Page 14 of Fixing to be Mine (Valentine Texas #5)

CHAPTER TEN

COLT

T he second I finish getting dressed, I regret every life choice that led me to invite a woman I hardly know to my family dinner.

It’s a big deal, even if we’re only friends.

An unspoken rule that’s always been followed is to only bring someone to dinner if they mean something.

My brothers have only invited women they were serious about.

Tonight is a statement.

They’ll see the truth in my eyes, especially Remi. She always reads me better than any of them. Twin life, I suppose.

I hear something fall in the bathroom, and I move into the hallway. She continues humming a soft tune, so it must have been nothing.

For the past hour, Sunny’s been holed up in the bathroom, like she’s soothing herself before walking into a lion’s den full of Texans who love nothing more than being nosy. I’m already praying they don’t bombard her with questions. But I know they probably will.

I think what scares me the most is that I want them to like her as much as I do. If they don’t, it will be confirmation that there is no future for us. My family is everything, and I need a woman who fits into my life.

I rub a hand over the back of my neck and try to remind myself that I’m thinking too far ahead. This is a temporary two-week situation that’ll end in time to ruin me.

I lean against the hallway wall and wait. She’s been quiet for over a minute, and that worries me more than the humming.

Eventually, I move to the bathroom door and lightly knock twice. “You alive in there, darlin’?”

“Partially,” she calls back, voice muffled but teasing. “Your bathroom lighting is offensive. I’m scared I look like a clown.”

I smirk despite myself. “Didn’t realize. I’ll upgrade it for you. I’m sure you look great.”

The door opens a crack, and I meet her green eyes, which sparkle like gemstones, then roam down to her red lips. She bites the corner, and I force myself to take a step away before I cross a line that we’re not ready to tumble over.

Sunny’s wearing a cute sundress that’s a soft sage green. It hits mid-thigh and clings to her in a way that makes me forget how words work. Her dark hair is down in loose waves, and for the first time, I notice she’s wearing earrings—diamonds that flash every time she moves.

She tilts her head and smiles. “You’re staring.”

“Yep,” I say because I’ve given up pretending. “You’re dazzling.”

She gives me a slow once-over, her eyes trailing up to my cowboy hat. “You clean up nice too, cowboy.”

I’m wearing a plaid pearl-buttoned shirt and dark jeans, along with my nice boots. The belt buckle isn’t obnoxious, but it’s there. This is my usual Thursday best. Mama doesn’t care if we show up looking like we rolled with pigs because she’d rather us come messy than miss a gathering.

“Who am I meeting tonight? Can you give me a quick run-down?” she asks sweetly as I follow her into the bedroom.

I lean against the wall as she sits on the bed and puts on some strappy heels.

“Okay, so take a deep breath first.”

“Um, not sure I like the sound of that,” she says, glancing up at me.

“Hope you’re good at remembering people.

” I grin. “There’s my older brother, Beckett.

He’ll be the one checking you out like a parole officer.

His wife, Summer, is sweet and owns the bed-and-breakfast over at Horseshoe Creek Ranch.

She’ll probably ask you to stay forever.

She and Beckett used to hate each other, but now they’re inseparable. Also, Summer is Kinsley’s best friend.”

Sunny laughs. “That’s a cute love story.”

“It wasn’t cute when they were trying to rip out each other’s jugular.

“Then we have Kinsley, my oldest sister. She’s real woo-woo—charges her crystals during a full moon, and she might try to read your palm if you get too close.

Her partner is Hayden Shaw, and his family owns Main Street Books.

He’s got the best book recs in town. A nice guy who treats my sister right.

They were high school sweethearts, and then they broke up.

A couple of years ago, he moved back to Valentine to be with Kinsley. ”

“Oh. Now you’re spilling tea.”

I shoot her a wink. “You won’t forget them because of it.

Now, Remi’s my twin, who you already met.

Cash, the guy at her place when you waltzed in, searching for yours truly, is her husband.

They got married a few weeks ago. He’s the only equine vet around town.

The clinic is on Horseshoe Creek Ranch. You might’ve seen it when you stopped by. ”

She nods. “Actually, I don’t remember. I was in a weird place mentally. Is that all?”

I chuckle. “Nah. There’s Harrison, the jokester of the family, and his partner, Grace. They’ve been besties since they were kids. Inseparable. Oh, Harrison and Beckett are business partners and work together.

“Now, those are all my older siblings. Remi and I are basically the middle kids.”

