Page 30 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Sixteen

BILLIE

“ I think your thumb is clean.”

I hear Blake, but I’m not paying attention to him because right now, I’m hyperaware of the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my life standing across the room from me, smiling down at my adorable niece, and my ovaries are sparkling like it’s the Fourth of fucking July.

“Bee.”

“Huh?” I let my thumb fall from my mouth. I was licking off some mayonnaise when I glanced over and caught the view of Connor in that sexy-as-hell plain white T-shirt. His arms do things to me.

We’re at the ranch for Sunday family day. We spent the day with the horses, much to Birdie’s delight, and now we’re all in the house. I’m helping with dinner, but everyone’s in the kitchen/dining space, talking and laughing.

Our family has grown so much, with Skyla’s best friend, Mikhail, and his husband, Benji, joining us, along with Millie and her husband, Holden. My brother might have to consider adding on to this kitchen.

But I’m only paying attention to my man.

Mine.

His gaze lifts and finds mine, and he graces me with that sexy, knowing smile, just as his eyes rake up and down my body. Heat spears through me. He doesn’t even have to touch me, and I’m a live wire.

“For fuck’s sake, Bee,” Blake says next to me. “Take him home and screw his brains out or pay attention already.”

I blink and frown at my brother, who’s trying to thrust a platter of cheese, meat, and crackers at me.

“You can’t put this on the counter yourself?” I demand as I take the platter and roll my eyes.

“You’re supposed to be helping,” he reminds me. “So either help or get the hell out of this kitchen.”

“Brooks!” I call out, my eyes pinned to Blake’s, and he scowls at me. “Blake is being mean to me!”

“You’re such a fucking brat,” Blake spits out just as Brooks clomps into the kitchen.

“What the hell is going on in here?” And there he is, the oldest brother who will come to the defense of his baby sister—me—on command.

It’s handy, really.

“Blake’s being mean.”

Brooks raises an eyebrow at Blake. “ Are you being mean?”

Blake just rolls his eyes, mutters something about me being a pest, and goes back to what he was doing. It’s funny how here, Blake Blackwell is just an annoying big brother, despite the fact he’s more educated than the rest of us siblings and is a well-respected doctor in the area.

With a grin, I hug Brooks around his waist, and he pats me on the back.

“Thanks.” My gaze catches Connor’s again. His arms are folded over his chest, and he’s shaking his head. He clearly witnessed the entire scene, but he’s smirking.

Because I’m damn funny.

“I’m so glad you guys came for dinner,” I say to Millie as she slings her arm around Holden’s waist.

Holden and his sisters have always been welcome at our ranch.

Well, everyone is welcome here, but our home was a haven for the Lexington siblings when their abusive father got to be too horrible.

Holden would bring his four younger sisters here, and we’d all hang out together.

I’ve always thought of him as another brother, and as he leans down to kiss his wife’s head, he winks at me.

“Hey, brat. How’s it going?” he asks me.

“It’s going well. Or, it was, until your ugly face showed up here. Did you know that you smell, too?”

Holden smirks, and then like a shot, he lets go of Millie and runs after me. I squeal and run away, around the kitchen island, but he’s way faster than I am and catches me by the waist, turning around in a circle with my feet off the floor.

“Help! Help! I’m being manhandled!”

“Take it back,” he demands and swiftly puts me in a headlock. Geez, what’s up with all the big biceps on these guys? He’s going to choke me out with those things.

“You’re so fucking old,” I tell him, out of breath. “How do you move so fast?”

“I’m old and smelly?” he demands.

“And ugly,” I remind him, giggling. Holden is the opposite of ugly. The man is way too sexy for his own good.

In fact, I can objectively say that every man here is hotter than Hades. Even my brothers.

“Beg for mercy,” he says as he rubs his knuckles in my hair.

“Brooks!” I call out.

“I’m not helping you this time,” my brother replies from across the room. “You deserve it.”

With another hysterical laugh, I shove my elbow into Holden’s side, making him wheeze out a breath.

“Connor!” I’m still wiggling, but Holden’s too damn strong. “Connor, help me!”

Suddenly, I’m yanked out of Holden’s arms and wrapped up in an embrace I know all too well.

“Was the bad man bothering you, angel?” Connor growls against my ear, making all of my lady bits stand up at attention.

“Yes. Kill him and discard the body.”

