By the look on River’s face, I can tell she’s nervous. Before we walk into the kitchen, I stop and hold her sweet face in my hands.

“You have nothing to worry about.” I try to offer her some sort of comfort even though I’ve been pushing my own nerves below the surface. “Trust me, okay?”

She nods. “I trust you.”

I grab her hand and lead her down the hallway toward the kitchen. Mama pulls sugar cookies from the oven and sets the hot baking sheet on top of the stove. She wipes her hands on a dish towel and turns around with a smile on her face that immediately fades when she sees River standing next to me.

Fuck. I know what that look means.

“Hey, Mama.” I walk up to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek, then turning to River.

“This is River. River, this is my mama, Rose,” I say, introducing them with a big smile on my face, hoping it spreads like wildfire. I almost introduced her as my girlfriend, because it sounds right, but I didn’t want to cross the line or make the situation more awkward than it needs to be. Mama’s never seen me bring a girl home, and I now realize this is going to be a lot harder than I expected.

“Hello,” Mama says, looking her up and down before smiling.

“Hi,” River says sweetly. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Mama nods and turns back to her cookies, placing each one on the cooling rack so they don’t continue cooking on the tray. Just as I’m about to say something, Dad walks through the back door, placing his cowboy hat on the table.

“I’m starving,” he says, pulling out a chair and sitting.

“River, this is my dad, Scott.” I grab his attention to us.

“Hi,” River says to him.

“Howdy, River.” He stands and holds his hand out to shake hers.

“Alex didn’t tell us he was bringing a guest, so let me grab you a place setting.” Mama gives me a sideways glance, and I know she suspects something.

“Sorry, Mama,” I apologize, knowing she doesn’t like surprises. Oh well. She’ll find out soon enough now.

We take our seats at the table across from my parents, and I try to make small talk, but the tension in the room is steadily growing. Mama serves baked potato soup in big bowls with tons of cheese and bacon on top.

River and I thank her, and once she sits down at the table with us, we hold hands and say grace. I look over at River who flashes a nervous smile, but she has nothing to worry about. I’ll be with her through it all.

“This is the best soup I’ve ever eaten,” River compliments after a few bites, and Mama offers a soft thank you.

“So you want to tell us what’s goin’ on?” Mama directs her question at me, and Dad pops his head up, wanting to know too.

I grab River’s hand under the table and interlock my fingers with hers. “Well, turns out you’re going to be grandparents to another little bundle.”

Mama glares at me. Dad’s face stays exactly the same, no reaction surfacing. The silence seems to drown on.

“How did this happen?” Mama asks, looking back and forth between River and me. I can almost taste the venom in her words even though she tries to cover her disdain with a smile.

“Well, it’s kind of a long story. We met in Key West when Dylan and I went last October.” I don’t want to go into details about our relationship and our vacation hookup agreement. Mama would never approve of my past lifestyle, which is why she isn’t privy to that type of information.

“Well, son, I have to say I’m quite shocked right now. I feel blindsided by this whole situation,” Mama says to River and me. And I understand. It’s a lot to take in. I’m not a child, but Mama has always had high traditional expectations.

“What does this all mean, exactly?” Dad asks.

“I guess it means I’m gonna be a father,” I reply.

Dad chuckles softly. “You two raisin’ the baby together?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mama sets her spoon down in her bowl and pushes it away. After wiping her mouth with the napkin from her lap then setting it on the table, I get the hint that lunch is over. Maybe bringing River here and dropping the bomb this way wasn’t the smartest idea. Maybe I should’ve told Mama alone so I could get her real reaction, and we could talk it through. The whole situation backfired, and I can sense how uneasy River is by the tightness of her grip. Before getting up to leave, I thank Mama for lunch and tell Dad I’ll be back to work after dropping River off at the B&B.

As I go to walk out, Mama calls me back. I place a hand on River’s shoulder and tell her I’ll meet her outside.

“If you weren’t a grown man, I’d slap you right now,” Mama says with her arms crossed over her chest. Fuck, I haven’t seen her this pissed since she caught me stealing the tractor for a joyride when I was ten years old.

“What’s your problem? You always said you wanted grandkids. Now you’re going to have one close to you, and you’re being rude. You didn’t treat Courtney this way with her big announcement,” I tell her and instantly feel terrible for playing the comparison game.

“Your situation and Courtney’s are completely different. Courtney is married and settled. You, on the other hand, decided to knock up a stranger and bring her here, then expect me to welcome the news with open arms. Maybe you should’ve thought this through. Are you sure it’s even yours?”

“Mom!” I scold her quick judgment.

