Page 60 of Ridin' True

There was something about Jed that made me feel safe and secure. He didn’t lie or manipulate or play games with my head. He thought I was gorgeous, he laughed at my jokes, and he wanted me to meet his kids. I’d known him for less than three weeks, and I was pretty certain I was already half in love with him. Now, I wondered if I landed a guy completely out of my league.

“Don’t over think it,” I whispered under my breath, forcing myself out of my car.

I heard music, the shouts of children, and the sound of men laughing behind the house as I approached the front door. I knocked a couple of times, but I didn’t bother waiting for an answer, assuming no one would hear me.

“Hello?” I called as I stepped inside.

Right away, I was taken aback by howhomeyit felt. The living room, just in front of me, had a huge, cozy looking sectional, with a coordinating area rug underneath. The coffee table was littered with books, and the entertainment center beneath the mounted television appeared to be stuffed full of movies and games.

There was a window on the far wall that looked out onto the covered back patio. It was open, the music playing outside wafting in with the breeze and the smell of whatever Jed was cooking on his grill. His back was to me, Roy and Benson flanking him on either side, all of them in their kuttes.

“Alexia, is that you? We’re over here. Come on in.”

I followed the direction of Winnie’s voice. I didn’t have to go far before I saw her and Jenna on the opposite side of the kitchen, standing at Jed’s dining room table. They looked to be setting up a food station of some sort—plates, condiments, and sides arranged in an assembly line kind of order.

“Hey. Good to see you again,” greeted Jenna.

“Yeah, you, too.”

“The guys and the kids are outside. There’s a cooler out there with a bunch of beer and some soda, but Jenna and I were thinking of making some margs if you want to hold out.”

“Yeah, Wrangler has a fancy blender I’m dying to try. If it ends up being as awesome as it looks, you’ll be seeing it on my wedding registry,” she said with a cheeky smile.

Just then, the sliding glass door opened, Jed walking through it with a platter full of burgers and brats.

“You ladies have a preference where I put these? Not tryin’ to mess up whatever system you got goin’ here.”

“Island,” instructed Jenna, pointing at the vacant space.

Jed turned toward the island and stopped short at the sight of me. A crooked smile tugged at his mouth, and he set aside the platter as he made his way toward me.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he muttered before delivering a quick kiss. “You just get here?”

“Mmhmm. Sorry to be so late.”

“You’re not.” He slid my purse from off my shoulder and moved to set it on the couch. He then jerked his head toward the patio and said, “Come on. I’ll introduce you before we eat.”

He took my hand, and I followed him to the door, looking back at Winnie and Jenna as I went. They both offered me smiles of encouragement before Jed guided me outside. He let go of my hand, moving his to the small of my back before he slid the screen door closed behind us.

There was a porch swing that hung in front of the window, big enough for two people—or, perhaps, one ten-year-old girl, stretched out across the cushions, with her nose buried in a book.

“Lowe, someone here I want you to meet.”

Marlowe lowered her book, revealing her face before she sat up and crossed her legs beneath her. It was hardly a surprise that she was beautiful, given who had made her—but she looked so much like Jed, I had to tell myself not to stare.

They had the same eyes. The same freckles. Even the same hair, hers grown out a few inches longer than his.

“Lowe, this is my friend, Alexia. Alexia, meet Marlowe.”

I didn’t miss the inquisitive way she studied me as her father introduced us, and it would have been a lie to say I wasn’t intimidated by it. I wanted her to like me. I was the coolest aunt on the planet according to Ellie, but she’d known me all her life. I hoped whatevercoolfactor I possessed wouldn’t be lost on Jed’s kids.

“Hi, Marlowe. I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s great to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” she replied carefully.

“Time to take a break. Head inside and wash up for dinner, yeah?”

“Okay, dad,” she obeyed, reaching for her bookmark.