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“No, but I think maybe he was fond of her too,” Kellan told her, waggling his brows.
Christ, if Victor Gantry had taken a liking to his aunt back then, and Tanner didn’t think so, it sure wasn’t that way. He was in his twenties already when she was a teenager.
“The day Aunt Kim got married, Gantry told Grams she was going to have one child, a daughter, and that child would be the wife of his sons. He saw it.”
“Billy wasn’t even thought of yet, mind you,” his brother added. He clicked his tongue. “But here they are gettin’ hitched…just like he said they would.”
“Lucky guess is all. Wishful thinking,” Arien said with a roll of her hazel-green eyes. “Dreams don’t mean anything.”
Sure about that?
“If you say so. We know different.”
She giggled, popping a berry in his mouth.
“Your mama’s tired. I’m gonna go ahead and take her home.” Bending over, Dad kissed Arien on the cheek, then glancing to him and Kellan, he winked. “You boys stick close to your sister now, ya hear?”
As the sun dipped behind the mountains, the older folks dispersed and the little ones were taken home to be tucked into their beds, the rest of them taking the party to the field at the old barn. Spirits high, the music was loud and the liquor was flowing.
Griffin lit the fire, it burned tall, shooting sparks into a navy sky. “Five more days ’til we’re free.” Graduation was this Thursday. He kissed Shiloh. “And in two weeks, you’re all mine.”
His wait was almost over. Lucky bastard.
Pulling Arien with him, Kellan leaned back against the barn. Slipping her sips of Fireball, he kissed her.
Really want her dancin’ in them boots, don’t ya?
Tanner couldn’t take it much longer. He needed to know what was in her head. And in her heart. He needed to bring about an end to all this damn waiting, too.
Griffin’s lips locked on her sister, a put-out Cassie parked her ass beside them. “Hey, Kel. Arien.”
“Hey, Cass.”
Arien didn’t speak.
Cassie had a shit-eating grin on her face. “You’re comin’ to the weddin’, aren’t ya?”
“What in the hell are you askin’ me that for? Whole damn town’s gonna be there.”
Same as always. Everyone in Brookside turned out for every event. Funerals, graduations, weddings, and everything in between.
“I didn’t mean you, silly. I know you’re comin’.” The grin never leaving her face, Cassie smacked Kellan on the arm, turning toward Arien. “I was askin’ your stepsister here.”
“That’s a stupid question. Course, she is.”
With a devious-sounding laugh, she shrugged. “Well, I wasn’t sure when she was headin’ on back to Denver.”
“Hello, I’m right here,” Arien said, waving her hand in front of Cassie’s face.
“Shiloh tells me you’re real smart. Got yourself a grant and a scholarship.” Tilting her head from side to side, she pushed out her lip with her tongue. “Congratulations, by the way.”
“Change of plans, Cassie. Arien ain’t goin’ nowhere.” Kellan possessively wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “She’s stayin’ right here.”
“Ohhh, I see. Daddy called it, huh?” Lighting a cigarette, she blew the smoke in his brother’s face. “Congratulations to you, then. And you too, Tanner.”
And with a parting nod to Arien, she walked away.
Run along now. Off you go.
