Page 101 of Taking the Pitch
He lifts a shoulder. “Imayhave given him your number and told him you’ve been looking for property and might be interested.”
I jump up, the scrape of my chair making a horribly loud noise against the floor. Everyone watches as I run around the table and give Kessler a hug from behind. “I could kiss you right now, big brother.”
“Please don’t.”
“Oh, no. I think this deserves a giant smooch.” Tightening my grip, so he can’t get loose. Kessler struggles against me as I bring my face closer to his, giving him a loud smack on the cheek.
“Boys, not at the table,” Mom chastises. “You’d think being adults, they’d quit picking on each other, but it still hasn’t happened.”
“I’m not picking on him, Mom. I’m thanking him.”
Mom raises an eyebrow at us. “For what?”
I release Kessler and return to my seat, sliding my arm around Amelia’s shoulders. “You know I’ve been wanting to build a house since being back. Well, Kessler said Beau Miller is looking to sell the property next door to him and gave him my number.”
Amelia’s head whips to the side to look at me, wincing slightly when she does. “Really?”
I nod. “Really. So, what do you say, Shortcake? Wanna build our home?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
amelia
“Marlene, you really outdid yourself,”Kara says, snuggling up next to Lucy on the plush couch in the living room. “I can feel the food coma coming on.”
“Agreed. All I’ve been doing is sleeping and resting lately and I could even go for a nap,” I tell them, yawning and burrowing myself deeper into the oversized chair.
Marlene waves us off. “It was my pleasure, girls. Cooking is my love language, and I love all the people here today.”
My eyes flick to the kitchen where all the men are currently cleaning up after dinner. Apparently, that’s the rule. Marlene cooks and the men clean.
Honestly, I’m here for it.
Kessler, Judd, and Garrett are doing the dishes. Judd’s loading the dishwasher and Kessler is handing Garrett the pots and pans to dry and put away. Reese and Brent are putting all the leftovers into various containers for us to take home later. Henry escaped out the side door as soon as the table was cleared. Hudson and Kade were spared dish duty and are currently laying in front of the fireplace playing Hudson’s NintendoSwitch, with Bruno passed out in between them on the dog bed Marlene bought for him.
“So, Millie,” Kara starts. “Things are pretty serious between you and Judd, then?”
“Well, I’m moving into his place and now we’re buying property to build a house, so I’d say it’s pretty serious. After what happened Sunday, we agreed life is too short to not go after what you want. And we both want this.”
“No judgment here. I was knocked up and engaged all in less than four months.” Lucy shrugs.
“You have such a way with words,” Kara comments while she rubs Lucy’s belly.
“I’ve gained two daughters and three grandbabies all in one year. I don’t think I could get much luckier,” Marlene adds.
“Well, we’re not engaged yet.”
Marlene winks at me. “You will be dear, in due time.”
“When it does happen, I’d love to plan your wedding,” Cass chimes in. I’ve learned Cass is Brent’s youngest sister out of four and she works with one of the most prestigious event planning companies in the county. She’s the force behind Lucy and Kessler’s big day.
“She does great work. Ten out of ten recommend,” Lucy adds.
“Plan whose wedding?” Judd asks, coming around from the back of the chair and lifting my legs so he can sit next to me.
“Ours apparently.”
“Oh? And when might this wedding be happening?” he asks, grabbing a lock of my hair and twirling it around his finger.
