Chapter Sixteen – Mackenzie
MACKENZIE
Bradly parked behind his father’s truck, and we watched as Merit, Dirk, and Avery piled out and walked up the steps of Lincoln and Brock’s home. It was a beautiful home and it was huge. The logs and river rocks made it feel cozy, like a cabin in the woods, even though it was far larger than most homes.
“Have I told you that you look beautiful?”
My head turned to look at him. “You have.”
“Have I told you that I can’t stop thinking about last night?”
I felt my cheeks heat. “No, you haven’t mentioned that, and I’m glad you haven’t, since we’ve been with your parents and sister.”
He flashed me a huge smile. “I’m going to plan on us sneaking out early.”
“Before game night?” I asked with a mixture of relief and disappointment.
He laughed. “Oh, there is no missing game night. Another warning about that, though. Don’t let it bug you if…well…if things are said and voices are raised.”
“What?” I asked, frowning as I placed my hand over my fluttering stomach.
Bradly winked. “It’s going to be fun. Relax!”
Then he was out of the truck and walking around to my side as I felt the beginnings of a mild panic attack.
He opened the door and held his hand out for me, helping me down. We walked up the steps and through the door, into a beautiful open foyer that looked like something straight out of a magazine. The massive living room was in front of us, and to the left was a large kitchen, where some people were standing, a few sitting at the huge island.
To the right was a stunning double archway made of logs that led into the formal dining room.
“This used to be one of the original cabins on the ranch. Uncle Brock has added onto it a few times.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said as I looked around while Bradly took off my coat and hung it up. Reaching for my hand, he gently tugged me into the living room.
I glanced around as small groups of people held conversations. Until suddenly, all eyes were on the two of us.
“Oh, dear,” I whispered.
Bradly stood a bit taller and looked to the left of the room. “Mackenzie, you’ve met Uncle Ty.”
Ty tipped his head in my direction and flashed me a grin. Goodness, what was in the water here? Everyone was beautiful.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Ty.”
“Pleasure is ours,” he replied, as he put his arm around a beautiful older woman with blonde hair. “This is my wife, Kaylee.”
Kaylee waved. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mackenzie. Merit and Stella have talked about you so much.”
I felt my cheeks heat.
Bradly went on with introductions. “That insanely gorgeous couple right next to Uncle Ty and Aunt Kaylee is Uncle Tanner and Aunt Timberlynn.”
Waving, we exchanged hellos.
Then I was introduced to Blayze, who was Lincoln and Brock’s oldest son, his wife Georgiana, and their twins, Ryder and Rhett.
After that, I met Ryan and Morgan. Morgan was the daughter of Lincoln and Brock, and they had a little girl named Blakley .
Hunter Shaw was the youngest of Brock and Lincoln’s kids, and he was married to Kipton, who was very pregnant and shockingly beautiful. She kept one hand resting on her swollen belly and it was adorable.
Next was Rose, Ty and Kaylee’s daughter, and her husband, Bryson. Lily, Tanner and Timberlynn’s daughter, who was engaged to Maverick. He wore a cowboy hat and smiled as if he was the happiest man in the world. There had to be something in the water here in Montana with all the handsome men. Lily also had a hand on her stomach, and I couldn’t help but smile. I knew she and Maverick were getting married on New Year’s Eve, since I’d been invited. At my apartment, Avery had explained it was because Lily was pregnant and due in June, and they wanted to be married as soon as possible.
Last but not least, there was Joshua—who reminded me that he was single, to a chorus of groans. Then Nathan, Tanner and Timberlynn’s son. He walked over, took my hand, and kissed the back, taking a page from Joshua’s playbook. “If you ever tire of Bradly, I’m only a few—”
His words were cut off by Bradly pushing him out of the way, causing him to fall over an ottoman.
I gasped, but Nathan jumped up and declared he was fine. Glancing around the room, I realized no one acted as if their roughhousing was unusual in the least. A surprised chuckle slipped free from my mouth.
After I’d met everyone else, Stella and Ty Senior walked over, each giving me a hug.
“There will be a quiz later this evening,” Lincoln said as she walked up and took my hands in hers. She gave me a once-over and beamed with happiness. “You are stunning.” Turning to Bradly, she asked, “How did you get so lucky to find this woman?”
He grinned. “Christmas wish come true.”
My stomach fluttered at his sweet words.
“I hope you like lasagna,” Lincoln said, turning back to me.
“I love it.”
“I should tell you, Aunt Lincoln, Mackenzie’s grandmother was Italian.”
“Really? Do you have any recipes from her?”
“Just her gravy recipe.”
Bradly laughed. “By gravy, she means her marinara sauce.”
“Oh my goodness!” Lincoln stated with a hopeful smile. “Would you be willing to share it?”
“I’ll do you one better. I’ll come over sometime and help you make it.”
Squeezing my hands, Lincoln replied, “I would love that. We should have all the girls over and learn the proper way to make…gravy.”
I laughed. “I think that sounds like an amazing plan.”
Leaning in, Lincoln added, “And I want to apologize now for anything that may happen during game night.”
I glanced between her and Bradly. “What in the world happens during these game nights? You’re the third person to warn me.”
With a sheepish grin, she gave a one-shoulder shrug. “We Shaws are a bit competitive. So if it’s women against men,” her smile faded and her eyes gleamed, “you’ll be expected to crush them at all costs.”
When I opened my mouth to attempt a response, her smile was back.
“Okay! Well, mingle around and get to know everyone!”
