Page 26 of Labor of Love

“Wanna know a secret?” I casually mention as we drive under the Hayes Ranch sign up his family’s driveway.

“Always.” Stetson grins proudly, his blue eyes practically sparkling.

“Today was my first time trying anal.” The truck stops, my head gently bumping the headrest. We’re already running late, but I apologize for nothing when it comes to Stetson and I naked.

“You little brat.” He looks my way, slightly stunned. His hand reaches down, gripping his cock over his shorts. “You know damn well that’ll get hard before we walk into my parents’ house.” I keep an innocent face, turning to the window where a smirk replaces it.

“You could pull over and punish me. I didn’t get to feel you come down my throat earlier.” Except I don’t get the reaction I was looking for. Stetson stares directly through me, his hand reaching over to take mine.

“You nervous about dinner?” He's too good.

“A little.” If I know anything about Mama Hayes, it’s that she loves me fiercely and wants me happy. “There are the what ifs of your parents not thinking we should be together.” He knows my fear runs deeper. His parents have given me a love I’ve never known even from my own blood.

“Sweet girl...” His soft tone still doesn’t settle my galloping heart.

“If they don’t approve, that could mean losing everything.” But I won’t know until we tell them.

“I was barely home a day, and they cornered me about us giving them grandbabies.”

The fuck?

“Us? As in you and me?”

“You know they love you.” Warmth rushes through me, settling my heart. “Layla, Karli was the most daunting to tell and she took the news phenomenally.” Karli lifted my feet off the ground with the biggest hug.

“She knows you’ll treat me right.” I smile. “She wished we had gotten together first so it would have made her and Parker less of a taboo shock.”

“There ya have it. Kar knows the plan of letting it play out naturally, right?” I nod as Stetson continues up the driveway. Parker and Karli are on the front porch waiting. Karli beams, clapping her hands together.

“It’s now or never.” My heart picks up again.

“I’ll get your door.”

12

STETSON

“You didn't have to wait for us outside,” I mumble to my sister as we walk up the porch steps.

“Hey, you know me and secrets.” She has a point. “Mama will know somethin’ is up just by looking at me.” My hand rests on Layla’s lower back as we step inside. Toeing off our shoes, we find my mother in the kitchen.

“Hey, Mom.” Before I can hug her, she’s fixated on the woman in front of me.

“Hi, son,” she says, engulfing Layla. If she had a favorite child, it’d be obvious. I set my phone on the kitchen island, knowing my mother isn’t big with screen use during family time.

“The food smells amazing, Daphne.” Layla takes a deep breath.

“Thanks, Honey. Sorry I missed your visit yesterday. Walker mentioned you stopped by.” I thought my dad was too busy to notice us.

“We took our horses for a quick ride.” Layla smiles, leaning against the island.

The two chat about Layla’s upcoming gallery and my mother’s latest embroidery project. I’m giddy about how naturally Layla fits in. I step closer, tempted to squeeze Layla’s bare shoulders.

“Son,” My father walks through the patio door halting me. “Do you mind texting Mack about the tractor in the field? The goddamn thing quit again.”

“Walker,” Mom scolds.

“Sorry, dear.” He grunts. “The darn tractor.”