it, that’s an every summer occurrence.”
“Maybe.” He smiles. “Ready for that shower?”
“Depends. Are you going to help me?”
“Am I breathing? You can bet your sweet ass if you’re in our shower naked, I’m going to be standing next to you.”
“Race ya!” I say as I take off running toward the bedroom. His long legs catch up to me, and in no time, we’re both stripped naked, and standing under the hot spray. Owen roams his hands over every inch of my body and then makes sweet love to me before we fall into an exhausted sleep.
The perfect ending to an already perfect day.Chapter 19Owen“I think that wraps it up,” Royce says as we come to the end of our weekly meeting. He scans over his list. “One final item. We need to decide who is going to the gala for the children’s hospital this year.”
My three younger brothers groan, and normally I would be joining them, but not this time. An image of Layla all dressed up as we sway across the dance floor plays like a movie reel in my mind. “Lay and I can go,” I tell Royce.
“Yeah?”
I shrug. “I think she’d enjoy it. It’s something new for her. Besides, I don’t think it will be that bad with a woman I actually like on my arm.” That causes all four of my brothers to not only laugh but nod in agreement. We all hated finding dates for these things. The media always made them out to be more than what they were, and if you asked a clinger, it would sometimes take months to shake her until she got the message that it really was just a date.
“Taking one for the team, I like it,” Conrad comments.
“This year,” I tell him. “Mom and Dad went last year, and Royce the year before that, so you three better start duking it out or drawing for straws or some shit,” I tell them.
“My prediction is one of them is going to fall ass over heels for a woman, and like you, will have no problem showing her off,” Royce says smugly.
I try like hell to hide my laughter at the expressions on my brothers’ faces. Well, the younger two. Grant just looks… indifferent. Hmm, very interesting. I’m going to have to keep an eye on him. Maybe see if Layla has noticed anything since she’s working closely with all of us.
“Now, get to work.” Royce grins at each of us, and I can’t help but send a silent thank-you to my future sister-in-law. Sawyer has been so good for him. She brought my brother back to life, and we owe her the world for that.