"Alright, everyone. Take your places." Jake crossed his arms and stood feet apart in an imposing stance.
Danny grinned, tossing the football in the air and catching it while they waited.
"Ready, dude?" Jake uncrossed his arms and gestured to Magnus who strolled over to Autumn's brothers.
His cocked his eyebrow and put up a hand. Danny tossed him the ball and stepped back, giving him a wide area to throw.
"You know what to do?" Jake asked, the flinty look in his eye telling Magnus this damn challenge was for real. Not to be underestimated.
Magnus strode to the starting point.
"Two tires?"
Jake shrugged. "You married my little sister before the challenge. The second one is a penalty. You opting out?"
Magnus scoffed. "Hell no."
That earned him a grin from both brothers.
"Ok, then. Let's do this." Bellowed Jake as he backed up, giving Magnus room.
The goal was to make it through both tires. That was it.
Three more siblings came out of the house, their expressions amused.
Matt looked more relaxed than he'd ever seen him. The FBI agent nodded at him with a grin. Magnus smirked back in good humor.
Autumn's two sisters strolled toward her, Giovanna putting her arm around her younger sister with an eye roll toward the men. Cynthia, who was an older, more serious version of Autumn, crossed her arms and lifted a brow at the guys.
Magnus rolled the ball before moving into position; he glanced at his wife who had her palms together, fingers on her lips focused intently on him.
He winked at her, and she smiled, the one she saved for him, and suddenly he was fucking invincible.
One smile from his woman and he could conquer the entire goddamned world, let alone throw a football through a couple of tires.
He eyed the round open space of the first tire, shifting slightly as he aligned the second in his sight, drew back his arm holding the ball and pitched it with one powerful launch.
It sailed through both tires without touching the sides.
There was stunned silence.
Then the whoops filled the air.
Danny laughed, clapping his back.
Jake put out his hand, pulling Magnus into a bro hug.
"Welcome to the family, man."
He looked over at Autumn who was pulled into a sisters' hug.
Clay stood next to Matt, their arms crossed, shaking their heads, both grinning.
Over everyone, he saw two people appear from around the house, and he walked over to Autumn, taking her hand as she gave him a congratulatory kiss.
“I love you.” She whispered, and he brushed his lips along hers, tasting her breath, her declaration, her sweet surrender, whispering his own words of love.
He turned with her to the new arrivals, not letting go of her hand as he greeted them.
"Mom, Patrick. Glad you could make it."
He slid an arm around his mom, holding her tight, while still holding onto Autumn's hand. He pulled his brother into a hug, clapping him on the back.
He grinned and pulled Autumn against him, looking down at her.
"This is Autumn."
The words were simple, but his voice held all the love and wonder he felt.
When he looked up his mom and brother were staring at him in shock until his mother shook her head and stepped up to wrap her arms around her new daughter-in-law.
"You are a miracle, my dear, an absolute miracle."
His younger brother smiled wide, shaking his head. "When you finally move, you don't waste any time, brother." He said, looking at Autumn after he'd given her a big hug. "But I can see why."
She blushed, biting her lip, as she glanced at Magnus. He kissed her hand, holding her eyes that had always enthralled him, had held him captive from the very first moment he'd met her standing in the snow in those clunky boots.
She'd taken the wind out of his sails and had woken him from the stupor he'd lived in for years. He had been fixated on the past, so had continued to live his life in the past. She had given him back his life, all the possibilities he had refused to see.
His mother blinked back tears as she looked from her son to his wife. "I always knew you'd find her." She said softly.
The sun was lowering toward the horizon and the golden glow blended with a pink light. Magnus held Autumn's hand as they strolled through the backyard with their families.
Soon Jamie arrived and they all sat down to an al fresco dinner and afterwards, opened a six foot stack of wedding presents from friends and family.
Magnus looked around the long table. Family.
It had been a long and painful journey to get to this place. He had been a stubborn bastard and it had taken a woman who was just as stubborn to open his eyes.
He slid his fingers through Autumn's. She didn't stop in her conversation with Danny and Jamie but leaned her head against his shoulder and rested her hand on his chest, over his heart. The band of steel that had squeezed so much life out of it had finally snapped off, dissolving in the only thing that had ever mattered. Love. Of this woman and of a family that had always been there, waiting for him to remember and to let go.
Heart of Steele Page 19
