Twenty-Four

Nico was walking on a cloud.

At least, that was what it felt like. He could've rationalized that it was the result of what had to've been one of the top three most incredible sexual experiences of his life. It should've only been on the better-than-great list because of the missionary position and the lack of dirty talk, but no. He was relegating it to the top of the incredible pile, and he knew it had everything to do with Stevie telling him she loved him.

He honestly hadn't expected her to say the words. And he damn sure hadn't intended to coax them out of her, but he wasn't lying when he told her he'd been jealous that morning. He hadn't realized it until much later, but something about it had niggled at him for most of the day. Nico finally figured out that it wasn't so much that Stevie and Stone fucked in his bed, but rather they'd woken up together and had the opportunity.

Nico wanted to wake up with Stevie in his bed. Every day. For the rest of his life.

And yeah, taking her into his room, fucking her in his bed, urging her to admit her feelings … he'd been selfish on every angle because Nico wanted—no, he needed Stevie to acknowledge what they had before things progressed even more with Stone. And he knew they were going to. Despite the rocky past they shared, the connection was still there. It was as strong as if Stone had never left.

"You think he knows how to cook?" Stevie asked from the passenger seat of his truck as they pulled into the Jamesons' driveway.

"He made breakfast this mornin'," he reminded her.

"True. But anyone can make eggs and bacon. Even me."

"Eh. Mostly." He chuckled. "You can mostly make eggs and bacon?"

Her eyes were wide when she looked at him. "Meaning?"

"Meaning… if you let me cook eggs and bacon, then you're capable of making them."

Stevie laughed, smacking him on the arm. "Shut. Up."

She grew quiet as they neared the barn behind the house. Nico parked next to Stone's truck and admired the place. He'd seen glimpses of it since the renovation, but he'd never stopped long enough to really see what they'd done. No, it didn't look like it had back in the day. Nor did it look like much of a barn anymore, aside from the actual shape of the structure. It certainly wasn't what he'd expected.

However, it did bring back a flood of memories from that night.

Fortunately, J?ger kept his mind from wandering. The puppy realized they'd reached their destination and hopped up from his bed in the back seat, peeking over the console, panting softly.

"Yep, we're here, boy," he told the dog as he turned off the truck.

J?ger let out an excited yip and tried to put his front paws on the console. He was still getting his legs under him, but it wouldn't be long before he was getting where he wanted to go without help from anyone.

"You good?" Nico asked, reaching for Stevie's hand.

"Yeah. You?"

He nodded.

"You jealous?"

"No." He huffed a laugh, releasing her hand so he could open the door. "I intend to have you in my bed from here on out." He got out of the truck. "What's there to be jealous about?"

Nico walked to the front of the truck to wait for her to get J?ger out, his rumbling stomach reminding him of the reason they were there. It had been an incredibly long day. Probably because yesterday had bled right into it, and they were still going after an eventful night.

"I hope you're—" Nico cut himself off when he realized Stevie was no longer smiling.

"Did you mean it?"

He figured now wasn't the time to play dumb, so he turned to face her, putting his hands on her hips and pulling her against him. This was Stevie, so he knew what she was referring to. It was obvious she'd been thinking about it ever since he said the words a short time ago.

"When I said I love you?"

"Or was that your way of—"

He cut her off. "I meant it, Stevie. Both times I said it. I love you. It wasn't about me bein' jealous."

"You sure?"

"Definitely." He tipped her chin up as he leaned in. "Did you mean it?"

"Yeah." Her smile was shy. "But don't let it freak you out, okay?"

"Why would it freak me out?"

"You're a guy. Shit like that sometimes freaks you out."

"Shit like that?"

"You know, emotional crap."

"You say the sweetest things," he teased, using the phrase she used on him so often.

"I try."

Nico pressed his lips to hers. "You said you trusted me."

"I do."

"Then know I'll never lie, and I'll never run."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could take them back. He didn't mean to paint a target on Stone, and he knew that was the fastest way to get Stevie to question what they were doing with him. It wouldn't take much for her to reconsider or, worse, let her fears get the best of her. Nico wanted this, and so far, Stone hadn't given them any reason to doubt his intentions.

Granted, Stone had been back for a whopping three weeks, so Nico wasn't sure he could make that determination. What he did know was that he wasn't interested in fighting this. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he was happy.

"Come on," he urged, pulling her by the hand. "Let's see if he knows how to cook."

"If he doesn't, I'm gonna feed mine to J?ger when he's not lookin'."

J?ger yipped, clearly on board with that plan.

As they were walking up onto the porch, the door opened, and Stone was there, looking good enough to eat. He was wearing Wranglers, boots, and a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms. He'd shaved at some point, the stubble gone completely. It was a good look for him.

