Jaimi shifted restlessly, holding Emily's hand tightly as Dane guided them through the crowd. People had thick blankets spread out on the snow, beach chairs, and there were portable heaters set up everywhere. There was a huge stage set up, and there were men and women in black jackets wandering around on it, making sure the equipment was in order.

For a town the size of Rogue Valley, she was surprised at how many people were present. Travis Turner apparently could draw crowds no matter how small the population was. There was smoke pouring into the air from the barbeque that was cranking out food for the crowd. She could smell the fire, and people were milling around, chatting happily.

It seemed like everyone knew each other. Wistfulness settled deep inside her, a yearning for a life where she felt so connected. She loved her small condo in Boston, but there was no sense of community like there was here. She nudged Dane. "Does everyone here know each other, or does it just seem like it?"

He smiled over at her. "Some of both. Folks come from all over for this festival, but they usually come with family and friends, so there's a lot of connections between people."

She instinctively moved closer to him, her only anchor. She wasn't accustomed to being around so many people in such togetherness. She was used to being super tight with her mom and Emily, three generations of women sticking together and supporting each other, no matter what. This was different, and she didn't know how to fit in, or how to act, probably because none of them were her family or friends, and she felt weirdly isolated even though she was in a crowd.

She grabbed Emily's hand tighter, using Dane as her shield against her solitariness. Dane looked over at her, his eyes narrowed as he studied her face. Then he closed the distance between them, and set his hand on her lower back, just as he'd done before when they'd been walking toward the bouncy house. And, just like before, the mere feel of his hand on her back made her take a deep, shuddering breath as she felt her entire body settle.

There was something about being around Dane, about being connected with him, that made her feel grounded. Safe. Happy, even. She snuck a glance at him. He seemed to catch her movement, because he immediately turned his head to look at her, shooting her a genuine smile that made it impossible for her not to smile back.

She was still smiling when she turned her head back toward the crowd, then lost her smile when she saw a cluster of men, women, and kids camped out in the front row by the stage. She didn't have to ask. She knew instantly it was the Stocktons. Chase looked just like his picture, tall and strong, as he held a toddler and spoke to another man who looked similar to him.

Emily sucked in her breath and gripped Jaimi's hand. "It's them," she whispered. "There are so many." She sounded awed, and a little afraid.

Jaimi stopped. "This is wrong. We can't do this."

Dane stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the Stocktons. "Hey, sweetheart, it's okay."

"It's not okay. Did you see Emily? She's afraid. This is wrong. I can't leave her with these strangers. We don't even know—"

"They're not strangers. They're your family."

Jaimi took a step back. "They aren't my family. Emily's my family. They are just strangers who we don't even know. Look at them! They all know each other! They spent their lives together! I'm just this shadow that exists on the periphery of their world that they don't even know about and don't need to know about. I—"

Dane set his hands on her cheeks, and her panicked words faded. "Hey," he said gently. "Take a deep breath."

God, his hands felt so good. Like amazingly good. Like, she wanted to melt into him and just let him be her strength.

"Breathe," he said again. "You can do it."

Jaimi did as he instructed, inhaling long and slow, trying to slow the pounding of her heart. "This doesn't feel right," she whispered.

He started to move his hands away, and she grabbed his wrist with her free hand. "No, not that. That feels great." He smiled and lightly traced his fingers along her jaw again. "Meeting them feels wrong. Leaving Emily with them. It doesn't feel right."

"Mom."

Jaimi took a deep breath and looked down at her daughter. "What's up, pumpkin?"

"I don't want to leave. I want to meet them." Emily stared up at her, with big blue eyes that were both afraid and vulnerable. "Don't make us leave."

Oh, God. Really, with the puppy dog eyes? "Do you do that on purpose? The puppy dog eyes?"

Emily nodded. "Is it working?"

Jaimi started laughing. "God, you're impossible."

Emily grinned. "That's what Gram says. She said I am supposed to say thank you when you say that."

"And that you should." Jaimi looked at Dane. "I can't do this alone," she whispered.

He nodded. "I've got you." He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, a kiss that was over before it started, and yet somehow managed to calm her down. Then he took her free hand and enveloped it in his warm, strong grip. "Let's go, ladies."

They headed forward again, one of Jaimi's hands held tightly by her daughter, and the other firmly ensconced in Dane's reassuring hand. As they got closer and closer to the Stocktons, she kept gripping his hand even more tightly. Her chest got tight, and she edged closer to Dane, so their shoulders were bumping. Emily moved closer to her as well, her steps getting smaller and smaller.

"Okay, hang on." Dane finally stopped and turned toward them. He held out his arms to Emily. "Come here, Em."

Relief flashed over Emily's face and she reached for Dane. He swept her up in his arms, tucking her against his hip as Jaimi had done so many times with Emily over the years. Then he slung his other arm around Jaimi's shoulder and pulled her against his side, nestling her snugly against him.

Instinctively, Jaimi slid her arm around his lean waist, locking them together.

He grinned at them both. "Good?"

They both nodded. Emily looked less nervous, and Jaimi definitely felt more secure. Maybe she didn't actually belong the way the rest of the people in the crowd did, but Dane certainly was a fixture here, and having him claim them made her feel secure. At least, secure enough that she didn't run screaming toward her rental car like a raving lunatic, which was always a good thing.

"Let's go, then." Dane started walking toward the Stocktons again, taking Emily and Jaimi with him.

Jaimi's tension mounted as they neared, but she kept her attention focused on the feel of Dane's body against hers, on the weight of his arm around her shoulders. Just as they were almost there, Chase noticed them. She tensed, half expecting this monumental, emotional moment, but her oldest brother simply raised his hand in casual greeting to Dane, nodded at her, and then turned to say something to one of his brothers.

She could not keep the disappointment from surging through her, but just as she felt her shoulders sag, Dane pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "He doesn't know who you are," he said quietly. "If he did, you would already be wrapped up in a hug so tight you probably wouldn't be able to breathe for a week. You know that, right?"

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I know." She had known that even before Dane had reminded her, but just hearing him say it made her feel better. "Thank you."

He winked at her, and something inside her belly jumped. Then he nodded past her. "Ready?"

Oh, God. "No."

"Too late." He looked past her. "Chase. Hey. What's up?"

Jaimi sucked in her breath and turned her head to look in front of her. Chase, her brother, her brother, was walking toward them, still holding the toddler. His eyes were the same radiant blue as Emily's. For a moment, she started to panic, then Dane gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze, giving her the strength not to collapse into the snow on the spot. "Hey, Chase. I'd like you to meet Jaimi Hamilton and her daughter Emily. Ladies, please meet Chase and his son J.J."

Chase's son. That meant the little boy was her nephew. God. She had a nephew? Emily had a cousin? She hadn't thought of that, of more than brothers. Tears threatened again, and Dane began to play with her hair, a light reassuring touch that helped her regain control.

Chase nodded at them both. He gave Jaimi a curious look, his gaze going to Dane's arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders, before flicking back to her face. "Nice to meet you, Jaimi." He held out his hand, and Jaimi sort of felt like she was going to pass out as she reached out and shook the hand of her oldest brother, for the very first time in her life.