Page 22 of Her Steamy Cowboy
I nip playfully at her jaw. “What about it?”
Lindsay shivers beneath me, but that little crease between her brows remains. “I thought getting invited to your family’s brunch was a big deal. Are you sure we’re ready for this?”
“Of course, I’m sure.” I cup her face in my hands and brush my thumbs over her cheekbones, holding her gaze steadily. “I want everyone on the planet to know that you’re mine.”
“I want that too,” she whispers, her fingers curling into the hair at the nape of my neck. “I’m just nervous. They’ve only ever seen me as your friend and employee. What if they think I’m not good enough for you? That I don’t belong?”
My heart clenches at the vulnerability in her eyes and the uncertainty in her voice. I lean down, resting my forehead against hers. “Baby, you belong with me, and that means you belong with my family too.”
Lindsay looks up at me, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “You really mean that?”
“With all my heart,” I vow, sealing it with a gentle kiss. “And I’ll make damn sure they all see it too.”
I reach over to grab my phone off the nightstand, keeping one arm securely around Lindsay’s waist. She snuggles into my side as I pull up the family group chat and type out a message with my thumb.
“Heads up, boys. Lindsay’s joining us for brunch. Be on your best behavior or else.”
Within seconds, my phone starts pinging with responses.
Luke: About damn time! We were starting to think you two would never figure it out.”
Brody chimes in next. “Fucking finally! Wait till Savannah hears, she’s going to flip her shit. In a good way.”
Wyatt’s reply pops up. “Well look at that, our baby brother is all grown up. Melody says it’s about damn time and she expects details later ;)”
I chuckle and tilt the screen so Lindsay can read the messages. Her eyes widen as she scans them, but slowly, a tentative smile spreads across her face. “They’re really okay with this? With...us?”
“More than okay, baby. They’re thrilled. I told you, you have nothing to worry about.” I press a kiss to her temple.
Relief floods her features and she turns in my arms to face me fully, looping her arms around my neck. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Jace Clayton.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you,” I murmur, ducking down to capture her lips in a slow, deep kiss that has us both breathless.
When we finally surface for air, I bump my nose playfully against hers. “Now, about that shower...” I give her a heated look, my hands flexing on her hips.
Lindsay bites her lip, her eyes darkening with desire. “Lead the way, cowboy.”
I grin and scoop her up, tossing her over my shoulder caveman style as she squeals.
We don’t leave my room for another forty-five minutes.
Fortunately for us,it seems like all of my brothers got a late start this morning too. By the time Lindsay and I finally make it downstairs, freshly showered and unable to keep the satisfied grins off our faces, the rest of the family is just sitting down to eat in the dining room.
All eyes turn to us and for a split second, I feel Lindsay tense beside me. But then Jasmyn is out of her seat like a shot, pulling Lindsay into a warm hug.
“I’m so happy for you two!” she gushes, and just like that, the momentary tension dissipates.
Melody is next, wrapping Lindsay in an equally enthusiastic embrace. “Welcome to the family, officially!”
Lindsay laughs, her eyes a little misty as she returns their hugs. I feel a swell of pride and affection watching my family welcome her so openly.
“Alright, alright, let the poor girl breathe,” I tease, guiding Lindsay to her seat beside me with a hand on her lower back. “There’ll be plenty of time for you hens to cluck over her later.”
“Hens?! Careful little brother, or no bacon for you,” Savannah threatens from across the table, but she’s grinning ear to ear.
As soon as we sit down, Wyatt raises his coffee mug in a toast. “To Jace and Lindsay, for finally getting their shit together and realizing what the rest of us have known for years - that they’re perfect for each other.”
A chorus of “hear, hear!” and the clinking of mugs fills the room. I lace my fingers with Lindsay’s on top of the table and she leans into me, her smile brighter than the morning sun streaming through the windows.