“Ahh,” she says. “I’m the oldest in my family. It’s not fun.”

“That explains it,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“What?” she asks, standing. The shoes give her several more inches in height. She walks toward me.

“You have big-sister energy. It’s a good thing,” I tell her. “Oh, there are more.”

“More?” Her voice rises an octave. “I honestly don’t know how your mother handled so many kids.”

“Sometimes, I don’t either.” I laugh. “Now, the youngsters. We have Fenix. She’s one hell of a barrel racer, but she doesn’t ride anymore.

No one knows why. Only lots of speculation.

There’s Emmett, who I already told you about.

He’s a playboy flirt who works on my parents’ cattle ranch.

No matter what any woman tells you in public, she is not his girlfriend, trust me. ”

“Damn,” she says, like she’s making mental notes.

“It’s a lot. Sorry. Up next is London. She’s the talented one, but somewhat of a wild card. Has balls of steel and dreams of being famous one day.”

“Wow, really? Tell me more about her,” she says.

“Well, she’s been playing guitar and singing since she was a little kid.

Mom recognized it very early, but we all did.

She was in lessons, won all the local and state talent shows, but has never had her moment.

Instead of giving up, she decided she’d start booking her own gigs because nothing will stop her,” I explain.

“One day, she’ll meet the right person, and her entire trajectory will change. ”

“You’re right. When does she play next?”

“Funny you should ask, this weekend at the rodeo.”

She grins and chews on the corner of her lip, knowing what that does to me.

“Wrapping it up, there’s Sterling, my youngest brother, who’s training to be a farrier. Then Vera, who’s the baby. She recently graduated high school and works at the nursery. She’s got a heart bigger than Texas and could probably revive a cactus.

“And I think that’s everyone.”

Sunny blinks a few times as I lead her down the hallway. “I’m suddenly overwhelmed, and the night hasn’t started yet.”

Before I twist the knob for the front door, I glance over and see the bouquet of flowers I picked up from town earlier. “Shit,” I mutter, breaking the growing tension I was basking in. It’s been a long time since anyone’s presence has made me feel so damn alive.

For a while, I thought I might never feel this flame with anyone again. I return to her in the entryway. The late evening sunlight glistens through the crystal glass of the door and casts a kaleidoscope of reflections around. The moment almost feels magical.

“These are Mama’s favorites. I’d like you to give them to her.”

She takes them carefully, her fingers brushing mine. The spark is undeniable.

“We should be honest,” she says. The guilt in her voice is evident.

“We will.” I hold her gaze. “However, it won’t matter what status we give because after they see how we interact, they’ll assume we’re together even if we deny it until we’re blue in the face.”

She tries not to smile, but fails. “Seriously?”

“It’s the way you look at me, babe. Why do you think Tessa believed it?”

Her perfect, kissable lips part.

My phone buzzes with a timer. It’s my alarm to leave so we’re not late.

We step outside, and I lock up, making sure the porch light is on for us when we return.

As we move down the porch, I want to grab her hand, but I opt for opening the truck door for her instead.

She slides inside, and then I move behind the steering wheel.

“Time to meet the people who are gonna interrogate you over a home-cooked meal. And if we’re late, there’ll be a small army of dishes waiting with our names on ’em,” I say as I crank the engine.

We take the long road that leads straight to my parents’ ranch. The sun hangs low in the mountains, causing everything to glow a golden hue. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day.

By the time we pull up to the Valentine family house, the sun’s even lower, the porch light is glowing, and I already know we’re one of the last to arrive. I try to figure out who’s missing.

I can hear their laughter before we even get out of the truck.

Somewhere between Kinsley’s sharp cackle and London’s dramatic-storytelling voice lies Harrison’s voice, agitating them both.

There’s music coming from the open windows, something twangy and upbeat, and the smell of grilled corn hits me square in the chest.

“Wow,” Sunny murmurs, eyes wide as she takes it in. “This is where you grew up?”

“Yep, this is it,” I tell her.

“You’re so lucky,” she says. “This is like … a sitcom.”

“Yeah. It’s called Meet the Valentines , and the show starts now. Come on, darlin’. We don’t want to be doin’ those dishes, trust me.”

She smiles but looks nervous.

Headlights swing into the gravel driveway behind us, and it’s a jacked-up black truck.

“Shit. It’s Emmett,” I mutter. “We gotta hurry.”

Sunny glances at me. “Right now?”