Noah just nods and walks to me, pulling me in for a hug.
“I forgot to say good morning.”
“No.” I rest my cheek against his hard chest and listen to his heartbeat. “You said it very well, if I remember correctly.”
Chapter Seven
~Noah~
“Get in,” Gray says as he pulls up beside me. I’m in the yard, and was pulling some weeds in the flowerbed while waiting for my brother to come and pick me up.
If Mom comes to the house and sees the overgrowth, I’ll get an earful.
“How’s it going?” I ask as he drives his truck away from my place.
“Right as rain,” he says, a shit-eating grin all over his face. Gray is only a year older than I am, and we look alike. “Life’s good when you’re in love, brother of mine.”
“I’m happy that you’re happy, but you’re kind of mushy,” I reply and grin. I love harassing him. “Should we put some Celine Dion on the radio?”
“Eff you,” he says with a laugh. “You’re just jealous.”
“Nah,” I say, shaking my head. “How is Autumn?”
My brother met his fiancée, Autumn, this past winter while skiing on Whitetail Mountain. He literally plowed right into her, and for reasons that still escape me, she fell in love with him.
“She’s gorgeous,” he replies immediately. “And doing well. She’s visiting her brother and Skylar in Billings.”
I nod as he pulls onto the highway. “Will she be back in time for the BBQ at the ranch on Sunday?”
“Should be,” he replies and tells me all about Autumn and the wedding plans for next summer. I sit back and listen, happy that he’s so excited. I like Autumn. She’s a beautiful redhead, originally from Scotland. Her brother, Killian, is a successful record producer, and his fiancée Skylar is an international superstar.
“I’m bringing Fallon,” I inform him and earn a stunned glance from Gray.
“You’re bringing a woman over to meet the family? This is a first.”
I shrug and look out the passenger window as we drive out to the Lazy K. “Never met anyone worth introducing to them before.”
Gray’s quiet for a long moment, so I look over and see that he’s watching the road, frowning.
“What? You don’t like her?”
“I met her once,” he reminds me. “And she seemed nice. If you like her enough to bring her to a family thing, you must really like her.”
“I do,” I admit. “She’s…different. And before you flip me any shit, just remember you’re engaged and practically singing Celine Dion songs.”
“Hey, I think it’s great,” he says and smiles. “Good for you.”
He pulls off the highway onto the Lazy K Ranch road. The ranch has changed so much since we were kids, with new homes built and the addition of more livestock since Zack and Josh started running it together.
We spent so much time out here as kids, running wild in the woods, playing in the creeks, and exploring every nook and cranny of the place.
It’s our second home.
Gray drives past what we call the Big House, where Zack and Jillian live with their kids, and turn before we reach Josh and Cara’s place.
The road takes us to the other side of a huge pasture where Jeff and Nancy built a cottage a few years ago.
We have a surprise for our parents today.
Mom and Dad’s SUV is parked in front of the cottage, still loaded down with their things.
“Think they’ll be surprised?” I ask Gray as he parks.
“Mom’s gonna cry like a baby.” He grins at me as he opens his door. “It’s going to be awesome.”
We don’t have to knock on the door before it flings open, and Mom runs out, her arms flung wide, and a huge smile on her beautiful face.
“My boys!” she cries and pulls us both in for hugs. “My sweet little boys.”
“Not so little these days,” Dad says with a grin, waiting his turn to hug us and slap us on the back. “Taller than me.”
“They’ll always be my little boys,” Mom says and wipes a tear from her eye. She’s a petite woman with blond hair and a sweet smile. Dad’s tall and lean just like Jeff and the rest of us boys.
The King genes are strong.
“I guess we should start unloading this car,” Dad says, and Gray and I look at Jeff and Nancy, unable to control our grins.
“Well, you’re not staying here,” Jeff says with a sigh. “Nan and I just don’t have the space.”
Mom frowns at Nancy. “Why didn’t you say? We can rent a house in town.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Gray says, shaking his head. “I think we have the perfect spot for you.”
Nancy smiles and claps her hands, unable to keep a secret for long.
“Come on, I can’t stand it any longer,” she says and takes Mom’s hand in hers. “We have a surprise.”
“What’s going on?” Dad asks, a frown clear on his face.