Page 59 of The Mr. Right Checklist

“You sure it’s okay to show up like this?” I look down at my white T-shirt, which has a giant sunflower on it but isn’t so white anymore. “We should’ve stopped to get a bottle of wine or something to thank her for seeing us on a Sunday.”

“You look beautiful, and there’s no need for a gift. She’s a friend.” He opens the back door, and Molly jumps out.

“All the more reason to be grateful.”

“If you really feel the need to give her something, my brother loved the cookies you gave him. Maybe you can bake some for Piper at some point. She’s a real sugar fiend.”

“Perfect!”

He puts his hand on my back, and we head up the walk with Molly. “Don’t be surprised if she gives me a hard time.”

I stop cold. “Why? Did you pressure her into meeting me today? I don’t want to bother her if she’s busy or doesn’t want to help. I can find someone else to build the tower.”

“It’s not that, sunshine. Piper is Piper. I don’t make a habit of bringing women around, and she’s nosy and sarcastic and unfiltered.”

“Oh, you meant that kind of hard time? Then what are you worried about? We should get along just fine.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” We head up to the door. “By the way, her husband, Harley, is Marshall’s older brother.”

“He is? Do they know we’re going to the wedding together?”

His jaw ticks. “I doubt it. Marshall’s not one to gossip.”

“Want me to play up the wedding date?”

“How about you just be yourself?” He knocks, and a dog barks inside.

Molly whines excitedly, tail wagging, as the door opens. We’re greeted by a petite woman with straight shoulder-length blond hair and a cute baby bump, holding an adorable little girl with wispy golden-brown hair and big blue eyes. A pit bull barrels past her onto the porch. I stumble backward, and Fletch sweeps his arm around my waist, pulling me away from the dogs and holding me against him as they bark and jump on each other, causing the baby girl to squeal with delight.

“Should we have left Molly in the SUV?” I ask frantically.

“No. She’s fine,” he says in my ear, and presses a kiss beside it as the woman yells, “Harley, call Jiggs.” A loud whistle comes from within the house, and Jiggs and Molly bolt inside.

“Go on out back, you rascals,” a deep voice booms from within the house.

“Sorry about that.” She looks curiously at Fletch, whose arm is still belted around me. “You must be Destiny. I’m Piper, and this is Frankie. Welcome to our madhouse.”

“It’s nice to meet you both.” I look at Frankie, who is wearing a cute yellow romper. “Aren’t you precious.” I tickle her bare foot, and she giggles. “I hope I don’t smell like the lake. We were fishing, and I didn’t have time to clean up.”

“Fishing, huh? Isn’t that interesting?” She glances at Fletch, who shakes his head. “We’re a household full of dog hair and diapers with a boat out back, so if you do smell like the lake, you’ll fit right in.” She steps aside. “Come on in.”

Fletch’s hand moves to my back again as he follows me in.

“Your friend, huh?” Piper says with a snort-laugh as he walks by.

“Let it go, Pipe,” he warns.

“Eh, eh, eh!” The baby rocks forward and back, reaching two grabby hands toward Fletch.

“Give me that little nugget.” The second Frankie is in Fletch’s arms, everything about him softens, from his jaw and his gaze to the set of his shoulders and even the way he breathes. He nuzzles against her cheek as he carries her into the living room. “How’s my princess? Did you miss Uncle Fletch?”

I’m fairly certain my ovaries are going to explode.

“You okay, blondie?” Piper asks.

I realize I’m still in the entryway, staring at Fletch, and try to shake it off. “Uh-huh. Yeah. Fine.”

Piper smirks. “Would you believe that when Frankie was born, he wouldn’t even hold her?”