Chapter 26
twenty-six
. . .
Henley
Easton and I had gone out rafting this morning on the river.
It was exciting, even though he’d taken me on a grade II rapid for the second time, when I’d said I was ready for a little more.
Easton had been an instructor for several summers during high school and college, and he’d grown up on the river.
It had been a love of his for many years, and I loved going out with him.
But everyone in town was talking about this big ride down the river that they did at the end of the season every year, and I wanted to work up to that. It was a grade IV.
“I’m excited to meet your sister and her fiancé and their little boy.
” He’d shared that Emerson was in the process of adopting Nash’s son, Cutler.
Easton was the one who’d sought out the birth mother and got the ball rolling.
This man acted all broody and gruff on the outside, but when he loved, he loved fiercely.
And I felt that love every time he looked at me.
The way he’d buckled the helmet on my head today and secured the life jacket around me, all for a glory ride down the river that barely had any bumps at all. He’d gone over the safety precautions multiple times.
He was fiercely protective, and I’d felt that every time we were together.
“She’s looking forward to meeting you,” he said. “And you’re going to love Nash and Cutler. Man, that little boy is probably the coolest kid I’ve ever met.”
“I’m excited to meet them. So, she knows we’re together?”
He turned to look at me, and a wicked grin spread across his face. “There are no secrets in my family, Henley. They’re all a bunch of sleuths. The guys knew I loved you before I even admitted it to myself. So, yeah, they all know.”
My teeth sank into my bottom lip. We were going to a big party at Easton’s parents’ house, and we’d be outside.
The sun was still out during the day in Rosewood River, but the evenings were now cool.
I’d been warned about the winters getting really cold, and apparently, that would happen shortly after Thanksgiving next month.
The river had been packed today, as people were getting out on the water as much as possible before it was too cold to do so.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to have such a big family.” I shrugged. “The only person I’ve told outside of my father is Lulu. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
I’d told Easton all about my best friend. He knew she was more like a sister to me. He’d also been surprised to learn that she was actually the same Lulu Sonnet he’d heard of, as she was somewhat well-known in the press, being born into a very public family and then dating a famous rock star.
“She’s still in London on business?”
“Yeah. She’s really making a name for herself.”
“I look forward to meeting her.” He tipped my chin up and kissed my forehead. “You ready for a whole lot of Chadwicks tonight?”
I chuckled. I’d attended many Sunday night dinners, and I’d grown close to his immediate family. But tonight, I’d meet his twin sister and a lot of his extended family, and everyone in town would be there. The Chadwicks were like Rosewood River royalty, and everyone loved them.
“I’m ready.”
“You look beautiful. I’m just glad I get to walk in with you, and I don’t have to force myself to keep my distance.”
“Me, too,” I said, and I meant it. “And I won’t mind at all making sure Katrina sees us together.”
He chuckled. “Just admit that you were jealous.”
“Fine. I was jealous.”
He smirked like the cocky bastard he was, and I freaking loved it. He looked so good in his white dress shirt, dark jeans, and cowboy boots. I was wearing my cream floral maxi dress with my brown boots.
He kissed my neck and worked his way down, as my off-the-shoulders dress allowed for easy access. “I like you all worked up and jealous.”
“Okay,” I said, as my breathing picked up. “We’re going to be late. We need to be there before it gets dark because your mom said she has a photographer coming to take photos of everyone. I promised we’d get there early.”
“Damn. You’re such a rule follower, Princess.” He pulled back and took my hand, leading me out to the kitchen. I grabbed my purse and denim jacket for later, and we made our way out the door.
Easton carried the two bottles of wine we’d brought, and I held the flowers I’d picked up from The Vintage Rose this morning for his mother.
We walked the short distance to his parents’ house, and from the moment we arrived, it was a whirlwind.
His mother ushered us outside to the photographer and insisted we get a picture before things got too busy. Easton surprised me when he pulled me into his arms and kissed me, as the photographer snapped several pictures.
“Well, if that isn’t the cutest picture I’ve ever seen,” a voice called out, and I turned to see Emerson standing there, smiling. I’d recognized her from the photos I’d seen.