“I’m sorry, but this is going to take me a while to process. Where does she live? Is she moving here? It’s obvious the poor girl doesn’t know anything about our lifestyle and has a lot of learnin’ to do. And that’s gonna need to change real quick. You know my motto, son: can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Good lord. If this is how fast she’s blurting words out, I can’t imagine how fast her mind is racing.

“Well first, yes, River is moving here from Wisconsin because I want to take responsibility for my baby, and we’re going to be together. I know this is out of your traditional values, but what’s done is done. You can be on board with it or not, but this is happening, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it but accept it.” I search her face before I walk away, but I don’t wait for her response because I’m pissed, and she knows it.

Before I walk outside, I put on a fake smile because I don’t want River to be upset. We climb inside the side by side and drive across the pasture.

“She doesn’t like me,” River says on the way back to the B&B.

“She doesn’t know you. I’m sure she’ll fall in love with you. I have no doubts about it. Just gotta give each other a chance,” I say confidently, and I truly believe that. It’s just going to take a little adjusting for everyone. “Mama will come around.”

“I hope so.” She bows her head, chewing on her bottom lip.

I drive us around to the back and pull the side by side in the barn at the B&B. We sit in silence for a moment before I turn and look at her. “I’m sorry for that. I truly expected a different reaction from them both.”

Sweetly, she places her hand on top of mine. “It’s okay. I honestly didn’t know we were telling them about the baby right away. I thought maybe I’d meet them first, and then you’d mention it later when I wasn’t around to feel their wrath.” She falls silent.

“I’m so sorry. Stupid decision on my part, but I think Mama already had it figured out. She’s as smart as a whip, and not much gets past her. Though you’re the first girl I’ve ever brought to lunch, so I should’ve expected her to suspect something. I was just so excited for them to meet you, I didn’t think it through.”

“It’s fine. At least they know, and we can move on, I guess.” River isn’t happy, and I hate knowing I disappointed her.

We get out and walk toward the back porch of the B&B, and I don’t want to leave her, not in this state, but I have to get back to work, or I’ll never hear the end of it. Just as the thought crosses my mind, I get a phone call. I pull my phone from my pocket and see it’s Dylan.

“Yes?” I answer.

“Where the fuck are you? I need help getting this hay in the middle barn loft. I can’t do this shit alone. I need you to go pick up the trailer and bring it over so we can load this shit and be done with the day.”

“I’ll be right there,” I tell him.

River turns and looks at me. “Is that Dylan?”

I nod.

“Tell him hi for me!” River says, and she’s smiling again—thankfully.

“I heard her,” he tells me. “Tell her I said hey and that your ass needs to leave right now before I drive over there and drag you back.”

All I can do is laugh. “Okay, okay. I’m heading that way. Give me fifteen minutes.”

I walk River inside, up the stairs, and to her room. Yawning, she sits on the edge of the bed, kicking off her shoes. There’s nothing more I wanna do right now than pull her into my arms and hold her until the sun goes down. It’s barely past one, and I’m sure she’s exhausted from everything we did today.

“So I guess we have a lot of planning to do. When does your plane leave?” There are so many questions to ask, but I feel like I have zero time to get them all out, especially with Dylan waiting for me.

She lies back on the bed. Her blonde hair surrounds her face, and she looks so damn beautiful. She folds her hands over her belly, and I smile at the small bump forming on her petite frame. I blink hard making sure I’m not imagining any of this because since I saw her at the diner, I’ve been in a dream state.

“Tomorrow at twelve. I didn’t initially plan to stay very long. Get in, get out type of thing because I didn’t know what your reaction would be. Plus, I have to be back to work on Wednesday.” She props herself up on one elbow and looks at me with so much passion in her eyes I’m forced to hold myself back. She has no clue what she does to me with just one glance. I ball my hands into fists and tell myself I can’t do the things I want to do. But if I could, I’d lay her down, make sweet love to her, then fuck her really good for making me wait this long.

“Okay,” I say, my eyes wandering up and down her body. “Oh, we’re planning a surprise birthday party for Mama next month, so my entire family will be there, and I’d really like you to be there, too.”

River sits up straight. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, considering she hates me.”

I sit next to her, needing to touch her in some way, just to make sure she’s really here. I face her and grab her soft hands in mine.

“It’s a really big deal. Mama’s turning fifty. All my aunts, uncles, and cousins are coming. Even the ones who have to travel from hours away. I’d really love for you to meet everyone, so we can share our news. Don’t know the next time we’ll all be together again.”

She chews her bottom lip, stewing it over. “Well, I can’t make any promises, Alex. If I can, I will, but I have to go back to Wisconsin first and make arrangements. Pack up my apartment. Find a moving company. Put in my two weeks’ notice and see if a transfer close is even available before coming back here. I don’t even know where I’m going to stay or what I’m taking with me. There’s so much up in the air right now that I don’t feel like I can commit to anything, even if it’s a month away. A lot can happen in such a short time, so I just don’t want to disappoint you.” I can hear the worry in her voice.

