Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
D allas leaned back in his chair and took in the long table before him.
Family dinners with the King siblings had always been loud and lively affairs. Tonight was no different. And without their dad there to lay down the law and their mom to play peacemaker…
“I didn’t say that!” Brandon shouted. But he was laughing so hard he didn’t dodge Bailey’s dinner roll quickly enough.
Luckily, the Overlands had already finished their dinner, and the other guests had opted to eat in town tonight, so Willow didn’t have to run in and out of the kitchen every five seconds, and no one was around to scare away with their loud laughter and bickering.
In the King household, laughter and bickering always went hand in hand.
Brandon turned to Dallas. “Help a guy out.”
Dallas opened his mouth, but Giselle spoke first. “Sorry, babe, but you got yourself into this.”
She was grinning as she fiddled with the baby monitor, making sure it was turned all the way up, no doubt, to be heard over the ruckus.
Brandon threw his hands up, making everyone laugh as he shook his head with feigned sadness. “See what I’m dealing with here? I’m always being ganged up on.”
Willow giggled, reaching for her water glass. “Poor Brandon. He’s got it so tough here at the inn…what with having to smile and be charming all day long. Must be exhausting .”
She said it all with an impish little grin and zero bite, but Brandon put on another show as he pressed the back of his hand to his forehead like he was going to faint. “Et tu, Willow?”
Everyone laughed. Including Ronnie. She was still chuckling as she reached for another helping of mashed potatoes.
Dallas hadn’t been able to stop watching her throughout the course of the dinner.
It was probably borderline creepy, but every chance they got, his eyes would wander across the table again.
He couldn’t seem to help himself. He wasn’t sure why her presence here tonight was so compelling—Lord knew she’d stayed for dinner all the time when they were kids.
But back then…well, they’d been kids .
It was oddly fascinating to see how she fit in so easily as an adult. Like no time had passed, but also…nothing was the same. Kind of like this inn. It held all the memories, but it was also brand-new.
He looked at Giselle and then Drew, who was whispering to Bailey.
It was an odd thing to watch new memories being made in a place that held so much history.
He heard Ronnie laugh at something Willow said. And like a magnet, his gaze was drawn back to her.
She was pretty, yes. This was a known fact. But when she smiled like that—all carefree and truly happy…
He drew in a quick inhale when his heart gave a sharp kick in his chest.
The smile she wore right now was rare. Earlier, when Giselle and Brandon and the others had been asking her about snowboarding and when Bailey had been chatting about Margot’s upcoming wedding…
This was not the smile she’d worn then.
That smile had been strained, and the light in her eyes had dimmed.
He shifted in his seat, the concern rippling through him a little disconcerting.
He was used to worrying about his siblings. It was his job as their brother to look after them. But this was…different.
It wasn’t his right to feel this protective of Ronnie. But that was what he felt all right. As he watched her smile and chat with Giselle, he had this overwhelming urge to draw out a sword and slay all her dragons.
He reached for his wineglass.
That would be much easier to do if he had any idea what those metaphorical dragons actually were. What was it that had her so stressed?
He got a clue when Bailey mentioned her sister’s wedding again.
Like a light switch being flipped, the happy glow in Ronnie’s eyes went out.
“Your sister’s so lucky to have you here to help,” Drew said. “Has she figured out the band situation?”
Ronnie took a gulp of her wine and nodded. “Yep, I think so.”
“Ugh.” Dallas groaned loudly. “I know the happy couples at this table just love to talk weddings, but the rest of us just want to enjoy our meal without discussing napkins and centerpieces.”
Most of the table laughed. But Ronnie shot him a funny sidelong look, and Bailey rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind Dallas. He’s just turned into a bitter old man ever since”—she donned a fake whisper—“the breakup.”
“Bailey!” Willow’s tone was all exasperated amusement.
Brandon snickered.
Giselle’s eyes went wide, and Drew looked at Dallas in concern, which led Dallas to believe that while these two fit into the family like missing puzzle pieces, they still had a ways to go in learning just how King siblings functioned.
Ronnie… He couldn’t read her expression. He just knew she was watching him closely.
Dallas raised his hands in the air. “Guilty.”
Any tension eased, and Bailey shot him a little smirk that he returned. There was no actual bad blood there. At least, not on this topic.
Bailey had arrived on his doorstep the day after news broke of Loretta dumping him, a bottle of champagne in one hand and orange juice in the other. “I officially declare this Day-Drinking Day.”
He’d opened the door wider . “Is this a new holiday I’m unaware of?”
“It’s a new King family tradition that starts…” She’d consulted her watch. “Now.”
And he may not be proud of it, but he got himself royally drunk with his twin sister right there to look after him.
She didn’t talk about Loretta once that day.
She just kept topping up his glass and let him lead the conversation from football to ice hockey to Converse sneakers (he didn’t remember that part, but she’d taken great delight in reminding him), and apparently after his fifth glass of bubbly, he started crying over the fact that his favorite pizza place had closed down.
Bailey was merciful enough not to call him out and moved to sit beside him, resting her hand on his shoulder and agreeing that deep crust pizza from Amigo’s had always been the best, until he’d fallen asleep on his couch.
She was even there the next morning with a researched hangover cure, and that was that.
Did they have a friendly, sweet relationship?
No.
Were deep, heartfelt conversations their thing?
Definitely not.
But what they had was theirs, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ronnie was still watching him, her expression still unreadable. “Well,” she said slowly, “if wedding talk is off the table, can we at least talk about the bachelorette party?”
Dallas gave an over-the-top wave of his hand like he was a king granting permission.
Ronnie’s lips twitched in response.
“Ooh, bachelorette party?” Bailey said. “Where? When? Who?”
Ronnie laughed and filled them in on the details. “I was actually hoping you ladies would come.” She gave a pleading smile. “Pretty please?”
“I’m in!” Bailey said.
“Me too,” Willow added.
They all looked at Giselle. “I…” She cast a nervous glance toward Brandon. “I don’t even know Margot.”
“I haven’t seen her in years.” Bailey shrugged. “But if Ronnie wants me there, I’m there.”
“Same.” Willow beamed. “The other women will all be there for the bride. We’ll be there to support the maid of honor.”
Ronnie smiled at Giselle. “I could use all the support I can get.”
Everyone laughed at her wry tone, but Dallas just kept watching Ronnie, wishing like heck he could see inside her mind to know what she was thinking.
She was laughing, sure, but that was all on the surface.
And he was dying to know the truth.
Heck… He reached for his water, suddenly desperate for a drink. He wanted to know everything about this woman.