Page 32 of The Pilot

“Thank you all for inviting Kash and me to join you,” Harper said.

“Of course.”

“So glad you could be here.”

“Wouldn’t have been the same without you.”

Everyone spoke at once, making Linc grin.

“With that, I think we need to get going,” Harper continued.

“I didn’t think you had to work tomorrow,” Britt said with a small frown. “You’re lucky to get Black Friday off.”

“I know, but I’ve got a ton of things I need to catch up on, since I’ve been working so much. And Saturday starts the beginning of the holiday season . . . and grumpy shoppers.”

Everyone groaned at that.

Harper stood, and Linc followed suit.

“We’re headed out, Kash,” she told her son.

He was so lost in whatever he was reading, he didn’t even hear her.

“Kash,” Linc said in a louder tone.

At that, the boy immediately looked up.

“We’re leaving now.”

“Oh, okay.” He closed the book and stood. Soon, everyone was on their feet, exchanging goodbye hugs, and Britt and Marit were making plans with Harper to get together soon.

“I’m happy to help in any way I can with your wedding,” she told Britt.

“Thanks. We want to keep the ceremony simple. But I’ll let you know if we need anything.”

“Good luck with that,” Knox mumbled under his breath.

Chad smacked the back of his brother’s head. “Shut it,” he said with a grin.

Before he knew it, they were in his SUV and on their way back to his house. Looking in the back seat, Linc saw Kash was snoozing minutes into the drive. Apparently, car rides didn’t just put babies to sleep. The kid was out like a light, his book still clasped in his grip.

Keeping his voice low, Linc asked Harper, “Do you really have a bunch of things you need to do?”

“No. But you’re tired. You need to get some sleep.”

Linc was literally speechless. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had put him first. Her care of him made him feel . . . mushy. It was a strange feeling, being taken care of. He’d always been the one taking care of others. Looking after his brothers, his mom, the men and women under his command.

Words wouldn’t come, so he kept silent as he drove them back to his house. He parked, and the three of them walked to the front door together. Kash was like a zombie and didn’t complain when his mom ordered him upstairs and to bed.

“You think you can sleep? Is it too early?” she asked him.

There was no way in hell he was going to sleep, but Linc nodded anyway.

As if she saw right through him, Harper said, “Why don’t we watch TV for a while? Neither of us have anything pressing to do tomorrow. I thought we could maybe go out for a matinee, there’s that new Christmas movie Kash was interested in seeing, and then try out that board game I brought home from work the other day.”

Honestly, it sounded like a perfect day to Linc. He nodded. “You want another glass of wine?”

She grimaced. “I think I had enough wine tonight. Maybe some tea?”