Maddie let out a low whistle from her spot next to Nash. “Damien Miller?”
Aspen nodded.
Maddie grinned. “Not too hard on the eyes, that one. He’s single, you know.”
I scowled at my soon-to-be sister-in-law.
Nash gaped at his fiancée. “Did you seriously just say that right in front of me?”
Maddie shrugged as she leaned back against the couch cushions. “I’m taken, not dead.”
Nash pounced on her. “I’ll show you taken.”
She shrieked as my brother tickled her sides and kissed her neck.
“There are children in the room, Nash,” Lawson called from his stool at the kitchen island. He shot Aspen a grin. “Welcome to chaos.”
Aspen eased a bit at his greeting, her fists loosening a fraction.
Heat and annoyance swept through me, some sensation that seemed a lot like jealousy. I shook off the ridiculous thought. “She eating?”
Aspen’s piercing green gaze found me again. She wore an emerald sweater that hugged her curves and made the color of her eyes burn impossibly brighter and the red of her hair look deeper somehow. I forced myself to focus on the ridiculous glittery gold headband in her hair. What was she, five?
“Seems to be eating and drinking just fine.” A hint of a smile played on her glossy lips. “She loves the treats she gets the medicine in.”
I grunted. “You’re not going into the stall too much, are you?”
That smile dropped away, and I wanted to kick myself.
Grae glared at me. “Aspen knows what she’s doing. She’s been helping injured animals for years now.”
I didn’t say a word.
Grae huffed, turning back to Aspen. “Come on. I’ll give you a tour of the house, and we can leave Mr. Grizz to brood.”
I glared at my sister. The last thing I needed was for my family to pick up on Cady’s ridiculous nickname.
“I’ll come,” Wren said, struggling to her feet.
“Me, too,” Maddie echoed as she extricated herself from Nash’s hold.
Aspen sought out Cady. “You okay with Charlie?”
The girl nodded, only half-paying attention to her mother.
My mom sent Aspen a reassuring smile from the kitchen. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“Thanks,” Aspen said, but Grae was already dragging her off.
Once they disappeared, Nash turned his focus to me again. “Mr. Grizz, huh?”
“Shut up,” I muttered.
“You know we’re never letting that one go,” Holt echoed.
My thirteen-year-old nephew, Drew, flopped into an overstuffed armchair next to me. “Putting the moves on Ms. Barlow, huh? Respect. She’s smokin’。” He held out a fist for me to bump.
I simply stared at him.
“Drew…” Lawson warned. “That’s not how we talk about women.”
“Come on, Dad, no disrespect. I’m just spittin’ the truth, bruh.”
“Well, let’s tone down that truth-spittin’， bruh.”
Nash chuckled. “I don’t know. I’m happy the kid wants to hit on someone who isn’t Maddie.”
Drew grinned. “Naw, Mads will always be my girl.”
The amusement fled Nash’s face. “Do not try to steal my nickname.”
Drew’s grin only widened. “Come on, Uncle Nash. You scared of a little competition?”
Nash launched off the couch and Drew flipped over the chair to escape him, cackling as he dodged his uncle.
Lawson just shook his head. “I swear they’re both thirteen.”
Holt’s gaze turned my way. “What happened last night?”
I fought the urge to squirm in my chair. “Nothing. Just a typical callout.”
That was far from the truth. Nothing about last night had felt routine. The green eyes that had haunted my dreams hadn’t either. But this wasn’t the first time I’d lied to my family. And it wouldn’t be the last.
As everyone clustered in the living room for appetizers, I pushed open the door to the back patio. Grae immediately pulled away from her fiancé. Caden mumbled something about me being a cockblock.
“You act like you two haven’t seen each other in years,” I grumbled. “You work and live together.”
Grae stuck out her tongue at me. “Don’t hate. One day, there’ll be someone you can’t stand going a few hours without.”
Not bloody likely. But I didn’t tell my sister that. I simply grunted.
Caden chuckled. “That’s Roan-speak for screw you.”