Page 198 of The Path to Loving Him
He’s healthy.
He’s happy.
And he’s mine.
“They’re really cute together,” I say to Ryland as I watch Hattie curl into Hayes by the firepit.
Mac’s in the house with Wyatt, and they’re both watching some horse videos on Wyatt’s phone.
Brody and Maggie are snuggled together around the firepit, talking to Hattie and Hayes, laughing and joking, while Aubree’s helping Echo clean up after dinner. I offered, but she shooed me away and told me to go sit with Ryland.
She didn’t have to tell me twice. So now we’re on a large lounge chair together, his arm around me, my head resting against his chest.
“I didn’t think so at first,” he says softly. “Hell, I fucking hated it. But he showed me that he could take care of my sister, probably better than even myself.”
“It looks like it. What about Wyatt? Did you like him?”
“Well, Wyatt, in a way, is our brother-in-law, sort of. His brother was Cassidy’s husband, so I already knew Wyatt and when he came around, I was more than happy to have him here, that was until I found out what he was doing.”
“What was he doing?”
Ryland chuckles. “Hell, when I tell you, it’s going to sound like it’s straight out of a book, but I swear it happened.”
“Ooo, now I’m intrigued. Tell me.”
He tugs on a strand of my hair and twirls it as he talks to me. “Where do I even start, uh . . . well, he owned part of the farmland but didn’t want it. He wanted a cabin that his grandpa was leaving the first grandchild who married. He was left at the altar, and well, desperate to inherit the cabin before his cousin, he came to Aubree with an agreement. How did he put it . . .” Ryland pauses for a second, then I feel the rumble of his laughter come out as he says, “Her hand for his land.”
“What?” I ask. “A marriage of convenience. That’s their love story?”
“Yup. And because Aubree wanted full control over the farm and didn’t care about being in a relationship, she was okay with it. Of course she didn’t tell any of us because we would have had a fucking fit, but as they moved through their agreement, they fell in love and then just stayed married.”
“That’s crazy. Yeah, I feel like without the warning, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“I’m happy they fell for each other, though, because Aubree needed that love. She was the one I was worried about.”
“Why?”
“She was the one who was kind of . . . left behind. Cassidy spent a lot of time focusing on Hattie because she’s much younger than us, and I was the one dealing with our dad. Aubree could have used the attention because she was still young, but not as young as Hattie. You’re talking about siblings taking care of siblings, so Cassidy’s attention could only go so far. As we got older, I could see how jaded Aubree was becoming, and I hated that. I wanted her to find someone who could make her happy and take away her demons. She found that in Wyatt.”
I turn toward Ryland and look him in the eyes. “You’re such a good big brother, being able to see what everyone needs like that, you’re very in tune with your family. I love that about you.”
“Yeah? What else do you love?” he asks playfully.
“Hmm, well, I love that you take care of Mac so well, that even though she’s your niece, you treat her like a daughter, and I love that she’s calling you Uncle Dad.”
“Yeah . . . it’s, uh.” His jaw ticks. “That was surprising, but I love it.”
“And I love that you care about your players but that you won’t let them get away with not trying, not hustling. That you instill in them how hard work can take you places.”
“Without hard work, you and I wouldn’t be where we are today.”
“Very true. And I love how you are so tender with me. I know that’s sort of a weird thing to say, but I’ve never had the best track record with men, yet you make me feel seen and special.”
“Because you are special.” His hand moves up to the back of my head, and he moves me closer until our mouths lock. And for a moment, I forget about where we are, who’s around us, and the proposal that happened earlier. Instead, I get lost in his mouth.
I get lost in his touch.
I get lost in this man who I can’t seem to shake.
