Page 41 of Where the Blacktop Ends (Whitewood Creek Farm #1)

Where’s my little boy!” A female voice squeals as soon as we enter through the doors of the beautiful farmhouse that Troy grew up in.??

It’s a gorgeous property. A large, paved driveway from the main road out in the middle of the country. The trees have all turned shades of orange, red and yellow now that Autumn is in full force and the home is large, boasting of years spent living and several additions built on to it.

Behind it, I can make out two other extensive driveways that Troy mentioned lead to the home he built for him and Max twenty years ago and the other where his brother Lawson who manages sales for their businesses lives with his son, Beckham.

Troy’s other siblings, Cash and his sister Regan, still live in the main house with their father. They’ve yet to have moved out and prefer to keep close to where they work on the Whitewood Creek Farmstead and Distillery.

It’s a lot of family—more people to meet at one time than I expected—but I’m excited to see this side of Troy where his guard might be lowered.

It’s a side I’ve never known, the one that might reveal who he really is when he isn’t fighting injustices and bossing people around.

Plus, despite being an only child, I always ached to be a part of a big family.

A woman I assume to be Troy’s sister, Regan, comes through the kitchen and into the living room, her arms spread wide open, a big smile lighting up her pretty face. She has dark, auburn wavy hair and bright blue eyes, and she immediately stoops down to Liam, enveloping him in a tight hug.

“You’ve grown so much!” she exclaims, peppering his face with affectionate kisses.

“It’s been what, six months since your grandpa last brought you home?

” she says between smooches. “I don’t know how he could stand to keep someone this sweet away from us for so long!

” After finishing her fussing over Liam, she stands and gives Troy a hug before turning her attention on me.

“Hi, Georgia! I’m Regan,” she says, pulling me into a tight hug. I can’t help but like her instantly—her warmth is contagious. Troy told me we were the same age and similar in spirit, and I can already tell he’s right. “I can’t wait to share all the stories about your grumpy boss.”

Troy rolls his eyes, but before he can respond, an older man joins us in the living room. “So, you finally brought the nanny home with my great-grandson,” the man says, his gaze landing on me.

“Dad, this is Georgia Cameron,” Troy introduces, and I like the fact that he doesn’t introduce me as just the nanny.

“Georgia, Kent Marshall,” the man says, stepping forward with a broad smile. “Pleased to finally meet you. I have a feeling you’re the reason Troy’s bringing Liam home when it’s not even a holiday.”

I smile as Mr. Marshall pulls me into a hug. “I can’t take credit for that,” I say, feeling a bit flustered by that. Has it really been that long since Troy’s’ brought Liam home to see his family?

He waves his hand dismissively. “Oh, I guarantee you have everything to do with it.”

I feel my cheeks flush as Troy watches me, his expression unreadable but his hazel eyes soft.

Then another figure strolls in, this one wearing worn jeans with holes and a snug black T-shirt. He looks like a younger version of Troy—someone I might have gone for at one time before I realized I preferred the depth and maturity of an older man like Troy.

“Ah, the hot nanny. Every romance lover’s favorite trope,” he drawls with a teasing grin. “Cash Marshall,” he says, holding out his hand. “Middle child of the family.”

“And acts like it, too,” Troy grumbles from next to me.

“I don’t think we paid him enough attention when he was a kid, so he makes up for that now,” Kent mumbles, shaking his head.

I take his hand, but before I can shake it, he yanks me forward, pulling me in for a hug. I bounce off of his hard chest, my breath catching. “We don’t do handshakes here. And I heard you’re a rancher, so I know you don’t, either. Strength of the hug relates to the strength of the cock.”

I grin and hug him back, just as firmly. “I must have a massive one then.”

Cash barks out a laugh while Regan and his dad chuckle and Troy let’s out a loud groan. “Can you please stop, Cash?”

“You know what, I’ve never been to North Carolina before, but I think I’ll fit in just fine with the country folk. New York people haven’t been cutting it,” I respond, egging Cash on.

Cash lets out a snort, glancing over my head at Troy but not letting me go just yet from his vice like grip.

“You hear that, big brother? The guys in New York aren’t doing it for her.

” I can feel the tension rolling off Troy as I look up at Cash who’s still smirking over my head.

“Maybe I’ll take you out to see the baby chicks,” Cash says with a wink.

