Chapter Ten #3
Every few minutes another person introduced themselves. She met Oaks and Colt and Church from the training facility, a place she knew very little about besides it existed somewhere near the mountains.
A stunning blonde named Layne seemed to be everywhere at once, directing traffic while toting an enormous sleeping baby called CJ over her shoulder.
Summer stowed away all their names even if she was sometimes confused about where everybody belonged in this giant family. But the thing that struck her hardest?
Nobody treated her like hired help.
They kept pulling her into conversations and handing her drinks to cool off like she’d been part of this forever.
It felt good.
A shadow fell over her, and she looked up to the tall man standing in front of her. Vander’s eyes were guarded as he stared down at her.
“You look upset. Did something happen? Do I need to talk to someone?” His low voice blazed a path straight to her core and kept climbing until it wrapped around her heart too.
The protector in him was never far from the surface, especially when it came to her, and that touched a nerve she didn’t want to think about with everything else happening here today.
She shook her head. “It’s not that. Everything is all…right. Everyone is so kind and inviting. I’ve never…had this before.”
This party, the family coming together at a moment’s notice to celebrate Theo and Juliette’s union…it was just a fleeting blip in time where Summer and Ben were allowed to stand on the edge of their world.
Music blared from the speakers, and she glanced over to see Ben in a conga line, smiling and laughing and dancing his little heart out.
He was sandwiched between Aspen and Colt, making the circle around the yard, completely unquestioning of his place here.
Tears stung her eyes.
“Look at him,” she choked out. “He’s completely fearless. He definitely doesn’t get that trait from me.”
Vander touched her waist, hovering closer to her. “Are you serious? He gets this because of you. He knows he is loved and supported at all times, which gives him the confidence to explore the world fearlessly. He has a safety net—you. He knows you’ll always be there for him.”
She could barely breathe.
“Pope! We could use a hand!”
He squeezed her waist and dropped a kiss to her temple. “Be right back.”
She watched him jog off to assist someone.
When she glanced back at Ben, he was wearing Colt’s cowboy hat and kicking his legs to the side out of rhythm with the others, but it was so endearing that a laugh bubbled up her throat.
Willow appeared at her side. “He’s having so much fun, and the party’s just getting started.”
Unable to speak, she only nodded.
Willow’s gray eyes landed on hers. “I know you and Pope have a thing. But I noticed whatever it is, is heating up.”
She caught a strange tone of caution running beneath the casualness of Willow’s tone. She studied the woman for a moment. “Is this where you warn me against hurting Vander?”
Willow touched her arm. “I know you’d never hurt him intentionally, but accidents happen.
Vander…” She looked off toward the man they were discussing.
“He’s a teddy bear. He has been waiting for the right person to pour all his love and care into, and I’m so glad he chose you and Ben. Just…give him the chance he deserves.”
Summer looked across the yard again. Ben still danced with the others while Vander smiled at something one of the guys said. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, and music and laughter filled the world, wrapping her in a kind of happiness she’d stopped allowing herself to imagine.
A sudden whistle cut through the yard, drawing everyone’s attention to the front of the lodge.
The newlyweds stood hand in hand, smiling and glowing at the attention and the promise of their new life together. People whistled and clapped, and she joined in.
Then Juliette released Theo’s hand and took a few steps toward a stunning, lithe blonde Summer had seen with Oaks. The woman held out a black case to Juliette.
She reached into the open case and pulled out a violin.
When she stepped up beside her husband again, she lifted her voice to address the group. “I didn’t have a wedding planned.”
Theo beamed at her with so much love on his face that it made Summer feel like a voyeur.
“But I guess that’s because I already had everything I wanted.” Her voice thickened.
The crowd silenced, a ripple of emotion running through all. Even Ben and Navy had stopped to take in the serious moment.
Juliette’s gaze moved over everyone gathered in the yard. “Thank you for being my family. And Theo…” Her expression turned openly emotional. “You’re my world.”
Theo looked completely overwhelmed by the words.
Then Juliette tucked the violin beneath her chin and began to play.
The music rolled, warm and aching, across the ranch. The family drifted closer around the couple, and Summer found Vander beside her.
His hand slid into hers like it belonged there.
She heard Willow’s words. Give him a chance.
She squeezed his hand back.
Maybe it was time.