“What were her words exactly?” Chloe asks for the third time.

I repeat myself again. “I’m pregnant.”

“Wow. I can’t believe it. I’m going to be an aunt. Aunt Chloe,” she whispers, pacing across the room. When she makes it to the other side, she spins around. “You’re going to be a dad.”

Dad.

I didn’t sleep a wink after Adley left last night. All night all I thought about was her and our unborn baby, and it still hasn’t sunk in.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not going to screw this up.”

She shakes her head. “I wasn’t thinking that at all.”

“You weren’t?”

“No.” Chloe walks over and grabs my hand. “You’re going to be a great dad. This baby is lucky to have you.”

“You think?”

“I know,” she confirms. “You practically raised me, Linc. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have the things I do, including a college education.”

“Chloe—”

“No, it’s true. You had a shit life growing up. You know first-hand what it’s like to have parents who don’t care. Yet you made sure I was fed and clean and clothed. You took care of me like I was your own, and I know you’ll do an even better job with your own child because you’re actually an adult now. I know you’ll never let your child feel an ounce of the pain we’ve felt.”

She’s right. I’d kill myself before I ever brought pain into my child’s life. The only thing I can think about is giving this baby and Adley a perfect, beautiful life.

“You’re right. And that doesn’t just go for the baby; it goes for Adley as well. But first, I have to win her back.”

“What are you going to do?”

“The only thing I can.”

Her eyes narrow. “And that is…”

“I’m going to prove to her that I love her and this baby, and I want us to be a family.”

“And how are you going to do that?”

“I’m going to start by coming clean with Rhett.”

Chloe’s eyes widen. “Oh boy.”

“It’s going to be fine.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

Rolling my eyes, I ignore her comment. “I’m going to need you to take care of Dad for a while.”

“Okay,” she says a little too quickly.

“Okay?”

She nods. “Dad and I had a long talk last night after you dropped him off at home. It’s going to take a lot to fix our relationship, and I don’t even know how fixable it is, but I’m willing to work on it if he is.”

This is huge.

I pull her in for a hug. “I’m proud of you, Chloe.”

She answers by tightening her arms around my shoulders.

Several seconds pass, and then I pull back. “You’re sure you’ll be okay managing Dad? Because I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone.”

“Positive. I promise to call if there’s a problem.”

“Okay. I better get going. I’m meeting Rhett in Heaven at Dirty Dicks in an hour.”

“Want me to come with you? You know, for moral support—or maybe to identify the body?”

I scowl, and she laughs.

“What? That was funny. But I really am being serious. He’s going to kill you.”

God, I hope not.

* * *

Rhett nods at me from his spot behind the bar. He’s standing next to his twin brother, Cooper. Most people can’t tell them apart, but it’s never been a problem for me. Probably because I ran around with Rhett for almost a year before I met his brother.

“Well, well, well… Look what the cat dragged in,” Rhett says, leaning his elbows on the wooden counter.

“You actually let this fucker behind your bar?” I say to Cooper, feigning shock.

“Fuck no, I don’t let him. Ever since he moved back to town, he just keeps showing up. I don’t have the heart to kick him out, but feel free to take him back to Houston with you.”

Rhett punches Coop in the arm, but Cooper just laughs.

“Mo would murder you if she heard you say that,” Rhett tells him.

“Well, then, it’s a good thing the ol’ ball and chain isn’t here now, isn’t it?”

Rhett tries to punch Coop again, but this time Coop evades him.

“You just wait, brother. One of these days some girl is going to come along and knock you on your ass, and you’ll be on the receiving end for once.”

“Not gonna happen. Settling down is the furthest thing from my mind. There’s nothing better than being a bachelor. I bet Linc here feels the same way.” Coop looks over at me.

“Actually, that’s what I came to talk to you about.”

“Son of a bitch. Not you too.” Coop shakes his head, grabs a bottle of beer from the cooler, pops the top, and holds it out to me. “Seems like this might be necessary this evening.”

I take the beer and tilt the longneck at him before taking a drink.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Lincoln Bennett, self-proclaimed bachelor, might finally settle down. Who’s the lucky girl? Anyone I know?”

