Adley looks over my shoulder, and a second later Sawyer is standing behind me like the strong presence he’s been for the last five years.
He rests a hand on my shoulder. “You are my son, Linc, and I would be honored not only for you to marry my little girl, but for you to wear that ring. I could’ve kept it a while longer, but I don’t want to wait. When you walk down that aisle and vow to love and honor and cherish my baby girl, I want you to wear that ring. And every time you look at it, I want you to know you don’t just belong to her. You’re a part of our family too, and we love you.” Sawyer pulls a paper from the front pocket of his flannel shirt and hands it to me.
“What’s this, sir?”
“We may not share the same blood, or the same last name, but you’re part of the family. Rhett and I talked, and if you like working here at the ranch, we’d like to offer you a permanent position.”
I open the paper and see my name scrawled across the deed to the land, alongside Beau, Rhett, Cooper, and Trevor. “Is this… I don’t know what to say.”
Rhett steps forward. “This is the easy part. Say yes.”
I swallow hard and nod up at Sawyer. “Yes. Thank you, sir.”
He steps away, and when I look back at Adley, she’s holding the ring. “If you say yes to me, I was thinking you could wear this on your right hand—sort of like an engagement ring—until we get married.”
“Adley Renee Allen…” I cup her face in my hands and bring her mouth to mine so she can feel my words as well as hear them. “I can’t wait to be your husband.”
The place erupts with cheers and laughter
as Adley throws herself against me. Her mouth crashes down on mine in a kiss that I’m sure will earn me a good goading from her brothers when no one else is around. But I don’t care, because I have the girl, and I’m never letting her go.
Pulling back, she slips the ring onto my right ring finger. “We can always get you something more modern if you’d prefer.”
Is she crazy? “This is perfect. You are perfect.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Bennett.”
She attacks my mouth again, and we topple to the ground. “Careful, you’re pregnant.”
“Did he just say pregnant?” Vivian says, her voice getting louder with each word. “I swear I just hear him say she’s pregnant.”
Adley giggles and drops her head to my chest.
“We should probably tell them,” I whisper. “You’re past the three-month mark, and we have the all-clear from your doctor.”
Crawling off of me, Adley pushes herself up and holds out a hand. Once I’m settled in by her side, with an arm around her waist, she looks at her mom, who is standing between Dad and Sawyer, surrounded by the rest of her family and friends. Everyone is anxiously waiting.
“I’m pregnant,” she announces. “Lincoln and I are having a baby!”
“I’m gonna be a grandma,” Vivian says, looking at Sawyer, who looks like he’s fighting back tears. “We’re going to be grandparents.”
She squeals and throws herself into her husband’s arms before turning to my dad. He looks stunned at first, but when he realizes Vivian isn’t giving up, he wraps her in a loose hug. After she finally releases him, Dad looks at me. His eyes are shining with pride and hope, and when he smiles and nods at me, I know we’re going to be okay.
The girls flock toward Adley, asking her tons of questions.
“When is your due date?”
“Are you going to get married before or after the baby is born?”
“Are you going to find out what you’re having?”
Rhett shakes his head at all the jabbering as the guys make their rounds, each giving me a congratulatory man hug.
“Welcome to the family,” Cooper says.
“Way to go,” Rhett grumbles. “Now Mo is going to get baby fever.”
“Shit.” Trevor runs a hand over his head. “Claire already has baby fever, and we’re not even engaged yet.”