Page 133 of Playing Mr. Perfect

“I thought you loved the rental.”

“I do, but it’s still fancy.”

“This house looks fancy from the outside, but trust me, the furniture is comfortably worn and bears the proof of our rambunctious teen years.”

“I like that they haven’t replaced it.”

“And I like you.” I kiss her.

As we head up to the house, Noah says, “Let’s see where they are so we can surprise them.” He crouches beneath the front windows and waves for us to follow him.

As we make our way around to the side of the house, Victory says, “I feel like a burglar.”

“Do you guys do this a lot?” Pepper asks.

“We’re kids at heart,” I say.

“Shh!” Noah puts a finger over his lips, standing beside the windows to the great room, and motions for us to get back.

We press our backs against the side of the house. My grandparents hold hands, watching us from a few feet away.

Noah points two fingers to his eyes and shifts them toward the window. He peeks into the great room, then quickly presses his back against the wall again, speaking quietly. “We’ve got two in the kitchen and two in the great room.”

“And two going through the front door,” my grandfather grumbles, and he and my grandmother head around front.

“Stop him!” Noah whisper-shouts, and we all hurry after them.

My grandfather is already plowing through the door, hollering, “Where are ya, boy?”

We barrel in after him, and there’s a flurry of shock and surprise followed by hugs and warm greetings as I introduce Pepper to my parents, Flynn, and Sutton. We all help set the table, and dinner is full of lively banter, interesting conversation, and lots of heckling. I love how my family embraces Pepper, asking her about her work and her family. She talks to Seth and Victory about the trials and tribulations of owning a business, and I’m thrilled when she tells them she never thought she’d have time for a relationship, but she’s glad she made it, and her business hasn’t suffered in the wake of not working weekends and evenings.

After we all clear the table and clean up, everyone takes their drinks into the great room. I slide my arm around Pepper’s waist as we follow the others. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. Your family is wonderful.” She looks around the room.

Sutton and Victory are chatting with my grandmother by the couches, Flynn and Seth are heading over to my parents by the fireplace, and my grandfather and Noah are gazing out at the ocean, talking. Pepper’s attention shifts back to my parents, lingering on my mother. My mother rarely wears makeup, and tonight she’s makeup-free. She’s tall and slim but not willowy. She’s strong inside and out, with a mix of blond and gray hair she wears loose and untamed to the middle of her back. I’ve always found her naturally beautiful, and tonight she looks comfortable in jeans and a cream shirt with a forest-green cardigan, but I wonder what Pepper sees.

I hug Pepper against my side and kiss her cheek. “What are you thinking right now?”

“Just how much your family reminds me of mine. Your mom has such an easy smile, and she seems unflappable. I think moms of big families have to be that way, and your dad is a little serious like mine. Victory reminds me of Sable and Grace combined. She’s so strong. Not just to have survived losing her husband but to run the business she does. Noah reminds me of Axsel and Brindle when she was single. Seth reminds me of Grace, serious but fun, and your grandparents remind me of what mine were like before they passed away.”

“So no more freaking out?”

She shakes her head. “No. It feels good to be here.”

“Good.”

As I lean in to kiss her, Noah says, “Hey, Flynn. Have you broken the news to Seth and Clay about me being your best man yet?”

“He’s your best man?” Seth asks with disbelief.

“Everyone knows he’s choosing me,” I say.

“Nope,” Noah says. “Tell ’em, Flynn.”

“Nice try, Noah,” Flynn says. “I can’t choose, so we’re going to have a Wilderness Warrior type of competition. We’re dropping you three off in some remote location, and whoever makes it back first can be the best man.”

“I’m in,” I exclaim.