Here goes nothing. “Let’s grab a booth, and I’ll tell you about her.”

“Sean, cover the bar.” Coop waves one of his bartenders over, and we head to a table.

I wasn’t planning to have this conversation with two of Adley’s brothers. But I guess it’s better to get it over with now. We take a seat at a table in the back.

Funny enough, the last time we were here, I sat at this same table with Rhett and Coop and their younger brother, Trevor. Their older brother, Beau, was on the phone via Skype. Rhett asked Coop to be his best man and the rest of us to be groomsmen. Of course we gave him shit for settling down, but secretly we were all happy for him.

But it’s a good thing we haven’t ordered our tuxes yet, because he’s liable to rescind that offer to me after our conversation.

“All right, let’s have it,” Rhett says, leaning back in his chair. “But please tell me you didn’t knock up some buckle bunny.”

I flinch. Damn, he almost hit the nail on the head. Adley would die if she heard her brother call her a buckle bunny. “Nope, didn’t knock up a buckle bunny. But I did find a girl.”

He cocks his head to the side. “Yeah? Is it serious?”

I nod. “I’m in love with her.”

“Shit. First Rhett, then Trevor, and now you? I don’t think this could get any worse.”

“Don’t say that just yet,” I say, taking a drink of my beer.

“What do you mean?” Rhett asks hesitantly. “Who did you fall for?”

I take a deep breath, expecting to need to build up courage to speak. But surprisingly, it comes out easy. “Adley.”

Rhett blinks.

Cooper chokes, spewing beer across the table.

I lean back in my chair and hold my arms out. “I’m in love with your sister. Like, crazy fucking in love with her. Flowers and hearts and all that shit. She’s the one. She’s it for me.”

Rhett blinks again. “Adley?”

I nod.

“My baby sister, Adley.”

I nod again.

This time, Rhett grins and turns to Coop. “You owe me a hundred bucks. Pay up, brother.”

I watch, stunned, as Coop digs his wallet out of his back pocket, pulls out a hundred-dollar bill, and slaps it into Rhett’s hand.

“I’m confused.”

Rhett holds the money up triumphantly and pulls at each end, making it snap. “I knew you two were sneaking around. I tried to tell Coop, but he didn’t believe me. So we made a bet.”

“How’d you know?”

“Because you look at her the same way I look at Mo. Noticed it several months ago.”

“And you’re not mad?”

His smile dies. “Fuck, yeah. I’m pissed. That’s my little sister, asshole.”

“I think there’s some written rule that we have to kick your ass,” Cooper adds.

“Shit.” I run my hands over my head, and Rhett starts laughing.

“We’re kidding.”

“You are?”

Rhett knits his brow. “Why do you look so surprised?”

“Because five years ago you told me she was off limits.”

“Five years ago we were cocky punks who’d just landed spots on the PBR. I didn’t want you anywhere near her.”

“I’m not that guy anymore.” I haven’t been since long before Adley came into my life.

“I know you’re not. That’s why I’m happy for you.”

They might change their mind when they find out she’s pregnant, but that’s a conversation Adley and I should have with them together.

“What would you have done if we’d been mad?” Coop asks.

“Honestly? Nothing. As much as I want your family’s blessing, I don’t need it. I love your sister, and I wouldn’t let a damn thing come between us.”

“Good answer.” Coop reaches across the table and shakes my hand. “Welcome to the family.”

“Don’t say that just yet…”

I finish my beer and tell them everything that happened at the hospital the other night. When I’m done, Rhett blows out a slow whistle.

“Damn. What’s your plan?” Coop asks.

“That’s where you guys come in. I’ve got some ideas, but I’m going to need help, because whatever I do, it has to be big.”

“Anything,” Coop says.

I turn to Rhett. His eyes are intense. “You love her?”

I nod. “More than I’ve loved anyone.”

“You’ll treat her right?”

“Like a queen.”

He nods, accepting my answers. “She’s going to make you work for it.”

“I don’t mind a little work.”

“How far are you willing to go?”

“Whatever it takes.”

He drains his beer and sets it on the table. “Good, because I’ve got an idea.”