I did not intend to spend every night apart, but at that point I just needed a break from the interrogations I’d been receiving since the moment we arrived at the bakery. A peaceful night was what I needed.
I sat up in bed and Duke became even more alert as he rose too, sitting back on his hind legs. I could smell coffee brewing and what smelled like pancakes.
I immediately thought of the morning back at my place in Texas when I woke to Olivia cooking her favorite chocolate chip pancakes.
What I wouldn’t give to be back there in that moment right now. I wanted the freedom to hold her close and kiss her whenever the feeling struck. I fucking missed her and it had only been one night.
I slipped on my jeans and a t-shirt and made my way down the hall toward the amazing scents, and rounded the corner to find Olivia’s gran standing over the stove.
“Mornin’,” I offered as I walked further into the room.
“How’d ya sleep?” she asked without turning to face me.
“Good, thanks,” I replied.
“You don’t have to lie to me; I know you would’ve rather been snuggling up with my Liv,” she laughed. She placed the pancakes on a plate at her side before laying the spatula down and turning to face me. “My three boys can be hard to deal with sometimes, but that girl means the world to all of us and if we can save her from being hurt in any way, then that’s what we’ll do.”
“I understand,” I told her. I guess if I wanted this family to know just how much she meant to me I would have to give a little of myself to them too.
“I didn’t grow up with a family like Olivia did. In fact, I was pretty much on my own from a very young age. My father was a drunk and still is.” I took a seat on the bar stool as Olivia’s grandmother leaned back against the countertop, giving me her full attention as I continued. “My mother left because she just couldn’t take it anymore, and my brother turned out just like my father. I didn’t have someone to watch over me, or even care if I had food on the table. For the longest time I felt alone, and in reality I was. Until I met Liv, I had no idea how it felt to be truly loved, or to love someone without reservation. But she gives me hope and there isn’t a damn thing I would do to sabotage that. So if I have to spend the entire summer being put through multiple tests and having the three of your boys grill me on everything involving Olivia, then I’ll get through it. Because even that isn’t gonna scare me away.”
She reminded me a lot of Olivia, and with Tammy Sawyer I felt comfortable. More comfortable than I thought I would.
“I hate to think of any child or young adult having to deal with the things you have, but it shows me that you are a lot stronger than Ryan has you pegged for. But he’ll figure it out.” She placed a plate of pancakes on the countertop in front of me along with the syrup. “You better eat up, because the guys’ll be over in about thirty minutes to pick you up.”
I arched a brow at her and she laughed.
“A day of fishing,” she offered in explanation, but by the smirk on her lips I knew it was so much more than a simple fishing trip.
Let the tests continue. I had a day ahead of me and it called for sustenance. I had a feeling today would be a long, exhausting day.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Olivia
I tilted my phone to the side so Trinity could see the message I got from Keeton about twenty minutes ago.
“Fishing?” she said with her nose wrinkled. “Since when do they just randomly take off in the middle of the week to go fishing? And why would they drive over one hundred miles away when they have four lakes stocked with fish sitting right outside their back doors?”
“Because this is much more than some fishing trip,” I replied. “They wanted to drag Keeton out to the middle of nowhere, without anyone around to tell them when they were all being asses. And more importantly, they wanted to get him away from me so I couldn’t stop them from drilling him for every last detail of our relationship and his plans for me.”
She didn’t say anything more because she knew I was right.
We drove up Gran’s drive in my Ford, slowing to a stop next to Uncle Jackson’s truck. There beside it sat my dad’s truck too. The only one missing was Uncle Noah’s old Avalanche, which they often used when they went on their guy outings.
I attempted to text Keeton multiple times, and the fact he had not yet returned one of those messages made my stomach tense with the possibilities rolling through my mind.
I quickly crawled from my truck and made my way toward the front door with Trinity hot on my tail. She was just another one who found the torment of Keeton humorous. They were all a bunch of damn kids running around in adult form. I felt as if they had all planned out the torturous events, and sat around coming up with the best form of intimidation.