“Hey, Emmy,” Easton said, as he pulled back and took my hand and led me toward his sister.
She was stunning and had the biggest smile on her face as he let my hand go briefly to pull her into a hug. It was hard not to laugh that they were twins, as their size difference was massive in the way he towered over her.
“Enough of that, E. How about you introduce me to your girl,” she said over her laughter.
“Henley, Emmy. Emmy, Henley.” He motioned between us.
Before I could even say hello, Emerson rushed me, wrapping her arms around me and giving me the warmest hug. “It’s so nice to meet you, Henley. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“It’s so lovely to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, as well.”
When she pulled back, I noticed that her eyes were wet with emotion. She’d known what her brother had been through, and she was happy to see him moving forward. At least, that’s how it appeared.
“Uncle E!” a little voice shouted as he ran toward us with a tall man beside him, who I assumed was his father.
“Hey, Beefcake,” Easton called out, as the little dude launched himself into his arms.
“Hey, you must be Henley. I’m Nash.” He extended his hand to me and then pulled me into a hug.
“It’s so great to finally meet you all,” I said.
“Well, we’re just happy to see the big guy smiling so much,” Nash teased, as he turned and hugged Easton, who had just set his son back down.
“Wow. You’re real pretty,” Cutler said, as I bent down to give him a hug. He was adorable in his jeans and leather coat, with his hair slicked back.
“Well, thank you. It’s so nice to meet you, Cutler.”
“You can call me Beefcake. Because if you’re my Uncle E’s girl, that means you’re my girl, too.” He winked. This little guy had more charm in his pinkie finger than most grown men that I’d met in my life.
“How about a group photo?” the photographer said, and we all got together and smiled. The property was stunning, with large trees all around us and the barn in the distance.
We chatted for a bit before Keaton called us over, as everyone was arriving.
There was a live band playing and a makeshift dance floor.
The event was being catered by the Honey Biscuit Café, and the smell of ribs and chicken had my stomach growling.
It was like something out of a magazine, with tables and chairs set up all around the backyard.
Each table was covered in a pretty tablecloth in coordinating patterns of orange and green and yellow.
Some floral. Some striped. Some checkered.
There were sage-green linen napkins with little polka dot bows tied around each one at every place setting.
“Wow! Your mom goes all out. This is so cute,” I said, as Emerson motioned for us to grab a table together.
“My mom is a natural at this. She loves throwing events, and I’ve basically given her all the freedom to plan my wedding.” She chuckled. “We’re doing it together, but she’s got a better eye for it.”
“You’re getting married in the spring, right? Here at the house?”
“Yes. So we’re deep into the planning stages now.” She paused to glance over at Easton and Nash, who were talking with her brothers and cousins. People were already out on the dance floor, and everyone was having a good time. “I hope you’ll come to the wedding.”
I smiled. “I would love to. Thank you for including me.”
“It’s a big deal that he’s taken this step, Henley.
I know he’s told you about what happened with Jilly, and it’s been years, so to most people, it wouldn’t seem like such a big deal.
But for Easton, he really shut down after that.
And grief can be very deceiving, you know?
” She swiped at her eye as a tear sprung loose, and I startled.
“He’s out there crushing life. He’s an amazing lawyer.
He knows how to go out and have a good time, and he can be the life of the party when he wants to be.
But my brother has been guarding his heart for years.
To the point that I really thought he would just close off any idea of a real relationship again.
He was content with being a workaholic and having casual relationships that didn’t go anywhere.
So this is really big for him. It’s a sign that he’s moving forward.
He held a lot of guilt about Jilly’s accident, and it didn’t matter how many times we all told him it wasn’t his fault, because it wasn’t at all.
But that didn’t stop him from carrying that.
But you are a breath of fresh air for my brother, and we all see it.
So, thank you for being that light in his life that he desperately needed.
But be patient with him. He can be overbearing and protective, but it’s a coping mechanism, I think.
And when he loves, he loves so deeply. And I can see how crazy he is about you. ”