Page 30 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove (Jonathon Island #5)

Chapter Fifteen

H unter could renovate houses, manage construction crews, and handle tough negotiations, but put him in a room with his grandfather, whose opinion could make or break his future, and he was a wreck.

“Stop, Hunter,” Daisy said, her voice edging on laughter as she laid a hand on his, halting his nervous fidgeting with the doorknob. “I think you’ve checked it enough times.”

Hunter blinked, emerging from his thoughts.

The house was as ready as it could be—not that there was much to prepare, given the lack of furniture outside the items purchased, specifically for the foyer and the porch.

But Hunter ran through a mental checklist all the same.

Kitchen, presentable. Living room, decent.

Bathroom—actually, they shouldn’t use the bathroom, the water wasn’t turned on. He’d need to warn them?—

“Hunter.” Daisy stepped into his line of sight, lifting his chin to look into her eyes. “It’s going to be fine. Your family loves you, and they’re going to see how much work you’ve put into this place.”

Hunter took a deep breath, clearing his lungs.

“I know. It’s just…it feels different now.

” Now that he knew how much Daisy meant to him.

Now that there was a bud of a future to protect.

Now that he knew how much he wanted things to work out between them.

And most importantly, how badly he wanted to make his family proud and keep the house.

Today was the day. His grandpa would be arriving any moment, and they really had to sell him on the renovations so that when Hunter came clean about the engagement and asked his grandpa to change the trust, he wouldn’t be able to say no…

Not with how much care Hunter had put into the house. He’d see.

Daisy brushed her thumb over his jaw, her gaze soft and reassuring as though she sensed his thoughts, and she lifted on her toes, drawing him down to her. But before their lips could touch, the front doors burst open.

“Turkey DAY!” Waylen shouted as he stomped through the door, followed by a cacophony of voices, each trying to out-shout the others. He turned toward Daisy, his arms outstretched. But before he could reach her, Evan intercepted, scooping Daisy up in a bear hug.

“Too slow, Waylen!” He laughed, spinning her around.

“Interference!” Waylen shouted.

“Don’t be a bad sport.” This from Jude, who stepped in as Evan passed her off. He gave her a quick squeeze before pivoting to dodge Waylen’s renewed attempt.

Miles stepped forward, waving his arms. “I’m open!” he joked.

“All right, all right,” Hunter said sternly, pushing down his nerves to step in. His arms wrapped around Daisy’s waist protectively. “She’s not a football, guys. Cool it.”

The family erupted in good-natured laughter and a chorus of playful boos.

“Lame!” Jude called out, but his grin was wide.

The crowd shuffled farther in and spread out, lingering around the door. Hunter’s hand slid to Daisy’s lower back as he led her through the group, grateful for her steady presence.

“Daisy, I’d like you to meet my brother Miles,” he said, gesturing to his oldest brother. People said they looked alike, both sharing dark eyes and wide shoulders, but Hunter didn’t see it.

Miles smiled warmly as he pulled Daisy in for a hug. Hunter watched, his heart swelling at how easily his family seemed to accept her.

“Hunter has told me a lot about you,” Miles said, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.

Daisy echoed the sentiment. “Likewise.”

Miles leaned in just a hair, as though about to say something more, and Hunter’s breath hitched. Miles was the only one who knew about his and Daisy’s arrangement…Hunter probably should have warned her. He went to cut in, but then another figure stepped through the door.

Hunter’s breath caught in his throat.

“Ey!” Waylen shouted. “Gramps is here!”

“Sorry I’m late. Had to check in at the inn.

I’ll tell you, it’s a lot colder here than in Florida.

I’m getting soft in my old age,” he said between hugs for his grandsons.

Tall and lean, their grandfather hardly looked like a man in his seventies except for his gray hair and wrinkled smile.

He gave Miles a pat on the shoulder before turning, his gaze landing on Daisy.

“You must be Hunter’s fiancée,” he said, reaching out to shake her hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m Richard, Hunter’s grandpa.”

“Daisy,” she said, smiling brightly as she took his hand.

Hunter watched, his heart pounding, as his grandfather’s hand came up to cup Daisy’s elbow, pulling her in and dropping his voice. “I hope you know how truly blessed we are to have you join the family.”

A soft pink rose to Daisy’s cheeks, her fingers lacing through Hunter’s. “Thank you. Hunter is a blessing to me as well.”

Hunter’s grandpa turned, glancing around the group. “Where’s Joe?”

