Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
On the way back from her early morning run around the lake, Madison slowed to a walk, her lungs burning. She passed Cup and Cone and smiled at the thought of creamy chocolate ice cream—brownies, nuts, fudge, and marshmallows, the more mixed in the better. Maybe later.
She rounded the lodge, and Ruth burst through the front doors, waving her down. “Madison! Good morning. I’m glad I caught you. I was hoping you’d join us for family dinner this afternoon. All my children will be there, and Kate too.”
Madison shifted her feet, instantly wary. This wouldn’t have anything to do with her launching herself into Garrett’s arms at Brewfest, would it?
“Ruth . . . I’m not dating your son.”
Ruth reached out and squeezed her arm. “I know, sweetie, but we already think of you as family.”
The unexpected warmth in her voice caught Madison off guard. Touched, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “I’d love to. Thank you.”
“Wonderful! Three o’clock. We’ll see you and Garrett then.”
Ruth was already heading back inside before Madison could respond.
Madison circled toward the patio and nearly collided with Garrett jogging up the steps.
“Hey, how was your run?” he asked, grabbing his ankle to stretch.
“Good. Your mom stopped me and invited me to family dinner. I said yes. I hope that’s okay.”
He switched legs, completely unfazed. “Of course it’s okay.
I intended to ask you after my run. Apparently, my mom didn’t trust me to get around to it.
” He lifted his arms overhead, stretching his shoulders.
His shirt rode up just enough to reveal dark hair arrowing down his lower abdomen.
Madison swallowed and looked away. Too late.
His mouth curved into a slow, knowing smirk. “Let me guess,” he said. “Your apprehension is fallout from the now-famous Brewfest moment?”
She groaned. “I was excited. I didn’t think before I leapt. Literally.”
“I’m not complaining,” he said easily.
Her eyes snapped back to his. “You’re not?”
“Nope.”
The answer came too quickly . . . and with too much certainty. He turned toward the door. “I’ll pick you up at two.”
She opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it. Garrett had already disappeared inside.
Madison’s Sunday routine hadn’t changed much, even at the lake. Laundry. A call with Sophie. A quiet reset before the week began.
Her phone rang right on schedule.
“How are you, Mom? Any big plans today?”
“Big plans? Well, I was invited to Garrett’s family dinner this afternoon. Does that count?”
There was a pause followed by a squeal from Sophie’s end. “Family dinner? That’s serious. So does that mean you’re officially dating?”
“No, it’s not like that,” Madison insisted. “They’re just being nice because I don’t have family here. We’re not . . . I mean . . . it’s complicated.”
“I knew it!” Sophie whooped. “Finally!”
“Finally what?”
“Finally admitting you like him. He’s a good guy. I’m happy for you, Mom.”
Before Madison could respond, a soft knock sounded at the door. “Garrett’s here,” she said.
“Don’t hang up, I want to say hi.”
Madison opened the door, took one look at Garrett, and forgot to breathe.
Faded jeans. Blue dress shirt. Sleeves rolled. How could forearms be so sexy?
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
Sophie’s voice came through the phone. “Mom. Still here.”
Madison laughed and handed the phone to Garrett. “Sophie wants to say hello.”
“Hey, squirt,” Garrett said. “How’s college life?”
Madison grabbed her purse and a bottle of wine while he talked, smiling to herself at the easy sound of his laughter.
They walked out the door, Garrett still speaking with Sophie. When he handed the phone back, Madison smiled.
“I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too.”
She ended the call, and Garrett opened the truck door for Madison, one hand braced against the frame above her head as she climbed in.
She slid onto the seat, aware—too aware—of how close he still was.
He shut the door and circled around.
When he climbed in behind the wheel, their elbows bumped as he reached for the ignition.
“Sorry,” he said.
“You’re fine.”
They pulled onto the road, and the lake flashed silver through the tall pines. The deep ditches scarred the roadside, gouged with fresh ATV tracks.
A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Garrett reached across her to adjust the air vent.
“Too cold?” he asked.
His arm brushed her shoulder, then lingered half a second longer than necessary.
“It’s fine,” she said, though her voice came out softer than she intended.
At a stop sign, he glanced over.
“You nervous?”
