Chapter 10
Manny
We hear the laughter all the way from the driveway. Our friends may be a loud bunch, but the way they’ve welcomed me— us—into their family is one of the best things that’s happened since moving to this small town in the Carolina mountains.
I help Daisy down from my truck, and my lips immediately find hers. A little moan escapes her, and the kiss deepens within seconds.
I press her back against the truck, and my little vixen starts grinding against my painfully hard cock.
I’ve been hard all afternoon—I’m not even sure how that’s possible.
But I’m grateful my dick still remembers how to function.
After being out of service for so long, I thought it would take its sweet time to warm up again.
“Hey, you two. Leave that for later. Come on in and enjoy some wine with us.” Miles's voice booms from behind, and Daisy buries her face in the crook of my neck.
“Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing. Our first outing as a couple and our friends catch me dry-humping you.”
I press a kiss to her hair, chuckling.
“I can assure you they’ve been caught doing worse.”
Her head pops up, eyes wide.
“Yeah—the stories I’ve heard,” I add as we make our way to the door.
“Care to share with the class?”
“Sorry, bebé. I can’t break the bro code.”
A cackle bursts out of her. She shakes her head but still plants a kiss on my cheek.
“That’s fair. I don’t think I could ever share all the things the girls and I talk about.” She winks just as Ruin opens the door, and a massive squeal fills the air.
Within seconds, Daisy is surrounded by all the ladies—Ruin, Rain, Carly, Mia, and Penny—who drag her inside, leaving me stranded at the door. She turns and blows me a kiss before disappearing into the studio.
Praise the heavens everything turned out the way I always dreamt. I don’t think I could have gone much longer pining after Daisy without touching her, tasting her.
Gio appears with two tall glasses of a dark drink. “Hey, Manny. Welcome.”
I nod in greeting, step inside, and after draping my coat over the stair rail, take the glass Gio offers.
“What is it?” I take a tentative sip.
“Fernet,” Gio says simply, watching for my reaction.
The drink is bitter, but there’s a faint sweetness on the back end that makes it interesting.
“You like it?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not terrible, but not my favorite,” I admit, taking another sip.
“It’s an Argentinian drink—we mix it with cola,” he says with pride.
“Next time, I’m inviting you all over to my place and having you try coquito.”
We clink glasses. I take one more sip. This stuff is growing on me—or maybe I needed a drink after the adrenaline rush of meeting my in-laws.
“Manny, the man of the hour!” Miles calls out as we step onto the back porch. A chorus of greetings follows as I make the rounds, hugging each of my friends.
“I’ve been dying to ask,” Miles starts once I drop onto the huge sectional Gio has set up on one side of the porch, “did your pipes work?”
I frown.
Xander stifles a laugh, quickly joined by Merlin.
“You know… being old and all, I wasn’t sure if you could perform when you finally had Daisy…” Miles trails off as laughter explodes around us.
“Fucker,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Only you’d think I’m old and useless.” I stand, grab him by the back of his neck, “I’ll have you know, my lady has been thoroughly satisfied with my performance.”
A chorus of “Yes, Manny!” and “Finally someone got Miles!” echoes around, and I can’t help but laugh. These guys are definitely my people.
Miles pulls me in for a half-hug. I know he’s joking, so I let it roll off..
“Good to see you joining us tonight, Merlin,” I say, greeting the youngest MacAllister as I sit again.
He nods, fiddling with the label on his bottle. “It was nice of my older siblings to finally let me join in the fun.”
For a moment, I feel bad. It must be hard growing up in these titans’ shadows.
“Okay, we need to settle this before the women come back,” Xander says, shifting on a loveseat by the fireplace. “Did you ask her to be your partner, or did she have to ask?”
I roll my eyes. These men can pretend to complain about their women all they want, but they’re just as nosy and invested as the ladies are.
“All I’m going to say is that we had a perfect first date—thanks to all of your recommendations.”
A boom of boos and cries of “lame” rise up, and I chuckle.
“Why does it matter who asked who? If you must know, I did ask her.” My grin stretches wide.
“I haven’t been more nervous in my life.
Had she said no, I’d have needed an intervention.
Imagine not only losing the woman who made me see in color again, but also one of the closest people to Tommy in this town. ” I shudder at the thought.
“Damn, good point,” Miles chirps. “Imagine losing the nanny three months into the school year.”