“Harsh,” Beckett says, shaking his head as Connor chuckles and gives me a squeeze.

“From now on,” Connor whispers so only I can hear, “when you need help, you ask for me , mo rúnsearc , no other man, not even your brother. Understood? ”

I lean back to look him in the eye and grin at the heat there.

“I hear you.”

“Good.” He kisses my forehead, then walks away, and I have to clear my throat.

Holden winks at me before he steals a piece of cheese, then walks over to chat with Beckett, Mik, and Benji.

“Okay, what do you need me to do?” I ask Blake, who just shakes his head.

“Nothing.”

“What’s for dinner?”

I whirl at the voice coming from the doorway. I know that voice!

“Mama!”

Our parents are standing thirty feet away, grinning at all of us. Mom’s eyes fill with tears as we rush them, taking our turns with hugs and kisses, and when Birdie starts to cry because she’s so happy to see her grandma and grandpa, I can’t help but cry, too.

“God, I missed you,” I whisper, clinging to my daddy as he wraps his arms around me, holding me in the bear hug that I’ve loved for as long as I can remember.

“I missed you too, baby girl.” He pulls back to brush the tears from my cheeks. “No more tears.”

I nod and move on to my mom, hugging her so tight, I’m afraid I might bruise her ribs.

“How?” I ask. “I thought you were busy in Florida.”

“We are,” she confirms. “So we’re only here for two days, but Connor assures us his plane is ready for us anytime, so we don’t have to go by the commercial flight schedule.”

I whirl, scanning the room for my man, then I rush to him, throw my arms around his neck, and hug him close.

The damn tears are back.

“You did this for me ?”

“You cried, angel,” he reminds me, his hands moving up and down my back soothingly. “And that was unacceptable.”

God, I love this man.

Holy shit.

I’m in love with him.

This isn’t a crush.

It’s not simply incredible sex.

I’m in love with him.

Chaos reigns around us, but I frame his face in my hands and gently lay my lips over his, and suddenly, everyone has gone quiet.

“In case anyone hadn’t heard,” I say, not raising my voice and not tearing my gaze from Connor’s, “we’re a thing. I’m not taking suggestions or concerns about it at this time.”

Connor’s smile spreads, then he laughs as he kisses my forehead.

“We figured,” Mom says with a wink. “Now, really, what’s for dinner? We’re starving.”

“We’re grilling,” Birdie informs her. “I’m going to flip the burgers.”

“No,” Bridger says, shaking his head. “You’re not. It’s too hot for little girls.”

“I’m not little. I’m going to be a big sister, so I’m a big girl.”

Dead silence.

My gaze whips to Dani, who’s biting her lip and fighting tears.

“Do not play with my emotions,” I say, pointing at her, but she just smiles at me. Then I run to her and hug her harder than ever. “Really? A baby?”

“Yeah,” she says with a giggle as Skyla crashes into us in a group hug. “Next spring.”

There’s more chaos. More hugs.

I glance over in time to see Holden, with tears in his bright blue eyes, pull his sister in for a tight hug, holding her close. He whispers something in her ear, and it makes her break down, and now I’m a blubbering mess, too.

Goddamn emotions.

“Here, angel.” Connor’s suddenly right next to me, holding out a handkerchief.

“You’re so fancy,” I say through my tears as I dab at my eyes. “Wow, this is the best family dinner ever. I can’t believe you did this. Did you know that Dani and Bridger had this announcement, and that’s why you flew Mom and Dad in?”

“There’s not much in this life that I wouldn’t do for you. But, no.” He kisses my head, wrapping his arms around me as we watch the others hug and laugh. “That’s a happy coincidence.”

“The happiest.” I sigh and wink at Bridger when he finds my gaze. “He’s such a good daddy. I’m happy for them.”

“Do you want kids?” Connor asks me.

“Maybe. Probably.” I shrug and glance up at him. “You?”

“I didn’t think so.” He frowns, and his eyes scan the room, taking in this big, loud family surrounding us. “Now, maybe. Probably.”

My gaze finds his, and he skims his knuckles down my cheek. “Go love on your family, bumble. I’ll be right here.”

“You’re pretty great. I mean, I don’t want to feed your ego too much, but you’re pretty fucking great, Connor Gallagher.”

He chuckles as he loosens his hold on me and steps back. “Go on then.”

“I’ll show you my appreciation later.”

“Looking forward to it.”