“About dinner?” she asked. “Not really.”
“Good.” He moved his hand almost absentmindedly, resting it lightly on her knee. “My family can be a lot.”
Madison looked down at his hand. Maybe he didn’t realize he’d done it . . . or maybe he did.
“I think I can handle them,” she said.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I think you can handle anything.”
When they reached the Reid family home, Garrett parked and cut the engine, but neither of them moved right away.
Madison glanced at the time. “I think we’re a little early.”
“We are. I need to talk to my dad before everyone gets here.” He kept his hand lightly on her knee like he had on the drive, like it had already become a habit. “Can you fend for yourself?”
“No worries,” she said. “I’ve met just about everyone. I’ll be fine.”
She looked down at his hand.
Garrett noticed. He pulled it back and cleared his throat. “Come on.”
He guided her inside with a hand at her lower back—a small gesture that felt enormous.
The kitchen buzzed with activity. Pots simmered, Ruth diced tomatoes, and Kate perched on a counter stool, assembling a salad.
Ruth set the knife down, wiped her hands on her apron, and swept Madison into a hug. “I’m so glad you came.”
Madison handed Ruth the wine. “I hope it goes with dinner.”
“It’ll be perfect.”
Chloe slid past Madison with a stack of bowls and set them on the island. “Careful, you’re about to be recruited for peeling duty.”
“I can peel,” Madison said. She accepted a bowl of potatoes and a peeler from Chloe and got started.
Garrett stepped in beside her, reaching for a glass from the cupboard over her head. The movement boxed her in for a second—close enough that she caught the clean scent of soap mixed with lake air.
“Don’t let them bully you,” he murmured. “You’re a guest.”
“I volunteered,” she whispered back.
“Big mistake.” He chuckled then hesitated. Something in his expression softened. “I’ll be right back,” he said quietly. He leaned in and brushed a quick kiss against her temple. Then he was gone.
Madison stood there, frozen mid-peel.
Behind her, Ruth and Chloe both stopped moving but neither said a word. They exchanged identical satisfied smiles.
Heat climbed up Madison’s neck.
What just happened?
Cole arrived in the kitchen shortly before the food was due to come out of the oven.
After being introduced to Madison, he showed them all photos of him and Tory in Hawaii, then helped plate the meal.
The group shifted toward the table in a flurry of movement—chairs scraping, plates clinking, and voices overlapping as everyone settled into familiar seats.
Dishes were passed without question, no one waiting their turn.
Madison barely had a second to take it in before she found herself tucked beside Garrett, their shoulders brushing as the first platter made its way down the line.
Conversation picked up around them, but her awareness narrowed to the space between them.
“So, Cole,” Chloe said sweetly, scooping potatoes onto her plate. “Have you proposed yet?”
Cole didn’t even look up. “No.”
“Why not?” she pressed.
Garrett leaned toward Madison. “They like to antagonize each other.”
Madison hid a smile. “I’m starting to understand the family dynamic.”
Jim buttered a roll then turned to Madison. “Garrett tells us your daughter is studying forensic psychology.”
Garrett squeezed her thigh softly under the table.
“Yes, that’s her current plan.” Madison shrugged. “It could change. I changed my mind a few times.”
Nick leaned forward. “Military wasn’t your first choice?”
“No. I planned to go into business.”
“What changed?” Jim asked.
Madison took a sip of wine, steadying herself.
Most people wouldn’t catch it. The slight shift in her voice. The pause just a fraction too long. Garrett placed his hand gently on her knee. It steadied her.
Trying to keep the bitterness from her voice, she answered, choosing her words carefully. “It turns out that life has a way of rewriting plans, so I joined the Navy.”
Jim accepted that with a nod.
Across the table, Ruth suddenly gasped.
Everyone looked up.
Ruth stared at Kate’s hand. “Oh my goodness . . . is that what I think it is?”
Kate blushed.
Nick grinned.
Garrett smiled and leaned back.
“When’s the wedding?” Ruth asked, tears in her eyes.
The table erupted.
Madison found herself laughing, completely caught up in the chaos. Her family hadn’t been anything like this. And when Garrett glanced at her like she already belonged among them . . . she didn’t pull away.