“Darlin’, don’t worry about anything here. I promise I’m going to work on all that and have it settled before you come back. And let me say, the sooner, the better. I honestly wish you didn’t have to go back at all.”

She nods, her green eyes meeting mine, and I can’t stop myself any longer. I pull her to my chest, my mouth magnetized to hers. River sighs against my lips, and her body melts into mine as we kiss slowly and passionately, not rushing. I want to take all the time I can with her because this moment seems too good to be true. When we finally break apart, her chest rises and falls, and I watch as she swallows hard.

“Sorry,” I whisper, knowing I’ve crossed her boundaries once again.

What we had in Key West, that insane connection, is still here and is as strong as ever.

Smirking, I stand. “I have a feeling I’m going to be apologizing for doing things like that a lot.”

“We’re supposed to be taking it slow, remember?” She chuckles.

I shrug. “I know. But it’s hard when I finally have what I’ve been missing all these months,” I admit.

“Yeah, what’s that?” River raises an eyebrow and studies me.

“You.”

Before we can get too caught up in each other, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I realize I’ve lost track of time again. I reject the call. Dylan needs to find a little patience and give me a fucking break.

“Dylan and I will get your car from the diner and park it downstairs for you, so you don’t have to leave any sooner for the airport than you have to.”

River stands, digs in her bag, and hands me the keys. “That’d be great considering I have no idea how to get to the diner from here. Since my flight leaves at noon, I should be there around ten.”

“I wish you didn’t have to go,” I tell her and watch her face soften.

“It won’t be forever,” she reminds me as she hands over the keys. Leaning forward, I kiss her on the cheek before telling her goodbye—something I already hate doing.

“I’ll come back after work if that’s okay.”

“I’d love that,” she says, walking back to the bed. “I think I’m going to read for a while and maybe take a nap until you come back.”

“Okay, darlin’. Sweet dreams.” I smile before walking out. As soon as I’m in the hallway, I send Dylan a text and let him know I’m on my way to get the trailer then I’ll meet him. All I get in return is a middle finger emoji.

It takes me no time at all to drive to the middle pasture where the large storage barn is. Bales of hay are plopped on top of each other in the entryway, and I back in the old work truck and trailer. Slamming the door shut, I get out and yell, “I’m back, asshole!”

“’Bout damn time!” he says, throwing another bale of hay from the loft above. It hits the ground with a thud, causing dust to rise. I put on my gloves and begin loading them on the trailer until it’s full. It’s backbreaking work, but I welcome the distraction.

Once we’ve got the truck packed down, Dylan climbs down the ladder.

“So, how’s Daddy doin’?” he teases. When I told him earlier, he wasn’t shocked at all, but it hasn’t stopped him from giving me shit and making daddy jokes all damn day. I don’t imagine that will stop anytime soon, either.

“Shut the hell up,” I tell him as we climb into the truck.

“How’d it go today?” He turns the heater on full blast and places his hands over the vent.

“Mama wasn’t happy about it. Shoulda probably told her alone.”

“She’ll get over it, though. Remember that time Jackson thought he knocked up that preacher’s daughter? Remember how angry she was? I thought she was gonna grab a shotgun and hunt Jackson down.”

I chuckle, completely forgetting about that. “Yeah. I remember now. But she was pissed because she heard it through the grapevine at church and not Jackson’s mouth. So it’s kinda different.”

We drive down the rock road, kicking dust up in our wake, and head over to the B&B to unload the hay into the stables. Considering the group of riders will be back within the hour, Dylan and I make quick work of it and stack hay in the feed room until it’s full. After we’re done, we drive around the property and drop hay for the horses and cows. It takes more time than I predicted, but that’s to be expected when there’s so much land to cover.

Before we call it quits for the day, I ask Dylan if he’ll ride with me to get River’s car. Rolling his eyes, he agrees. We drop the work vehicles back at the barn and take my truck to the diner. The sun is setting in the distance, and I know we don’t have much time before darkness falls. Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot. When I see Mrs. Betty inside wiping a table down and getting ready to close, I decide to step in really quick.

“Hey, honey!” she says with a big wide smile.

“Hey, Mrs. Betty.” I give her a hug. “Can I order a piece of chocolate cake to go? Actually, make it two.”

“Sure thing.” She walks around the counter and cuts two huge slices and places them in boxes, then bags it. I hand her a twenty and tell her to keep the change.

“You always spoil me,” she tells me. “Is that for your lady?” Her eyebrows raise as she waits for my answer.

“Yes, ma’am. The other piece is for Mama.”