I narrow my eyes at him, suddenly feeling protective. I don’t like that term one bit when it comes to Daisy. The fucker grins, all shit-eating smugness, so I share a little more.
“Listen, I met her family today. I think the term nanny is no longer appropriate for who Daisy is to me.”
“That’s right. You met your in-laws. When’s the wedding, then?” River asks, voice flat as ever, hands in fists on his lap, blue eyes locked on me with a scowl.
“River, really?” Xander beats me to it. “You’re honestly asking Manny when he’s marrying his girl when you can’t even ask a girl out?”
The porch goes dead silent. River exhales hard through his nose. For a second, I think he’s going to deck Xander. They’re about the same height, but River carries at least twenty extra pounds of muscle.
“I’m not sure why you all can’t understand—I’m not interested in a relationship. And I don’t mean it in a Miles way. I don’t want to sleep with a woman and never speak to her again. I just don’t think I can…” His voice trails off, and we’re all staring, waiting.
He can’t what?
I glance at Gio, then at Xander. Both have them wear worried expressions. What could possibly be so fucked up with Riv that he doesn’t want to get involved with anyone?
When I look at Miles, I expect him to smirk and jab, but he’s frowning, just as confused as the rest of us, waiting for River to finish.
“I just don’t think I can make anyone happy,” River finally admits. Not what I expected. Is he really that clueless? Any woman would be thrilled to have him.
“And before anyone decides to tell me how wrong I am, save it. I don’t want to hear it.” He tosses back the rest of his scotch and slams the glass down on the coffee table with a loud thump.
No one speaks for a long minute.
“River, I know you don’t want to hear us. But I need to say something.” Merlin shocks us all by moving closer to his brother. “You might not think you have what it takes to be in a relationship, but when Dad passed, you were the one who stepped up and took the reins of the farm.”
All eyes turn to him as he continues to speak from his heart. “I’m sorry you had to carry the weight of that responsibility, but I’m here to tell you—you don’t have to anymore. We’re all grown now, and I promise you, we wouldn’t think any less of you if you decide to pursue your dreams.”
I think something got in my eye because my vision is blurry, and water is leaking down my cheek. I shove my glasses up and wipe my face fast—only to jolt when a deep cackle cuts through the silence.
River is sprawled in his seat, clutching his stomach, tears running down his face. I can’t tell if they’re from laughing or crying, but soon the entire porch erupts, everyone’s faces wet.
“Did this little shit make us all cry?” River asks once his laughter dies down.
“Speak for yourself, brother. I didn’t spill a drop,” Miles says, wiping his cheeks.
River flips him the bird, but instead of his usual scowl, he’s smiling at Miles.
“I knew I’ve always liked Merlin,” Xander says, pulling his youngest brother-in-law into a hug. “Who knew you'd be the one to crack Riv’s armor?”
Miles and Gio stand to pat Merlin on the back.
“I just want him to be happy. All my other siblings seem to have found their place in this world. I don’t want Riv to miss out.” There’s no hidden edge in Merlin’s words—no judgment, no mocking—just pure, unshakable love.
Maybe that’s why he got through to River.
“Thanks, Merlin. I appreciate that,” River says, pulling his brother into a rough embrace. Both men sag with relief.
“I think this moment deserves a toast.” Gio produces a very expensive-looking bottle from his liquor shelf.
Miles fetches fresh glasses while Gio pours.
“I’m grateful for my blood family—though they're thousands of miles away, they’re always checking in on me, my wife, and my kids.
I’m grateful for the family who embraced me as one of their own.
” He looks around at River, Miles, Merlin, and Xander.
“When I married Ruin, I didn’t expect to gain so many siblings, but I’m grateful for each of you every single day. ”
They all smile, and I can’t help but feel the same. These men, they’re my family too.
“And I’m really grateful for the friends who become family—the people who might not have known you for long but are already in sync with you. The friends who always show up, no matter what,” I say, lifting my glass.
“Here’s to an amazing Thanksgiving with family—blood-related or not.”
Glasses clink, and I catch myself smiling—because somehow, against all odds, I ended up right where I’m supposed to be.
Soon the women join us, and although I’d love to linger with our friends, there are other things I’d much rather be doing.
“Ready to head out?” I ask Daisy when I catch her stifling a yawn.
“Yes, Dr. Gutierrez. Take me home.”