Page 34 of A Rancher's Love

Before they left, bundled up against the cold, Tucker shocked the hell out of her and dragged her tight into his arms, kissing her fiercely.

She enjoyed every second of it, including the stars floating in front of her eyes when he finally let her go. “Wow. Thanks?”

He winked. “Since we want to keep this under our hats, I needed a top up before we went out in public.”

They were out the door and into the blinding white snow field. “I think I’d like to go say hi to the girls. AKA, the cutie patooties at my brother’s house.”

“I’m going to see what leftovers Luke has. He asked me to join him.” Tucker waved and headed in the opposite direction.

It was too tempting. Ginny scooped up some snow and quickly packed it into a nice firm ball. Cocked her arm back and aimed…

Tucker didn’t look back, just called over his shoulder. “If you throw anything at me, I will get revenge.”

Well, damn. “When did you get eyeballs installed in the back of your head?” she demanded.

“I see all. I know all.” She held the ball higher, threatening, but he laughed and pointed at the side mirror of the truck he was passing. “Just kidding.”

Ginny was still giggling as she made her way to the back door of the house where she’d grown up. Stepping without looking to deal with the small out-of-kilter turn to reach the porch. Nearly banging her knees on a bench that hadn’t been there the last time she visited.

Familiar. Brand-new. She bounced between those two sensations every time she turned around.

As she entered the house, the scent in the room was perfection, though.

“Please tell me you didn’t eat all the bacon,” Ginny announced loudly.

Six heads pivoted toward her from where Caleb’s family plus Dusty and his friend were seated at the massive round kitchen table. Seven, as she spotted Tyler in his highchair.

Tamara gestured her forward. “Join us. There’s plenty.”

“I only need the bacon,” Ginny admitted. “And need is probably too strong a word because I already ate. Only, bacon—anytime, anywhere, am I right?”

“You’re so right.” The lanky dark-skinned young man beside Dustin was on his feet, wiping his mouth with a napkin before reaching out a hand. “I’m Shim. Here. There’s an extra chair for you.”

When he pulled out the sturdy straight-back beside his own chair, Ginny bit her lip to keep from making a joke.

Instead she pulled on her manners. “Thanks.”

She sat, staring across at Tamara. Her sister-in-law’s amusement was clear for a split second before she nabbed the plate with the remaining bacon and passed it around the table to Ginny. “You ate? That means you found the groceries then.”

“I did. Thanks. It was nice to cook something simple when I wanted it.”

“I figured you might have missed that lately.”

Tyler banged on his tray and made a complaining noise.

Tamara offered Tyler another piece of bread slathered in peanut butter. “Stop growling like a bear, please. Or growl softer so we can hear each other.”

“Grrr.” This from Sasha, who smirked mightily and elbowed her little sister. “Grrrrrrr.”

Emma giggled and joined in briefly before telling Tamara seriously, “We’re the three bears, Mama.”

Caleb lifted his coffee, hiding a grin behind his cup. The entire family was so comfortable and real, and Ginny was glad to be back in the thick of it.

Dustin leaned around Shim to get Ginny’s attention. “Hey. You coming out to the lake to cheer us on? Shim and I are clearing the ice after breakfast.”

“I thought I’d look in the basement for my old skates,” Ginny confessed. “It’s been a while, but I think I still remember how.”

“Want to be on our team?” Shim asked.