"I was startin' to think y'all were gonna make out on the porch all night."

"We thought about it," Stevie teased. "But we figured we might as well invite you to join."

Stone's eyes heated.

"Of course, it depends on whether you can cook."

He laughed. "And if I can't?"

Stevie shrugged one shoulder. "I guess you could always watch."

Oh, boy. She was sassy tonight. They might have their work cut out for them.

***

Curtis Walker carried two glasses of icedtea into the living room so he could join his wife on the couch. Lorrie was curled up with her blanket, her reading glasses on, and a book in her hand.

It was their Friday night ritual. She would read, and he would flip through channels, pretending he gave a shit about what was on the television. Truth was, he didn't care. He would gladly stare at a blank screen just for the opportunity to sit in the same room with the woman he loved more than life.

He set one of the glasses on the end table near her. The movement had her looking up at him, a beautiful smile on her face.

"Did you talk to Travis today?" she asked, setting her book aside.

Curtis put his tea glass on the other end table and took a seat close to her. "I did. Why?"

Lorrie turned so that she could stretch her legs out on his lap. "Did you mention our conversation with Stone?"

"I might've brought it up."

"What did he say?"

"He's got other things on his mind."

She smiled sweetly. "Understandable. But that's not an answer."

Curtis chuckled. "He said we should do whatever we want with it. He's got no interest in the land."

He didn't bother to tell Lorrie that Travis mentioned he would have interest in other sections down the line, so he'd insisted that they not divvy up every acre and pawn it off on someone without coming to him first. Curtis had assured him that wasn't the plan.

"He did ask why we chose Stone," Curtis relayed, adjusting her feet on his legs so he could slide his hands beneath the blanket and touch her.

He loved touching his wife. Even if it was just to hold her hand or warm her ankles, as was the case now. Curtis had always felt calmer when she was near. He'd fallen in love with her long ago, back when she was just a girl and he an unruly boy who didn't know what he wanted out of life. They'd been blessed. With sixty years of marriage, seven sons, and twenty-three grandchildren, they'd built a good life together, one full of love, laughter, and a tremendous amount of good fortune.

"It feels right to me," Lorrie said, her arm stretched out along the back cushion, her fingers brushing over his shoulder.

"It does," he agreed. "I know Deb and Owen'll be happy if he sticks around. He can finally stop runnin'."

"I don't think he ran so much as he went in search of something."

Because they lived in such a small town, he'd heard plenty of rumors over the years. Many of them about members of his family. He took each with a grain of salt and always considered the source. There was plenty of speculation over why Stone had up and left fifteen years ago. One minute, he was there; the next, he was off trying to build a life elsewhere.

"He didn't find it." At least Curtis assumed he hadn't. The boy was different than Curtis remembered. Not quite as cocky. A little more reserved.

"I think he did," Lorrie corrected. "But he found it before he ever left."

Curtis looked at his wife. "Little Stevie Shepherd?"

Lorrie laughed. "She's not so little anymore."

"She's pocket-sized," Curtis teased.

She flapped her hand at him. "Be nice."

He slid his hand up her smooth calf. "I'm always nice, darlin'."

Her eyes heated just as he knew they would.

"Deb told me he spent the night over there last night."

"Where?" he asked, not sure what they were talking about.

"Did you forget already?"

He shook his head, continuing to caress her leg. "Nope. Just found somethin' more interestin' to focus on."

She giggled. "Be serious."

"I am serious. I'm always serious when it comes to touchin' you."

Her laughter filled the room and warmed his heart. "We're talkin' about Stone and Stevie."

"No, you're talkin' about Stone and Stevie. I'm…" He let the sentence trail as he massaged her foot.

"You think he'll get the proposal done?"

That wasn't the first time she'd asked him that. Ever since their conversation with Stone, Lorrie had questioned whether Curtis thought the boy was serious.

"Yeah. I think it's what he needs."

"Stability?"

"Home," Curtis corrected. "The boy needs a place to call home."

And that was the real reason Curtis had brought it up in the first place. As soon as he heard Stone was back, he knew it was for good. A rambling man continued to ramble. Stone wasn't a rambling man, although he'd pretended to be for far too long.

Curtis had paid attention over the years. He knew Stone was looking for a place to settle, but for whatever reason, the boy hadn't thought that place was here. Now that he was back, Curtis got the feeling nothing could pull him away.

"It'll be good for him," he told his wife. "I think it'll take him a bit to figure out how he fits with the land, but he'll do right by it. And it'll give him the purpose he's been seekin' all this time. We've just gotta be patient with him." He met Lorrie's gaze. "That goes for Deb, too. Tell her to give him a chance. He'll make the right decision this time."

"Well, the boy ain't gettin' any younger, Curtis."

He grinned. No, he wasn't.

None of them were.