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MONTANA

“How did you manage it?” Leena asks. We’re all out, everyone—Tanner and Marlie with her adorable pregnant baby belly, Keller and Alana with Jace, the cutest little kid who steals the show every time we’re together in the best way possible.

He came walking inside the restaurant racing to say hello to everyone, grabbing the best spot sandwiched between Asa and Tanner.

“Manage what?” The only people missing are Mr. and Mrs. Hart and Deke. That’s because they’re in Alabama with him. They were done with the silent treatment, packed their bags and small motorhome, then they were off.

“You don’t know?” Leena asks. Marlie and Alana are listening in, full of intrigue.

“They didn’t tell you? Was it you, Marlie, Alana?” We have no clue what she’s talking about.

“No, doll, you’re going to have to give us a hint,” Alana says, sipping on her strawberry daiquiri. How anyone can drink those sweet and fruit-filled concoctions, I have no idea.

“Nope, Leena, you know I don’t get involved in the family business. I can hardly deal with my own at the moment.” Marlie goes after her dinner with gusto, sipping on her Diet Coke, grumbling how it’s not the same to have a Fiesta Friday at a Mexican restaurant and not drinking a margarita.

Asa has Jace sitting on his lap, showing him how to win at some kind of game, I’m assuming, on his phone with the way their eyes are glued to it. Jace’s little tongue is out in full concentration, and Asa is just along for the show.

“Uh-oh, someone has that look in their eyes,” Alana says. I straighten in my seat. I’ve always loved the way Asa interacts with his nephew; it’s the sweetest thing ever.

“Nope, not me. Well, not yet at least. There are so many things we still want to do around the house. Asa and I would like to travel a bit before even thinking about settling into a family life, not that kids tie you down in a bad way because you could always bring them with you. We’d just like to enjoy us.

Plus the lack of a ring on my finger. Nope, not happening.

” I show them my finger. I don’t expect it from Asa, not right now.

Honestly, I love it being the two of us, plus all my plants.

He has no idea I brought another one into the house today during our lunch break.

He asked me to meet him at the home improvement store to look at patio furniture since the back deck will be done in a couple of weeks and it needed to be ordered.

Well, there was a plant, a string of pearls that desperately called to me, so once Asa left, I circled back, bought the poor neglected thing along with a new pot and soil to re-pot later next week, and took it home.

“Guys, can we circle back to me, please?” Leena’s elbows are propped on the table. She’s excited to spill her news.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry, Leena,” I tell her, because truly I am. It’s just when we all get together, everyone talks.

“So, seriously, after that whole thing went down with the interview, all three brothers apologized, and not in the ‘I have to’ kind of way. I’m talking Asa brought me a plant I’ve been eyeing.

” Leena winks at me. Yep, he came and asked what else he could buy instead of boring flowers.

“Tanner bought me this gorgeous macrame piece for my living room even if I wasn’t pissed I’d have accepted it right away.

Keller, well, that brother of mine, the big bear, we talked for hours, and I got ice cream out of the deal.

Thank you, Alana. I know you’ve got your hands full right now, and I promise anytime you two need a break, I’ll take Jace.

” She takes a breath, because boy, can Leena talk a million miles a minute.

“Plus, swear to God I got a banging raise and they upped my vacation time to three weeks a year with holiday pay. I told that other offer thanks but no thanks.” The smile on her face says it all.

It wasn’t that she was trying to get all of that; it was to show her worth.

Something I think the Hart men took advantage of one too many times.

“Leena, if you need time with your big brother, grab him by the ear and make him take you for ice cream. Everyone needs someone every now again. You don’t ever have to thank me for that,” Alana states. She’s a rockstar mom and the perfect match for Keller in every single way

“I’m so glad. You deserve it and so much more.

If you’re looking for more pieces like that, let me know.

Tanner and I found it at the local market the weekend after that went down.

It was all him. Do you have any trips planned yet?

” Asa makes eye contact with me while Leena tells them about her upcoming trip in the next couple of months, something that’s not in the Bahamas but in Puerto Rico.

“Are you even listening to me, Montana? I swear it’s like you’re in a whole other atmosphere tonight.” I roll my eyes. Someone needs all the attention tonight.

“Yes, crazy lady, you’re going to meet yourself a fox too, while you’re there, bring him home, have lots of you know what, get married, and have babies.” I mouth I love you to him. He responds with the same words, tacking on forever at the end. Asa’s right; it is me and him, forever and ever.

“Okay, that’s enough of that. You can have my best friend later tonight, Asa.” She gets in the way, making a fool of herself, and I laugh because Leena is right—I’ll have Asa later, which sets my body on fire just thinking about it.