“He’s going to meet us at dinner,” Hunter said, trying his best to sound casual. His dad had refused to visit the house, even after Hunter had explained it was just a short tour.

Waylen let out a low whistle as he backpedaled through the foyer. “Look at this place…”

Hunter let out a sigh of relief as his brothers ventured into the house. He’d had himself halfway convinced they’d take one look at the changes and declare it ruined.

“This place looks amazing!” Jude called out from the parlor.

Daisy chuckled. “We didn’t do anything in there, Jude. Just a little elbow grease on the soot and a little paint.”

“You paint good ,” Evan chimed in next to his twin.

She stifled a laugh. “Thank you, gentlemen.”

Miles took a step down the hall, toward the kitchen.

“Oh,” she said, scurrying after him. “The kitchen’s not done.”

It didn’t matter. The boys were already headed that direction. A moment later, they were all standing around the island, smiles plastered on their faces as they reminisced over the space.

Waylen hopped up onto the tiled counter, his feet dangling as he regaled them with a wild story about the time he and Jude tricked Evan into playing hide-and-seek all alone for an hour.

“He really thought he was like, the world champion!” Jude barked, wheezing with laughter.

“How about the time Evan convinced Miles his room was infested with beetles and then put raisins in his bed? I’ve never heard Miles scream like that.” Hunter chuckled.

It was like old times, riffing with this lot. Easy and effortless. He slid an arm around Daisy’s shoulder and pulled her in, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“You good?” she whispered.

“Perfect,” he replied.

It was perfect.

Across the circle, his grandpa watched, his eyes crinkling with a smile. He would understand why Hunter had needed to lie for this place. He would.

Miles glanced at his watch and cut into the raucous noise that hadn’t stopped since the group had arrived. “I hate to break it to you guys, but we’re gonna be late.”

Daisy frowned. “Late for what?”

His brothers exchanged looks of amusement, and then, as though it had been rehearsed, “The Jonathon Island football game.”

* * *

“What?” Hunter asked, smirking. “You thought those halftime scrimmages in the backyard were just for fun? Oh no, that’s all just practice. This is the real deal.”

Daisy’s brows rose as the Barrett boys and Richard strolled down the hill. They looked like the brute squad, all broad shoulders and scruffy jaws. She tried to imagine facing off against any one of them, let alone the group. “And everyone in town does this?”

Waylen stepped ahead, walking backward to face her. “Well, anyone brave enough.”

He tripped and nearly went down, his brothers chuckling as they continued on.

“It’s optional,” Hunter explained. “But almost everyone in town shows up, either to play or to watch.” He slipped his hand around hers, warding off the chill.

It was a surprisingly warm day on the island.

The sun had been out recently, and there were patches of dry grass throughout town. A good day for football.

Even so, she was glad to have finally purchased a jacket. She slipped her other hand into the pocket, savoring the warmth.

Main Street was alive with activity as they turned off Partridge Lane.

Daisy had gotten used to the quiet town these last two months, but it felt like more and more people were arriving every day.

It seemed half the locals had family visiting, and they all bustled around the town with rosy cheeks and smiling faces.

Several storefronts held signs that read:

Please join us on Blueberry Hill.

Closed for Thanksgiving.

It was a foreign concept to Daisy, the way this town seemed to invite everyone into the mix. Even going so far as to invite out-of-towners to their holiday traditions.

Richard’s words returned to her mind. I hope you know how truly blessed we are to have you join the family. He hadn’t realized the way his words had been a balm to her spirit. He didn’t even know her, and yet he believed her to be a blessing.

Her own dad hadn’t done that much. Not without something to earn it first.

The scent of cinnamon and apple pie wafted from Good Day Coffee as Jill stepped out from the shop and locked up.

“Heya, Jill!” Miles called out.

Jill glanced up, her eyes widening in delight as she caught sight of the entire Barrett family. “Well, isn’t this just a sight!”

She stepped off the curb, wrapping Miles in a matronly hug, followed by Jude and then Evan. “I hope you two have been keeping out of trouble,” she said, eyeing the twins.

“I wish I could say that were tru—” Waylen started, but Jude stopped him with a swift elbow.

“Of course, you know us.” He gave her a cheeky wink.

Jill settled in among them as they continued their stroll through town.

“Is Brandon in town this year?” Miles asked, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his Patagonia jacket.

“Not this year,” she said. “He’s currently leading a three-day excursion through the Grand Canyon.”

Daisy leaned toward Hunter. “Brandon…?”