Josie watched Evan hoist the ninth kid to his shoulders, amazed that he was still grinning.

"He'll make a great dad."

She turned to find her sister Rose sitting beside her. "Hey, Rose. How are you feeling?"

Rose patted her expanding belly. "I'll feel better in three weeks when I can move again." She propped her chin up on her hands. "He's great with the kids."

"Isn't he? I don't think he has much experience around them, but he's a natural." Josie returned to watching Evan. "He has this big bluster he puts on of being all dignified and bossy, but I think he's a softie underneath."

"You have a knack for finding the softie in every guy," Rose said.

Josie stiffened. "This isn't like my other men."

Her sister patted her hand. "Oh, relax, Josie. I meant it as a compliment."

"I'm not involved with him."

Rose snorted. "Are you still on that kick? Give me a break, Josie. Anyone can tell how you feel about him. You haven't taken your eyes off him since you got here."

"I just don't want him to be overwhelmed by this family."

"And he doesn't go more than a minute without checking for you."

Josie felt a thud in her belly. "Really?"

Rose grinned. "Yep."

"We're not involved."

"And I'm not pregnant."

Josie glowered at her sister. "Don't start with me."

"I heard he's paying for vet school."

She froze. Had Evan told her mom about their bet? That would be so humiliating. "He offered," she said carefully.

"What a gem. Marry him now," Rose sighed. "Plus, he's so handsome."

She was going to protest the marriage thing, but before she could respond, the backyard erupted in laughter. She whipped around to see Evan literally dripping, his suit hanging from his body in limp protest. Two of her brothers were standing behind him, holding the trashcan that had been filled with ice water for the drinks. The trashcan was empty and the ice littered the ground by Evan's feet. Dear God. For a split second, all she could do was be grateful that her most eccentric brother, Les, who tended to overreact with axes when he got upset, was still off on a goat farm in Vermont, finding inner peace.

Then she saw the look on Evan's face, and she forget about her brother. "Oh, God. He'll be furious. His suits are really expensive." She started to rise, only to have Rose pull her back down.

"Don't interfere, Josie. This is a male bonding thing."

"Are you kidding?"

"While Evan's wearing a suit, he doesn't belong. Just watch."

Josie was afraid she'd see Evan lay her brothers out on the grass. Sure, her brothers were big, but Evan was bigger.

But he didn't get mad. He just turned to her brothers and held his hands out in defeat. "You got me."

And then he laughed. Laughed! His gorgeous suit was ruined, and he was laughing?

One of her brothers clapped Evan on the shoulder. "I told them you'd be a sport. Come on inside. You can borrow some of Jack's clothes. He lives here and he's about your size."

Evan socked her brother in the shoulder, then followed him inside, peeling off his tie as he went. "I had no idea," she whispered.

"No idea what?" Rose picked up a piece of watermelon.

"That he could relax like this. He seems so rigid."

"He likes our family. That's a good sign if you're going to marry him."

"If I'm what?" She jerked her eyes off the backdoor Evan had disappeared through.

"Sorry. When you marry him. Don't get so testy." Rose grimaced. "Bathroom run. I'll be back in a sec."

She waddled across the yard before Josie could protest. Marriage? To Evan? No chance of that ever happening. Before she could list all the reasons why she'd never marry Evan, one of her nieces demanded that she braid her hair.

Josie had just wrapped the elastic around the end when Evan walked outside. Wearing jeans, boots and an old tee shirt of her brothers. He looked rugged, tough, and fit in perfectly with her family. With his suit, he was a perfect match for his house, but now? He looked so natural as he joined the whiffle ball game and wrestled one of her fourteen-year-old nephews to the ground as they fought for the ball, the boy howling with joyful outrage.

Tom had never fit in with her family like this, even after seven years. He'd always thought they were a little crazy and a little overwhelming, and all the kids had annoyed him. She'd suspected that some of his work-conflicts had just been an excuse not to attend the family gatherings.

But Evan? He'd cancelled meetings to come.

Damn the man.

How was she supposed to have an affair with him if she was actually starting to like him?

He was ruining all her plans.