Maddie smoothed the invisible wrinkles in her sundress for at least the tenth time since we’d left the cabin fifteen minutes ago. I covered her hand with mine. “You look beautiful.”
“Maybe I should’ve worn the green one.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “This one brings out the color of your eyes.”
Maddie’s expression softened. “Have I told you I love you?”
“Maybe once or twice. But I’ll never get tired of hearing it.” I slowed to a stop and rolled down my window so I could punch in the code to my parents’ gate.
“I think I might be sick,” Maddie mumbled.
“You’ve been here more times than I can count. My family loves you. You have nothing to worry about.” I took my foot off the brake, and we eased through the opening.
“But I was your friend then. Things are different now. What if they don’t want us together?”
I stopped my SUV on the drive and turned to her. “Do you honestly believe they’d think that?”
Maddie pressed her lips together before she spoke. “I’ve brought a lot of trouble into your life. And your parents might think I’m not good enough for you.”
Pain lanced my chest, and I lifted my hands to cup Maddie’s cheeks. “You are the best thing to ever happen to me. They know that.”
She nodded shakily.
“But it wouldn’t matter what anyone thinks anyway because you’re it for me, Mads.”
Maddie’s breath hitched. “Nash…”
“I know it’s soon, but it’s also not. I’ve known you practically my whole life. There’s no one else I want to live the rest of my days with.”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “Nash Hartley, I spent almost an hour on this makeup. If you ruin it by being all sweet, I’m going to be really freaking pissed.”
I chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her. It was warmth and comfort and home. “Love you.”
“More than I thought possible,” Maddie whispered against my lips.
“Good. Now let’s go because I’m starving.”
She laughed. “What else is new?”
“Hey, sometimes it’s good to be predictable.”
I guided my SUV up the steep drive to my childhood home. I pulled into a makeshift spot next to a row of other vehicles. It looked like we were the last to arrive.
A panicked look overtook Maddie’s face. “I thought you said dinner was at six.”
“It is. I think people just got here early for drinks and appetizers.”
She scowled at me as she grabbed a plate from the back seat. “We’re late.”
I sighed. “We aren’t late.”
But Maddie didn’t even hear me because she was already out of the SUV. I couldn’t help but laugh. I loved that she cared so much about what my family thought. But they already loved her like a member of our crazy brood.
I hurried to catch up with Maddie, taking her hand as she climbed the steps. I opened the front door without knocking and almost ran into Lawson’s eldest son.
Luke simply grunted and kept right on walking toward the basement.
His younger brother, Drew, rolled his eyes as he followed him. “Luke’s in a mood.”
“Shut up,” Luke called without looking back.
Drew grinned. “Probably pissed because I just kicked his ass in Halo.”
I held up my free hand for a fist bump. “My man.”
Drew made a show of dusting off his shoulders. “I’ll school you if you want.”
I grinned. “After dinner. You and me. Just don’t go crying to your dad when I decimate you.”
Drew shook his head, a devilish smile on his face. “Don’t you whine when I make you cry in front of your hot new girlfriend.” He winked at said girlfriend. “Hey, Maddie.”
She choked on a laugh. “How old are you again?”
He straightened to his full height. “Thirteen.”
“Going on twenty-two,” Maddie mumbled.
“Don’t go trying to steal my girl,” I warned my nephew.
Drew’s smile only widened as he took off down the hall. “Not my fault she might want a winner.”
“Maddie!” a little voice yelled as a blur of motion caught my eye.
Maddie grinned as Charlie skidded to a stop in front of her. “Hey, Charlie.”
“Cady said you got a dog. Did you? Did you?”
“I did. Think you want to come over and meet him one of these days?”
He bobbed his head up and down. “Whadya name him?”
“Clyde.”
Charlie giggled. “That’s a funny name.”
“Well, he’s kind of a funny dog.”
Charlie stretched up on his tiptoes. “Whadya bring?”
Maddie released my hand and crouched down. “Brownies.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “With frosting and sprinkles?”
“I don’t mess around when it comes to brownies.”
“Think I could have one before dinner?” he asked hopefully.
I chuckled. “I don’t think Grandma would be too happy about that.”
Charlie clasped his hands together in front of him and rocked back and forth. “She wouldn’t have to know…”
“I heard that, Charlie Bear,” my mom said as she walked up.
“Shoot!” he grumbled.
My mom grinned. “Gotta have eyes in the back of your head around here.”
As Maddie straightened, my mom pulled her into a hug. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re back. Feels like everything is just as it should be.”
Maddie melted into her hold, returning her hug. “Thank you.”
As my mom released her, I stepped forward and wrapped my arm around Maddie’s waist, brushing my lips against hers. “It does feel right.”
Mom’s eyes widened as they ping-ponged between Maddie and me. “Are you two—?”
Charlie made a gagging noise. “Kissing is gross.”
I chuckled as I looked at my mom. “I thought for sure gossip would’ve made its way to you by now.”
“It did, but I thought gossip was all it was. You know everyone always thought you two were dating when you weren’t.” My mom grabbed the plate from Maddie’s hand and shoved it at me. Then she pulled her in for another hug. “This couldn’t make me happier. The one girl who could keep my boy in line.”
“Hey,” I clipped. “I keep myself in line.”
Mom sent me an exasperated stare. “You give your poor mother weekly heart attacks.”
Maddie chuckled as she released my mom. “I’m not sure anyone can reel this one in.” She looked up at me. “But I’m kind of partial to him when he’s wild.”
I dipped to kiss her softly.
“Kissing!” Charlie yelled at the same time my mom said, “I think I’m going to cry.”
“Daaaaaaad!” Charlie called as Lawson walked up. “You gotta arrest Uncle Nash. He keeps kissing Maddie.”
Lawson arched a brow. “That is quite the offense.”
I handed Charlie the plate of brownies. “Why don’t you put these in the kitchen?”
“Okay.” He took off with the plate.
My mom smacked me and headed after him. “He’ll eat them all before he gets there.”
Lawson grinned at Maddie and me. “First official family dinner. How’s it feel?”
“I was a little nervous,” Maddie confessed.
Lawson squeezed her shoulder. “You’ll do great. It’s Nash who needs to worry about being on his A-game. Mom and Dad will never forgive him if he upsets you.”
The light in Maddie’s eyes danced. “It’s good to have that trump card in my back pocket.”
I narrowed my eyes on them. “You know, it’s not nice to gang up on someone.”
Lawson chuckled, but the action didn’t reach his eyes.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
He glanced over his shoulder at the crowd in the kitchen. “There’s something I need to talk to you about. Can you take five in Dad’s office?”
Maddie stiffened. “Does this have anything to do with me?”
Lawson’s gaze shifted back to us, but he didn’t say anything.
“If I’m involved, I deserve to hear what’s going on,” Maddie pushed.
Lawson let out a sigh. “Okay.”
We moved farther away from the living area, slipping into my dad’s study.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Lawson looked between the two of us. “I got a call from the mayor a little while ago. There are now two complaints against you.”
My jaw worked back and forth as Maddie gripped my hand. “Who else? Jimmy?”
Maddie’s hand spasmed around mine.
Lawson shook his head. “Adam Westchester. He said you’re harassing him and that he wants you fired from the department.”
