Page 85 of From Grumpy to Forever
“It’s not a library,” Ethan said with a shake of his head before focusing on me again. “I hope she’ll be a good neighbor. Because there’s no turning back. The equipment is supposed to come by the end of August.”
“August?”
“Well, we won’t open then. But I was aiming for Thanksgiving.”
“Thanksgiving? As in Canadian Thanksgiving? In October?”
“Obviously Canadian Thanksgiving.” Ethan shook his head with a chuckle. “Think you can handle that schedule?”
It would be tight if we wanted the inn to open for the Labor Day long weekend, but for my brother, I’d do it. “No problem.”
“I knew I could count on you.”
Avery’s laughter on the other side of the backyard caught my attention. She looked so light and free, with her head thrown back in laughter at something Grayson and Preston said. She was always stunning, but in the last few days as the stress of the inn and the finances had cleared up, she had a whole new glow about her. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
I’d been apart from my wife for too long. “If you’ll excuse me.” I stood and made my excuses to Quinn and Ethan. “I think it’s time I got my beautiful wife home.”
“But it’s so early! Why do they have to go so early?” I heard Quinn protest, and Ethan answered with a chuckle and a reassurance that she’d understand when she was older.
Chapter Forty-Two
Avery
“That was fun.” It was a perfect summer evening. The type of night where the heat of the day had given away to the perfect temperature, where it was still warm enough not to have a sweater, but cool enough that I looked forward to snuggling with Reid on our swing. It was very quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the day. “Your family is so nice and really cool with everything.”
“I don’t know how cool they are about it.” He shook his head. “But they do seem to love you, and I think that helps soften the blow of it all.”
“It’s more than that.” I tugged on his hand. “They love you, Reid, and they just want you to be happy.”
He stopped walking and spun me into his arms in the middle of the street. “You make me happy.”
He held me tight, and my stomach flipped when he looked at me with those eyes that promised so much more to come.
“I’m glad.” I kissed him lightly. Much more than that, I wasn’t sure we’d ever make it home. “Because you make me happy, too. And now you’re stuck with me.”
“There is no one I’d rather be stuck with.”
I laughed, but Reid’s face remained serious. I loved how intense he was. How grumpy he was for almost everyone and everything except for me.
And Quinn.
I had to admit it made something low in my gut flip over to see the way he had all the time in the world for his niece. It made me think about what a good father he’d be to our kids one day.
Because yes, I wanted that with him. One day. We still had a lot we needed to get through with the inn. I wasn’t in a rush anymore. I had my husband. I had my home. And I had no doubt I would have my happily ever after, too.
“What’s that look for?” His finger traced my lips.
“What look?”
“That faraway one that means you’re thinking about something.”
My lips curled up into a smile. “I’m just thinking about us.”
“Is that right?” He leaned into me, his breath hot against my mouth.
“Uh-huh.”
“All good stuff, I hope.”
