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She laughed. “We did it. I wonder if they’ve always lived here. They might be using the bat house on the barn. We’ll check another night to see if we can see them flying in and out. I can’t believe we saw them.”

For a few more minutes, they watched and listened, but didn’t see the bats again. She hoped they were wandering the forest and eating to their hearts’ content.

When Ford lit the fire, Hemsworth came closer to check out the process. The dog tilted his head and watched the flames reach above the wood.

Jolie patted his head. “Be careful, Hemsworth. It’s hot. We don’t want you getting burned.”

The dog made no motion to get closer and when she and Ford settled on the log he’d set alongside the fire, Hemsworth moved to the end and circled a few times before flopping onto the grass.

Ford stirred the fire, encouraging the flames to catch on the old wood.

Jolie leaned into his side and watched. She loved that he’d set the pit in the clearing so nothing could accidentally start a fire. He had a metal fire pit to contain all the coals and a large bucket of water nearby to douse any sparks. He loved the orchard as much as she did and wouldn’t take any chances with it.

He’d been almost as excited as she’d been to see the bats fly overhead. “For a city boy, you’ve got the whole romantic campfire thing down pat.”

He chuckled again and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We had a big backyard. Dad made sure we knew how to start a fire and how to ensure it didn’t endanger the land or ourselves. It was too hot to have fires in the summer, but we had them on cool winter nights. Even after they moved out, my older brothers came home for backyard fires all the time.”

“That sounds really nice.”

“It was. Some of my best memories are from those times. Helped me get to know my oldest brothers, even if they didn’t live in the same house. I heard more than my share of inappropriate stories, but it was awhat happens at the fire, stays at the firekind of thing.”

She grinned. “Like Vegas.”

“Exactly. We’ll do a video chat with them one night and show them our fire setup.”

Jolie hadn’t met any of the brothers yet, and it was a little intimidating to think of meeting the entire gang all at once. “Not tonight?”

He smiled. “Not tonight. Tonight is all about romance and us. They’re all going to love you like my dad already does.”

Which made her realize he’d read her nerves correctly. He knew her so well.

“They sound great.”

He nodded. “They are. But we’ll get you to meet them in small doses. They’re a lot at once. Maybe we’ll do another video chat with dad tomorrow. Or Mara. Then we’ll work our way up.”

She laughed. “You survived the video chat will my siblings. I’m sure I can do the same.”

He grinned. “It’ll be different. My brothers will want to razz on me for falling in love. Your brothers wanted to threaten me with a horrifying death.”

She groaned. “I’m sorry.”

He laughed again. “Nothing to be sorry about. I’m a big brother too, so I get it. And they were mostly joking. Besides, I’m not worried. I don’t plan to do anything that would hurt you or piss them off, so we’re good.”

“I love them all, but being the youngest means they tend to be overprotective.”

Ford used his fingers to nudge her chin up so their gazes locked. “It’s fine, Jolie. We’re seriously all good. It’s just a guy thing.”

She sighed. “No offense, but guys can be kind of weird.”

His laugh filled the forest. “But you love me, anyway.”

She grinned. “I do.” Which was a phrase she hoped to repeat one day in another kind of setting. She could totally picture the two of them living here happily for the rest of their lives.

He waggled his eyebrows. “I’ve got a way to ensure that.”

She figured they’d head straight to the comfy blankets set up beside the fire, but he placed his finger softly on her lips. “We’ll save that for a few minutes. I have something I think you’ll like.”

She raised an eyebrow and shot a look at the makeshift bed. “I know I’ll like it.”