“Thank you,” Courtney smiled at the only person she knew apart from Logan. “Your house is beautiful.”
“It wasn’t like this two hours ago.” Maddie grimaced. “Usually you can’t walk a yard without tripping over a plastic toy or a kid. I feel exhausted from clearing it all up.”
“Are the twins in bed?”
“My twins?” Maddie clarified. “Yeah. Though I’ve got this just in case.” She pointed down at a monitor that she’d placed on the counter in front of her. “Gray and I have an agreement. I do the first two hours, he does the next two.”
Logan walked up behind her, pressing his palm into the small of her back. “Courtney, this is my older brother, Gray,” he said, introducing the tall, handsome man next to him. He was wearing a pair of dark pants and a white shirt, the collar unbuttoned.
“It’s a pleasure,” he said softly, leaning forward to shake her hand.
Of course she knew who he was. Everybody in America had heard of Gray Hartson. His voice was constantly on the rock and country radio stations, after all.
“Hi,” she said, smiling at him. “I was just saying to Maddie that your house is beautiful. I’m pretty sure you could fit my place neatly into the corner over there.”
Gray laughed. “Logan tells me you live on a farm.”
“I do.” She nodded. “Live and work there.”
“That sounds so romantic,” Maddie said grinning. “Like a movie or something.”
“Believe me, it’s nothing like a movie when the hens launch themselves at you,” Logan told her. “Unless it’s directed by Alfred Hitchcock.”
Courtney shook her head. “I keep telling you, it’s because they like you.” She turned back to Maddie. “Do you know, whenever Logan visits I get more eggs the next day?”
Logan tipped his head to the side. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t want to give you a big head,” she teased. But it was true. As well as being the hottest guy she’d ever met, he was great for egg production. Maybe she should get him to leave a shirt or something next time. She could put it in Hester’s bed.
“Is that why you keep asking me over?”
She sighed and shook her head. “See what I mean?”
Maddie laughed. “Could I bring the boys over to the farm sometime?” she asked. “They’re just getting into animals. I know they’d love to see the chickens.”
“Of course. Any time. I’ll take you all on a tour.” Courtney couldn’t help but like Maddie. She was so lovely and welcoming.
“Let me introduce you to the rest of my family,” Logan said, inclining his head toward the living area of the kitchen.
“Sure.” She smiled at Maddie and Gray. “Thanks again for inviting me.”
Maddie squeezed her hand. “We’ll talk later.”
With his palm still firmly against the small of her back, Logan steered her past the breakfast bar into the main living area. “This is Tanner and Van,” he said, introducing her to the couple standing by the sofas. “My younger brother and his wife.”
“You run the Chaplin Drive-In, don’t you?” she asked, shaking their hands. “The one next to the Cutler farm?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Tanner said, smiling warmly. “It’s great to meet you. And congratulations on the baby.”
“You should come over when we reopen,” Van said, brushing her blonde hair over her shoulders. “We just finished our holiday season, and we take a break until April, but then we’ll be back with a bang.” She glanced down at Courtney’s stomach. The bump was obvious beneath her clingy, red dress. “When is the baby due again?”
“June twenty-fifth,” Logan said. Courtney looked up at him, surprised he could remember. The date was ingrained in her thoughts, but surely Logan had only heard it once, when they were at the doctor’s office.
Van grinned. “This year we had showings once a week where we encourage babies to come. That was Maddie’s idea. Some of her friends from her prenatal classes were afraid their babies’ crying would annoy other customers. So we have a special showtime just for them, and the babies can scream to their hearts’ content. When we start them again next year, maybe you can come?”
“That’s wonderful,” Courtney said. Logan’s family were all so lovely and welcoming. “I’d love to come.”
“I’ll get your number from Logan. We’ll make it happen,” Tanner told her.
“Let’s go and meet my dad and Aunt Gina,” Logan said, giving Tanner and Van a wink. “They’re over here.”
Like his brothers and their wives before them, Logan’s aunt was welcoming and gracious. His dad was quieter, giving her hand a shake and asking if she was well, before sitting silently and listening as Aunt Gina asked all the questions. Next to them was Maddie’s mom, who oohed over all the baby talk.
It was strange seeing how different Logan was, surrounded by his family. His body relaxed against her as his arm circled her waist. He smiled more than she’d ever seen him do before.
This baby growing inside her would be part of it all. Logan would probably bring him or her over here during his parental time. They’d play with Maddie’s kids. Climb on the huge wooden swing set in the backyard. Curl up with Aunt Gina and listen to stories.
Courtney’s mouth felt dry as she thought about her talk with Lainey. She was right. It would be confusing for Courtney to try to be part of all this. Not just for the baby, but for her, too. And yet part of her yearned to be a member of this huge, friendly family. To pretend that they were her own.
But they weren’t. And if she wasn’t pregnant, she wouldn’t even be standing here right now. She’d be at home, alone, probably watching a Christmas movie.
“This is my brother, Cam. My twin.”
Courtney turned to the man standing next to Logan. Even though they had the same face, she could see the differences right away. Not just in Cam’s longer hair, and the bump in
