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“You know Mom and Dad don’t care that you’re a veterinarian, right?” Not the first time she’s posed that question.
“I know that and I know they’re actually proud I am,” I huff out as Kellen watches our exchange. But he might as well see it—it’s my family dynamic. “They care that I’m not here, taking my place on the farm and helping to win blue ribbons for their precious stock.”
“Not true,” she says.
“True,” I insist stubbornly. “And we are not getting into this right now.”
I won’t have an argument with my sister in front of Kellen just moments before we’re scheduled to go sit down to a nice dinner where my parents will be meeting him for the first time.
As much as I love my twin sister, our fights can get dirty. She wants me to come home more than anyone and will hit me the hardest, even though she knows deep down why I stay away.
And I definitely don’t want to subject Kellen to any of that.
“How about we give him the tour, and we can talk about this later?” I suggest calmly.
“You know damn well you won’t want to talk about it later,” Kat mutters, and then she wiggles free of my hold and moves to Kellen’s side.
She loops her arm through his and walks toward a four-seat golf cart parked nearby. It’s the most efficient way to travel around the farm. “Come, you hot hunk of man who seems to enjoy my sister’s brand of crazy. I’ll tell you all the juicy details, and then maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
Kellen looks over his shoulder at me as Kat leads him to the cart. I mouth “sorry,” but he merely winks, letting me know he’s amused, not bothered. That he doesn’t mind my brand of crazy.
?
We limit the tour to a moving one, showing Kellen the property via golf cart. We’re all dressed too nicely to walk through the barns to show him the inner workings. Kellen is in dress pants and a lavender button-down, and I’m wearing a white summer dress with green piping and eyelet trim. Kellen looked dazzled at the hotel before we left. He made me twirl twice so he could see the dress from all angles, and then dipped me low for a sweet kiss.
“You are magical,” he’d murmured.
It was the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to me, and even now, my heart flutters over his attention because it’s not forced and it doesn’t come with expectations of anything in return. His compliments, touches, and kisses are so genuine, you can’t help but trust in them.
Kat drives us up to the main house and parks near the rear kitchen entrance. Kellen takes in the house as we walk up to it. “Could your house be any bigger?” he murmurs in awe.
“It always seemed too small growing up with five kids. Or at least that’s what my mom would tell you.” A rush of fondness sweeps through me, because truth be told, she always wanted us close. It’s crushing to her that I live so far away.
“Do just your parents live here?” he asks.
“They live in the east wing,” I explain as we enter the kitchen. “Ethan lives in the west wing. He had a house of his own not far from here, but once he took over operations for my dad, it was easier for him to be on-site.”
“I’ve never been in a house with wings.” Kellen chuckles. “Unless you count my visit to the White House in sixth grade.”
“It’s a lot less glamorous than it seems,” I assure him as we sidestep around the kitchen staff preparing the birthday meal. “This family spends the majority of its time with horses and dirt.”
Kat leads us toward the drawing room where I know everyone will be congregated to meet Kellen. I’ve never brought a man home to introduce to the family, and I’m not sure how it will make them feel. Kellen lives in Pennsylvania, and if I’m serious about him, they might see it as losing any last hope of me moving back to Kentucky.
I grab his hand and pull him to a halt. He looks down at me curiously. “Thank you for coming,” I say.
His eyes soften, and he squeezes my hand. “You’re nervous. I got you.”
“I should haven’t to lean on you to visit my family,” I mutter with slight shame.
“I think things are complicated, but I also get the sense that your family might not be as opposed to your life choices away from Kentucky as you think.”
It’s something I’ve wondered. I was driven away by everyone’s relentless pursuit to get me back in the ring. I ran away from it, and when they beckoned me home, I thought it was for more of the same.
But Kat insists it’s because they miss me.