"All right, I'll set us up for tomorrow." I ease back in my chair, feeling comfortable that I'm off the hot seat. If the Rhodes men want to spend their time helping, it's an advantage for me.
"Brace, brother," Evin says under his breath, sliding a bottle of Jack and empty glass on the table between us.
Pierce looks entirely too smug sitting across from me. His eyes go to the area where Cole is alternating between watching the game and playing a game on Pierce's phone. "Cole, do me a favor and go check on Darby."
Cole's head pops up with a look of anxiety. "Is it time?"
"Hope not, buddy, but she's been doing a lot today. Make sure she's good. Sit with her if she needs you."
He stands, shaking his head. "We shouldn't have let her go to work this morning. It was too much."
It amazes me how much my nephew is like my brother. Those are words he would have heard directly from Pierce's mouth. No doubt he knows Pierce's opinion on Darby working this morning to help her team prepare for the Thanksgiving dinner at Brasher.
"Just make sure she's okay," Pierce instructs him again.
"Am I going to miss the good part?" Cole looks crushed.
"Yep, I'll fill you in later. While you're in there, grab your sister and call your mom."
His shoulders slouch as he goes to the house, clearly more excited about checking on Darby than calling Connie. I can't blame him.
"Pierce, tell me you handled it. Annie and I are not pleased Darby went in this morning," Edward states when Cole is in the house.
"It's handled. Plus, she'll be pregnant again next year."
My side of the family takes this in stride, fully aware of Pierce's goal to add five more children to his family. Darby agreed to three more. I've got my money on Pierce.
The Rhodes men don't seem fazed by his statement, all three of them focused on me. The hair on the back of my neck prickles, and Pierce's expression slides back to smug.
"Jesus, do I have to pour it for you, too?" Evin utters, filling the highball glass nearly full.
"Speaking of pregnancies, what's the next step in your plan?"
The bluntness of Austin's question brings it all together. Evin's oversized pour now makes sense.
"Are you asking me if your sister is pregnant?"
"Not now, she's not. That's obvious. But do you plan on having kids?"
"Yeah, I want kids. Ashlyn does, too."
"When can we expect them?"
"Maybe you should talk to Ashlyn."
"I'm not talking to Ashlyn. I want to keep my balls intact."
"Let me jump in here. We'll get back to the kids. I want to know what happens next. You'll finish her house and then? You plan to let her move out and live alone? Date a while? Slow this bullet train down?" Andrew's disapproval bleeds through his questions.
"Not my intention at all. These past three weeks are as slow as I get in my relationship with your sister."
"Then what's the damn plan?"
I cast a glance at my brother, who's openly smiling. "You enjoying this?"
"Fuck yeah. Karma is a bitch. What goes around comes around." He's still bitter about us ganging up on him last year on this same day about Darby. I wouldn't be surprised if he planted the seeds to instigate this.
I'll deal with him later. "No disrespect, but I think this is a conversation I should have with Ashlyn first. But know, I'm not going anywhere."
"You moving in with her?" Andrew pushes.
"Oh fuck, son, let that go. Of course he's moving in with her. She's building her home meant for a family. I want to know when this will be official. Janie's about to drive me crazy," Dozer grunts.
"Soon, but as you know, Ashlyn has to be handled delicately."
"You broke down those walls a long time ago. Don't waste much more time."
"It almost sounds like you like me." I send him a cocky smile, raising my eyebrows.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself. I figure the second time around she'll pick a man who owns a razor. But for now, she's got a slug who knows how to build her dream home. That's what counts."
This breaks the damn, and Pierce chokes mid-sip, roaring out as he doubles over. Evin, Dad, and Edward have the decency to contain their laughter to general obnoxiousness.
Austin and Andrew openly praise their dad with backslaps, and Dozer looks pleased with himself.
I take the drink beside me, gulping a few swigs, and let them have their fun. When the laughter dies down, I take my shot back. "Build her dream home, bring her back to herself, and openly adore her. There will be no second time around."
Dozer sobers, his posture straightening as he locks eyes with me. "I'm trusting you on that."
I tip my glass to him, giving him the southern gentleman's handshake of respect.
"Everyone all straight now?"
"Not yet, I understand Pierce built his wife a bakery for their wedding present. What are you going to do to top that?"
"Yeah, what are you going to do to top that?" Pierce is now all out gloating, enjoying this too much.
"I have an idea," I answer vaguely, not ready to share the news of my idea if she wants to go out on her own and open a practice.
Dozer finishes his drink, nodding.
"My sister is not knocked up-yet, she's getting a move-in boyfriend who hasn't put a ring on her finger, and you haven't told us your plan," Austin replies. "I'm still looking for answers."
"I'm thrilled my son is bringing that ray of beauty into my family." Dad finally adds something to the conversation. "Hopefully, you have the smarts to get her down the aisle soon before she realizes what a pain in the ass you can be."
I narrow my eyes over the rim of my glass, wondering what the hell ever happened to loyalty. Then I figure it's my turn to have some fun.
"Already booked the hotel in Vegas. I'll make sure all your announcements arrive the day it's inked."
Every man's face