Lincoln walked off, and I turned to Bradly. “That plan of yours to sneak out? I really think we should do that before game night.”
He looked around the room covertly. “We could try, but they’re a clever bunch. They’ll catch on. Unless…”
“What? Unless what?”
“You claim you’re sick from eating the lasagna.”
I gasped. “I would never!”
He shrugged. “Then game night it is.”
Before I had a chance to even think about it anymore, Avery whisked me away to chat with the girls.
Dinner was amazing. The conversations were all over the place, and at one point I nearly laughed at all the arguing between everyone. The love could be felt so easily, and I found myself envious of the family dynamic. That was something Emily and I never had, and to see what we missed out on was heartbreaking. I knew Emily had it now with Doug’s family, so that eased the ache in my chest slightly.
Georgiana was so sweet and talked to me a little bit about how Blayze still rode bulls every now and then for charity-type events. She shared her worry that her two boys would grow up and want to ride bulls. I thought it was terribly kind that she was attempting to ease my mind about Bradly’s career. I couldn’t help but let my thoughts drift back to his statement about leaving professional bull riding.
Once dinner was over and everything was cleaned up, which apparently was the men’s job, the energy in the house changed. Charged with an excitement that even I started to fall under.
“This evening’s games were picked by Joshua and Nathan, as well as Dirk. Although some thought Dirk’s should be excluded, he won out, so I apologize to anyone new to game night,” Lincoln stated, with a pointed look in my direction, as groaned and displeased words filled the room. My gaze snapped to Dirk, and he simply shrugged and laughed.
The three babies, all of whom were a year-and-a-half old, were taken to another room by Stella and Ty Senior, who’d decided to sit out of game night this time. No one seemed to protest their departure.
“That can’t be good,” Rose whispered as the older couple whisked the babies away.
I looked at her with a questioning expression. “Why can’t that be good?”
Rose frowned and glanced at her younger cousins, while Lily explained, “Because that means Joshua and Nathan have picked some insane game to play, and Grams and Granddad want no part of it. They’re using the babies as an excuse to escape. Lucky bastards.”
“Oh,” I said, as I followed Rose’s gaze over to where the two young men stood. They both seemed pleased with themselves.
Avery made her way over to us, swinging my backpack. “I had Bradly go out to his truck and get your change of clothes, Mackenzie.”
Folding her arms over her chest, Rose narrowed her eyes at Avery. “And why exactly does she need to change her clothes?”
With a wicked smile in Rose’s direction, she replied, “Because Grams gave me a heads up on the games, so that I could make sure Mackenzie was dressed appropriately.”
Rose quickly spun to face me and grabbed my hands. “Whatever happens with game night, don’t run. The way Bradly looks at you when he doesn’t think anyone’s watching is so sweet! We all really like you, so no matter what happens, promise you won’t run.”
My mouth fell open and a small squeak came out.
“Stop scaring her!” Lily stated as she hooked her arm with mine. “Come on, you can use Morgan’s old bedroom to change while I use her bathroom to throw up.”
Avery grinned and handed me the bag, and Lily quickly whisked me away to change. While she dry heaved in the bathroom, I quickly changed into the jeans and sweater I had packed. She reappeared in the bedroom and sat down on the bed. The poor thing looked exhausted.
“Are you okay?” I asked, sitting down next to her.
With a smile, she nodded. “I don’t know why they call it morning sickness because it can hit at any time.”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?”
“It doesn’t matter to me or Maverick. We just want a healthy baby. Mav grew up without parents, and the one couple who wanted to adopt him were killed in a car accident, so this baby means the world to both of us.”
“That’s terrible,” I said. “Not about the baby, about Maverick’s childhood.”
She nodded. “Yeah, it is. He’s really looking forward to starting a family of his own. Our relationship grew super quickly, and we got pregnant much sooner than we planned to, but I’m not upset by it at all.” Turning to look at me, she asked, “You love him, don’t you? I am a firm believer—and proof is in the pudding—that love can happen overnight.”
The smile on my face was instant. “I do. I don’t know how fast your relationship went, but I’m pretty sure Bradly and I are beating records.”
She laughed. “I totally believe in love at first sight. I think our hearts know when they meet our lobster. Well, maybe they don’t know right away if your head is stuck up your ass, like mine was at first.”
Confused, I asked, “Lobster?”
“Yeah, lobsters mate for life. I think we all have a soul mate, and when we meet them, we just…know. I think deep down inside of me, I knew Maverick was my soul mate, but I was blinded by what I thought was love for my best friend. Spending time with Mav only showed me how wrong I was. He’s my lobster. Like Bradly is yours.”
“Like from Friends?” I said with a laugh. When Lily looked at me, clearly confused, I added, “You know, the TV show. Friends?”
She shook her head, and my mouth dropped open. “You’ve never watched Friends?”
“Um…no. Should I?”
“Yes!”
“Okay! I’ll watch it then,” she replied, laughing.
Grinning, I looked down at the floor, then back up to Lily. “Bradly said I could bring my sister and her fiancé to your wedding on New Year’s Eve. Do you mind?”
“I don’t mind at all. The more the merrier!” Lily stood. “But we should get back downstairs before Rose sends a search party for us. She’ll think we’re trying to bug out on game night.”
As we made our way out of Morgan’s bedroom, my bag slung over my shoulder, I asked, “Do you know what games we’re playing tonight?”
She glanced over her shoulder at me and said, “All I know is it involves potatoes and cotton balls.”
I frowned, mystified, as I followed her back downstairs.