“Country girls always love that. Their little furry bodies and cheeping noises are adorable. It’ll melt your heart. ”

Troy growls as he tugs me away from Cash who throws his head back and barks out another laugh before stooping down to grab Liam and toss him over his shoulder playfully. “Uncle!” Liam squeals.

Troy’s lips move to my ear as we take in the adorable scene. “You’re not going anywhere alone with him.”

“Why not?” I whisper back.

“Because I’m Big Papa.”

I chuckle softly, trying not to draw too much attention to us, but I catch Kent Marshall’s eye.

He shoots me a wink, clearly enjoying the sight of me with his eldest son.

I wonder if Troy’s ever brought anyone else to his family home before, but before I can think about that, the final Marshall sibling walks into the house.

“Hey, Georgia. I’m Lawson Marshall, the oldest Marshall—well, only since Troy’s basically always been our dad,” he says with a grin. Lawson’s lighter brown hair is almost a dark blonde, twinkling brown eyes, and his smile is far easier than Cash’s.

I shake his hand politely with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you. Nice to meet all of you.”

“I’m sorry about the whole paparazzi situation. I’m guessing Troy’s already handled it. He always does. He’s good at looking out for all of us.”

I raise an eyebrow and look between them. “I guess that’s their job—harassing people for a story. But thank you, it was terrifying.”

Lawson gives me a sympathetic nod, but Troy remains stoic.

“I met with the lawyer,” he says, still avoiding my gaze. “We’ve filed charges.”

So that’s why he was gone all weekend ... My heart warms at the realization—he wasn’t just absent for work, he was out there, taking care of us. Me and Liam. I can’t help but think of us as a package deal now. The three of us.

Our adorable little family.

I glance at Troy with new appreciation, noticing the slight touch of gray at his temples, the fine lines under his eyes, and the way his smile has softened since we touched down in his home state.

He’s lighter here in his childhood home, surrounded by people who don’t see him as Mr. Marshall or the man running for governor, but just as Troy.

Their big brother who’s like a father figure to them all.

He looks younger in this lighting, somehow even more handsome, and he hasn’t even taken off his suit yet.

A wild idea crosses my mind—maybe it’s time to provoke him a little.

He’s been teasing me, telling me he won’t sleep with me because once he does, he’ll make me his.

But that’s never sounded like a bad thing to me.

In fact, that sounds like exactly what I want.

I watch as Kent Marshall bends down with a slight groan, his knees cracking as Liam runs into his arms. He scoops him up with ease, laughing, “My only great-grandson. Your papa going to win this governor race so that you two can move back home?”

“That’s the plan...” Troy sighs, running a hand through his hair before his eyes connect with mine.

Without product, it’s just loose, dark strands, brushing the collar of his shirt.

He sounds tired, and I can hear the weight of it all—the family business, Colt, the campaign—resting on his shoulders.

Will he really leave his whole life behind in New York for this?

Kent nods knowingly. “So, what’s Liam going to call me now that Georgia’s teaching him all these new words? Your papa says you’re talking in sentences now?”

Regan snickers. “Grampy?”

Lawson chimes in with a grin. “Granddaddy?”

Cash offers, “A pain in all of our asses?”

I can’t resist. With a sweet, innocent smile, I suggest, “How about Big Papa?”

Troy barks out a sharp, “No!” startling Liam in Kent’s arms. His siblings shoot him curious looks. Cash bursts into laughter, and Lawson shakes his head with a chuckle.

“Well, I’ll be damned...,” he mutters, disappearing into the kitchen with a smirk.

Troy’s eyes narrow at me, and he leans in close, his voice a low, dangerous whisper in my ear. “I’ll deal with you later.”

A delicious shiver runs up my spine. Because I like the sound of that.

“Dinner in thirty,” Kent calls out, glancing at the two of us while holding Liam close. “ Big Papa is going to take his great-grandson for a ride on the tractor. Troy, why don’t you give Cash a hand at the brewery? He’s got a new shipment in of our seasonal brews.”

Troy sighs, half-complaining. “Just got here and already being put to work.”

Kent shakes his head with a grin and walks off with Liam, while Regan loops her arm through mine. “Come on, Georgia. I’ll show you the baby chicks. Cash may have been provoking Troy, but they really are adorable.”

Troy levels her with a stern look. “Behave.” Then his eyes flick to mine, his voice dropping lower. “You too. Behave.”

I swallow hard, hearing both the warning and the promise in his tone as my pulse races. “Oh, I plan to, Big Papa ,” I whisper back, just loud enough for only him to hear.

***