The moment I opened the door I heard squeals and laughter. A house full of little people was common since Gran volunteered to babysit for everyone while they went off to work or whatever else they decided to do. Since my grandpa had died, she did all she could to avoid the silence.
Alena was hovering over Nora as she changed her diaper, Nora’s little legs kicking in all directions. She and Uncle Noah had struggled to get pregnant a second time after the miscarriage and the emotional loss they both suffered. It sure was a blessing they were able to move past that heartache, and the love they had was only stronger for it.
She looked up and smiled. “Hey sweetie,” she said in greeting. “I just got to meet that sweet man of yours.” She wagged her eyebrows and I couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s easy on the eyes.”
I smiled because I completely agreed. Keeton was unbelievably handsome.
“Did he seem okay?” I asked.
Bailey came running out into the living room, pretending to be chased by my brothers and Belle. The conversation sort of faded for a moment as we watched the three of them tackle her and she fell on the couch.
When the laughter stopped, it was then that Bailey noticed Trinity and me standing in the doorway.
“You just missed your boy,” she said as she smoothed her hair from her face.
“Yeah, I was just asking Alena if things seemed all right when they left.” I watched as the two of them exchanged some weird look before they turned back to me. I didn’t like the strange feeling I had. “What aren’t you all telling me?”
“Nothing,” Alena assured me, but I didn’t buy it at all.
“Keeton was fine,” Bailey said in a rush. “He even helped Jackson load the guns up in the truck before they left.”
“Guns,” I gasped. “Since when do you need guns for a fishing trip?”
“Since now, I guess.” Bailey shrugged and Alena hurried off with Nora in tow. I knew it was her way of avoiding the conversation.
“Gran,” I hollered as I stormed down the hallway. I immediately dialed my father’s number and when it went to voicemail, I moved on to the next Sawyer bullheaded ass. No one was answering and a panicked feeling ran through me.
“What darlin’?” she said as she exited her room, holding a basket of clothes.
“Where’d they take Keeton?” I asked, still dialing my phone, as if continuing to call would magically make one of them turn their phone on.
“They went fishing, sweetheart.” She brushed past me and I spun around on her fast.
“No they didn’t; that is only an excuse. They took him on some power trip. Three grown-ass men trying to intimidate a guy who has done nothing wrong. He treats me right; why the hell can’t they let it go?”
I flopped down on the couch with a defeated sigh.
“Baby girl.” Gran took the seat next to me while Trinity, Bailey, and Alena stood around the living room unsure of what to say. “They have always said that the man you choose would be one who they, too, would have to trust fully. Now, I know you don’t want to allow this, but sweetheart—you need to. Until this happens, you and I both know Keeton will not be accepted as the man who has won your heart.”
Damn it; I knew she was right, but I hated every last minute of it. My father better bet for this bullshit trip, he was gonna pay. I would make sure Amber knew every last detail.
***
I had been pacing the floors. Trinity had long ago caught a ride back into town with Alena and Bailey had taken Belle home to get dinner started.
Amber joined us and she tried to assure me everything would be okay. Even though her face told me something else—she was irritated and losing patience just as I was.
At the sound of car doors slamming, I jumped up from the couch and practically ran toward the front door. I could hear Amber and my Gran behind me but I didn’t slow down. I had lost my ability to remain calm. That ship sailed long ago and had been lost at sea.
The moment I saw Keeton, I placed my hand on his chest and he looked at me with a smile. “Hey, baby,” he whispered as he snuck in a quick kiss.
He appeared to be in one piece. No cuts or bruises.
“You’re looking at the boy like you thought he might not return.” Uncle Jackson chuckled and I looked to my side, scowling at him.
“What the hell did you need guns for, you jackass?” I snarled.
“Liv.” My dad said my name in an authoritative tone.