“I’m sure there’s a story behind that one. You’ll have to come see me sometime this week and fill me in,” Betty says just as someone walks up to pay their check. I promise her I will and make my way out the door.

“I’m not driving that,” Dylan says, pointing to the Prius. “My dick may actually fall off if I even sit in that thing.”

I hand him the keys to my truck. “Hopefully your dick will be okay with that.”

Unlocking the car, I walk over to it and shake my head, understanding why Dylan was so reluctant. As soon as I open the door and attempt to sit, I search around the seat to slide it back so my legs have more room. Once I’ve adjusted the seat and mirrors, I press the button to crank it but can’t hear the engine. I don’t have to search around for the lights because they turn on as soon as the engine roars to life. Seriously, what is this futuristic shit? I put it in reverse and step on the gas, and it moves, but I’m not convinced the damned thing is even on.

The whole way back to the ranch, I can smell her shampoo, and it causes my mind to wander back to the beach. That really was a trip of a lifetime that changed both our lives forever.

I turn onto the country road that leads to the ranch, and Dylan follows close behind me. Instead of going straight to the B&B, I turn on the long driveway that leads to my parents' house where Dylan’s truck is parked. When I get out with a to-go box and plastic fork in my hand, he looks at me confused.

“I’m gonna be a while. I have to talk to my Mama before going to see River. I have an apology to make for being disrespectful.”

Dylan hands me my keys and walks toward his truck. “You better apologize then. Mama can make your life heaven or hell, and you ought to know by now you get more bees with honey than vinegar.”

“Story of my life. See you tomorrow!” I tell him as I walk up the sidewalk that leads to the front door. Before stepping in, I inhale a deep breath, say a little prayer, and hope I can smooth this over. Pushing my ego to the side, I turn the doorknob and enter.

Mama is sitting on the couch with a blanket on her lap watching one of those cheesy movies on the Hallmark Channel that always fades to black.

She glances at me then focuses on the TV.

“Hey, Mama,” I say sweetly, sitting next to her on the couch.

“Hey, baby.” She speaks, but she doesn’t look back at me. The tension in the room is so thick, I could cut it with a knife.

“I’m sorry for being short earlier. You raised me better than that.” I hand her the piece of cake and fork.

She opens the box and immediately smiles. “Trying to sweeten me up with Betty’s cake? Your father taught you right.”

Before she even asks, I walk to the kitchen, pour a big glass of cold milk, and return to the living room. “I just want us to be okay. That’s all. I don’t like going to bed angry. Something you taught me a long time ago.”

“Sit,” she demands, taking the milk willingly. “Listen to me, son. I love you no matter what. Okay? I’ll always love you and your brothers and sister. Knowing that you’re all going to start having kids of your own makes me realize that you’re no longer my babies, that you’re growing up, and moving on.”

I open my mouth to speak, and she lifts her mighty finger to stop me.

“I always wanted you all to have a better life than I had. Than your father had. I wanted you to experience everything you possibly could, but most of all, I want you to be happy.”

“Mama, I’m so happy. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life right now. And that’s why it’s so important to have your acceptance. I want Dad’s approval, too. It hurts me to know that you’re disappointed in me or in the situation or that you don’t like the woman who’s carrying your grandbaby.”

She takes a bite of cake and closes her eyes as she chews. Betty’s cake is the best in six counties; even Mama knows it.

“Honey, I don’t know her. How can I not like someone I don’t know? I just thought you’d settle with some sweet Southern girl who has the same values as us, not someone from a different world. But I’ve had to realize that’s not my choice, that’s yours. However, I was shocked today. It took me by surprise that’s all. Out of all my sons, I didn’t think you’d be the one to be in this situation right now. If anyone, I thought it’d be Jackson, honestly.”

That makes me laugh because she really has no idea. Jackson talks a big talk, but he doesn’t walk the walk. He’s a loose cannon on most days.

“I know, Mama. But I thought you’d be happy to hear I’m doing the right thing. We’re going to do this together and be a family, which strangely enough, is all I want. She came here to tell me she was pregnant and keeping the baby but didn’t expect anything from me, just thought I deserved to know. I begged her to move here so I could be involved. She’s leaving the only life she’s ever known to be with me because that’s the best chance we have of having something real.”

She blinks, taking in everything I’ve just said, and her shoulders visibly relax. “Do you love her?” she asks.

It takes me less than a second to respond. “Yes, Mama. I think I do.” Memories of us together flash through my mind. The way River’s face looks when she laughs and how pretty she is when she’s sleeping are all I can think about. I try to imagine my life without her in it, and it’s just not possible. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my life.”

The corner of her lips tilts up. “That’s good enough for me, son. Come here,” Mama says, setting the cake on the coffee table. She opens her arms, and I fall into them.

“I love you, Alex.”

“I love you, too, Mama. I always will.”