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Until recently, he wouldn’t even introduce me to anyone he works with.”
    She sits straighter as her eyes widen in disbelief. “Really? How’d people know about you then?”
    “They didn’t. Everyone thought he was single up until Monday when I surprised him by showing up to one of his location shoots. Then he actually introduced me to some of his coworkers, but I think he felt compelled to do that. His tattoo stunt was the first time he’s ever publicly acknowledged he has a girlfriend.”
    She shakes her head. “Damn. He is a cagey bastard.”
    I sigh at that statement. “Yep. Do you think he really wants to marry me, even though he staunchly denies that he does?”
    “I’d bet all of my savings on it. He desperately wants to marry you, but he’s afraid. He just…”
    “Won’t,” I whisper.
    “I’m sorry,” she says. “He may change his mind.”
    “I doubt that,” I answer sullenly.
    She puts her hand on my shoulder. “I just want you to know that even if you two aren’t legally married, I still consider you my sister-in-law.”
    I smile at her and then bite my lip so I won’t cry in front of her.
    Simone asks, “Why don’t we go help Mom set the table for dinner? She’s up there worried about you. I had to tie her to the banister to keep her from coming down here. I surmised you’d rather not have her cross-examination yet.”
    I nod and lightly laugh. “Thanks.”
    “You bet. Come on. Everything will be okay. I’ll kick my brother’s ass for you, too. That might be fun for you to watch.”
    I laugh again as we walk out of the gazebo and back to the house.
     
     

CHAPTER 4
     
     
     
    “There you are! Are you okay, sweetheart?” Julie throws down two potholders and promptly walks over to me. “What happened between you two?”
    “We had an argument.”
    She exasperatedly replies, “Well, we all knew that! What did my jackass of a son do to you?”
    I glance away from her zealously concerned gaze. “It was me.”
    “I greatly doubt it was you. I swear, if he does something to chase you away, I will kill him.”
    Staring out the window over Julie’s shoulder, I cross my arms and wanly say, “Don’t worry about that. I love him. It was just an argument. That’s all.” I shrug as I feel her eyes burning into me while I continue to look out the window. “It happens sometimes. We don’t agree on everything, so it’s bound to happen now and then.”
    “Are you sure? Did he hurt you? He wasn’t dressed, so…”
    “Mom!” Simone shouts as she grabs a stack of plates. “She said they’ll be fine! Let it go!”
    Julie squeezes my upper arms and I still can’t look at her directly. “Hadley, if you ever need to talk, I’m here for you. I promise I will take your side.” I laugh, but Julie doesn’t and I finally regard her facial expression. “I’m dead serious. Finn is like his dad. He knows how to ruin a good thing.”
    Simone bursts out laughing. “Henry? Right, Mom.”
    Julie looks over at Simone. “What?”
    Rolling her eyes, Simone mumbles, “Nothing.”
    I hear the front door open and I start to feel sick. Great. I’m still not ready to face him. We all look to the kitchen doorway as Chrishelle walks in. “Hey, guys,” she greets and then sees me. “Hadley, how are you?” She saunters over and I move away from Julie so we can hug. Her perfume reminds me of my mother’s, unfortunately. I step back and smile at her. Also resembling Julie, Chrissie’s hair is almost shoulder-length and lighter than her mother’s, but unlike Julie and Finn, her eyes are blue instead of brown. She does have the same golden skin tone and laugh as them, though.
    “How have you been, kiddo?” Kiddo. I always thought that was cute of her. She’s only four years older than me.
    Forcing a smile to stay on my face, I reply, “Fine. What about you?”
    She laughs. “Can’t complain, but I probably will. Nobody will listen anyway.”
    “Quit complaining, you drama queen,”