Page 59 of Luke
She must have agreed because he handed the phone over and Catherine left the room to have the conversation. Paisley wished she could hear but understood the need for privacy with her story.
When her father had tried to force an acceptable marriage on Catherine, the guy had lost his mind when it didn’t work out. He’d broken into the home that she and Luke now shared and had died by Ryker’s hands.
She thought it would be weird living here all things considered but it wasn’t. Since she didn’t know the guy and wasn’t friends with everyone when it happened, she was oddly removed from that situation.
Luke still had some guilt over it as he had helped that guy in the beginning. Catherine didn’t hold it against him, but mentally it still ate it him sometimes.
It wasn’t even fifteen minutes later when Catherine returned. “Carter is driving her here in the morning. Classes are over so she can stay for a bit of a visit.”
Luke dropped on the sofa and put his arm around Paisley. “Thank God.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Luke
“Ashley!” Catherine greeted her with a hug as soon as she stepped through the door.
Ashley looked uncomfortable, having not grown up with a lot of affection shown just like Luke. It was strange that Catherine was as bubbly and affectionate as she was with their group, knowing what he did of her upbringing, too. Ashley awkwardly hugged Catherine back before getting herself free.
“Is this your son?” She went right to Garrett as she asked Luke.
“This is Garrett, your nephew. And this is Paisley, my fiancée,” he introduced.
“Blink twice if you are being held hostage,” Ashley told Paisley.
Unprepared for that comment, Paisley choked on a laugh. “I think I’m going to like you a lot.”
They all laughed and stepped out of the foyer and into the living room.
“I like this place a lot better than your apartment,” Ashley said. “It’s very homelike instead of bachelor pad. Family man looks good on you.”
“Thank you,” Luke said.
“Okay. I’m here so fill me in.” She plopped down on the sofa and looked up at Luke and Ryker.
“We’re waiting on Cade,” Ryker said.
“You’re the one in charge of that guy?” Ashley asked, pointing at Carter.
Ryker nodded.
“So does he get to go now that I’m here?” she asked.
Ryker shook his head. “Not until we know what’s going to happen.”
She sighed. “Fine.” Her eye roll wasn’t even a little hidden. Luke knew that she only said something because it seemed he wasn’t needed. She definitely wasn’t fine and wasn’t going to just go along with things.
“Just wait for Cade to get here. He’s got a new baby so he didn’t want to come and hang out early.” Luke hoped she would just be patient and actually listen.
“I’m an aunt twice over so quickly after finding out all of this. It’s weird to think about. I guess I get to be the fun aunt,” Ashley joked.
“That job’s taken,” Catherine told her. “But I suppose we can share the title.”
Ashley laughed. “Works for me.”
They caught up on small talk about her degree and classes while they waited for Cade. Carter stood off in a corner, doing his best not to be involved despite the fact that he was over six-feet tall and muscular, impossible to blend in.
“Cade’s here,” Catherine said after checking her phone.