Page 132 of Wilde Ride

“Small eyes at the table, please. Let’s not teach him bad things.”

I quickly put my napkin on my lap and peeked at Rhett. When I was sure he wasn’t looking, I flashed my middle finger at Caden, who laughed.

“Emeline Wilde!”

Lowering my hand, I muttered, “Sorry, Mom.”

She shook her head, but I could see the corners of her mouth twitching with a hidden smile.

The rest of dinner was filled with conversations about the ranch, the vet clinic, and Rhett’s horse, Orion. After dinner, Gatlin, Caden, and Levi all played a game with Rhett, while my father, mother, Ensley, and I cleaned up.

“It’s been so lovely having Rhett and Levi join us for Sunday dinners,” Mom said as she hugged me. “They’ve brought such joy to the house.”

“Was the house not joyous before?” Ensley asked.

My mother playfully slapped her on the backside with her hand towel. “Of course it was. I just mean it’s been nice to have a little one in the house again.”

“I agree. I miss hearing all the yelling and playing in the house,” Dad added with a grin.

“We can still do that,” Ensley grinned. “We just figured you guys would frown on it.”

My father rolled his eyes. “Smart-ass.”

Ensley lifted onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Takes one to know one!”

Mom started to motion for us to leave the kitchen. “You girls go join in the fun, we’ve got the rest of this.”

Ensley clearly didn’t need to be told twice; she dashed out of the kitchen without so much as looking back.

“Wow, she really still doesn’t like kitchen duty, does she?” I laughed.

When I turned back to look at my parents, they were both staring at me with goofy smiles on their faces.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

They quickly got back to the last of the dishes, ignoring my question. Once everything was loaded, my mother took my arm in hers and we walked out of the kitchen.

“Are you happy, sweetheart?”

“With?”

She shrugged. “Life? Levi?”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “I’m beyond happy, Mom. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because this all feels like a dream.”

“We’re so glad. Levi has always been such a wonderful young man, and Rhett is just the most precious little soul.”

“Yes, he is, and Levi…he makes me feel so treasured. That’s the only word I can think of. He treats me like I’m his everything, and that’s such a beautiful feeling.”

“That’s how your father makes me feel. How are you doing with Rhett?”

I stopped walking and looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s pretty clear your relationship with Levi is serious. So how are things with you and Rhett? Can you see yourself potentially being a mother figure to him?”

Glancing toward the family room, where everyone else was, I focused back on my mom. “I mean, we haven’t talked about that, and the last thing I want to do is force Levi into something he’s not ready for.”

She nodded.