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It seemed like he and his brother had been waiting for forever already.
He heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and grinned. Got her. Kellan could be quite convincing when necessary.
“I don’t know what y’all are up to, but I’ve got things to do.”
Her hand on her hip, head cocked, Arien tapped her bare foot on the wood floor. She was even prettier when she was all fired up.
Tanner chuckled. “Yeah, you do. With us.”
“I have to start supper soon.”
“No, you don’t.” He winked. “Already taken care of.”
“The baby will be waking up and—”
“Benjie’s not here. Dad and Grams went to Aunt Kim’s for supper. You got any other excuses?” Before she could come up with any, Tanner turned to his brother. “Get her stuff?”
“Yup.” Shit-eating grin on his face, Kellan held up a small canvas bag. “Right here.”
Yeah, they’d planned ahead.
“Get your boots on, pretty girl.” He smacked her on the ass. “We’re takin’ a little ride.”
Under the late-afternoon sun, with the dogs chasing after them, they rode three abreast to the lake. It would be a bit chilly once it set, but it was warm right now. A dip in the water, then a starlight picnic. Just the three of them.
Tanner laid a thick flannel blanket out on the grass. Kellan unpacked the goodies from the saddlebags. Meatloaf pie, buttermilk fried chicken, orzo pasta salad, watermelon, raspberry crumb bars for dessert, and a jug of strawberry lemonade.
“Where’d you get all this?” Arien’s eyes got bigger with every container Kellan set down on the blanket. “And don’t tell me y’all made it yourselves.”
“Hell, no.” Grinning, his brother poured a fifth of vodka into the jug. “I can grill a mean steak, but Grams helped us out some. You’re gonna love her meatloaf pie. It’s been my favorite ever since I was a little kid.”
“We do know how to cook, little sister.” Tanner nodded, elbowing his brother in the ribs. “Managed to feed ourselves somehow ’fore you got here.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Kellan pulled her down to the blanket and kissed her. “Well, you’re a helluva lot better at it.”
Glancing up from beneath her lashes, smiling sweetly, she took hold of their hands. “I know what you’re trying to do. Thank you. This is really nice.”
“So, you’re done bein’ mad at us?” Tanner asked her.
“I was never mad.”
Nudging her shoulder, his brother smirked. “Yeah, you were.”
“Maybe just a little.” Leaning back on her elbows, Arien blew out a breath. “Not knowing the whole truth made me feel like I was lied to, you know?”
“Never once did I lie to you,” Kellan insisted, threading his fingers into her hair.
“Me neither.” Leaning on one arm by her side, Tanner turned her face toward his. “Yeah, we held back on some things. Things you weren’t ready to know. I mean, you were already thinkin’ we’re all crazy.”
Lowering her gaze, she giggled. “I still do.”
“Oh, but I think you like our crazy, don’t you, baby cakes?”
“Maybe,” Arien teased, a grin on her face. Then she bowed her head. “I gotta know, though…”
“What’s that?”
