Thank You For Loving Me

by Lori Ryan

  Grant barked with laughter. “Excellent news.” The asshole leaned down and kissed Devlin on the cheek.

  Max slid her behind him. He would have more than that tonight, he’d make sure. “All right, jackass, go steal someone else’s girl.”

  The doorbell rang again, and thankfully Grant strolled off.

  Devlin squirmed in his arms, her smile falling. Shit, he’d gone too far.

  “I’m sorry, I—”

  “Devlin,” Maggie called from the other side of the room. Max noticed Kayleigh was now standing beside her. “Do you want to see Ben’s suit?”

  “Uh,” Devlin stuttered, “yeah, sure.” Devlin glanced at Max and he had the sense she was pulling back.

  Yep. He’d pushed when he should have given her more space.

  He forced lightness to his tone. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He released her and watched as she walked away. Just before she reached the stairs, Devlin glanced over her shoulder and gave him a tentative wave. He needed to rein it in if he had a chance for longer than just the weekend with her.

  “Dude,” Grant returned to his side, bumping Max’s shoulder, “you’ve got it bad. I’ve never seen you like this.”

  “Like what?” Max asked, his eyes watching as Devlin walked up the stairs.

  Grant laughed. “All goo goo over a girl.”

  “Lily!” Maggie shouted, waving her hand. “Come with us.”

  Lily popped up like she’d been electrocuted by the chair she was sitting on and Max wondered why the hell they’d all want to see a suit. He’d probably never understand women.

  “Dude, what’s the story with that Kayleigh chick?” Grant asked as Jake walked up. “She’s a vet, right?”

  “Yeah,” Jake said.

  “She’s smokin’ hot,” Grant said, fanning himself. “I nearly fell to the floor when I opened the door just a minute ago.”

  Ben and Emmett had joined them and they burst into laughter along with Max, even though they all knew Grant’s interest was fake. He was into one woman, and one woman only. His estranged wife.

  “What?” Jake and Grant asked in unison.

  Ben turned to Emmett. “You’re a writer, Em. How would you describe Dr. Kayleigh Montgomery?” He emphasized the word doctor.

  Emmett glanced at the ceiling and rubbed his chin, feigning deep thought. “In a word?” he asked, lowering his eyes and studying brothers. “A dirty-talking-more-than-you-can-handle chick.”

  “That’s more than one word,” Grant said.

  “I’m a wordsmith, deal with it.” Emmett laughed.

  “Oh, and able to whip Aaron’s ass with one swing,” Ben added. “Probably will before the weekend’s over.”

  “Why?” Grant asked.

  “He offended her a few months ago,” he said. “She holds a grudge. Forever.”

  “It was just a joke,” Aaron said with a shrug.

  “Not to Kayleigh,” Emmett shook his head. “Forever,” he repeated.

  “Oh, Damn.” Grant shook his head. “Big brother Aaron doesn’t stand a chance. I could tell with one look she’s a firecracker.”

  “Yeah,” Ben said. “I think Ma is trying to play matchmaker.”

  “Again,” Emmett said.

  “Worked for you two dip shits,” Grant said, his eyes darting between his brothers.

  Emmett and Ben turned to one another and shrugged, as if falling in love wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

  Emmett cocked his head. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”

  Grant’s smirk fell. “Maybe not for you, but for some of us it is.”

  Grant was estranged from his wife, Sophie Day, a mega pop idol sensation. For some reason unknown to any of them, the couple still wasn’t divorced. Their break-up had been horrible, splattered all over the tabloids with rumors Grant had an affair with a co-star on the movie that had catapulted him into world-wide fame and earned him an Academy Award.

  Max had seen Grant stare at Sophie with the same adoration and love that his brothers showed their fiancées. There was no way he would cheat on Sophie.

  He should ask Grant if they were still talking, if he thought there was any chance they would reconcile. Max knew better than to pry now, though. Grant looked better than he’d looked in a long time. Max didn’t want to bring up memories that could set him back.

  Ben turned to Max. “Jake tells us you’re thinking about taking a position at the University of Colorado in Boulder.”

  Max was thankful for the change of subject, but pissed his brother had shared information that wasn’t his to share. He gave Jake what he hoped was a menacing glare. Jake returned the look. Max forgot that Jake worked in politics. He was used to douchebags.

  “They made an offer,” Max said, noncommittally.

  “What else are you thinking of doing?” Grant asked.

  Max shrugged. Did he want to tell his brothers what he’d been thinking about since before he’d retired?

  “I’m looking at stuff related to my biomedical engineering degree,” he said. There, that wasn’t a lie. He didn’t need to tell them everything he’d been looking into.

  Max had traveled to New York City before returning to Canyon Creek. He’d found several teaching hospitals and colleges in the tri-state area that were doing remarkable things with orthopedic biomechanics. He’d been fascinated by their work.

  “So, you’re not going to stay here?” Ben asked with what sounded almost like disappointment tinging the question. “After the build-out?”

  Max’s long-term dreams had never included Canyon Creek but being close to his family had changed something in him. He wasn’t sure he wanted to leave now.

  “It’s okay,” Ben said, “I didn’t mean to pressure you. I’ve just gotten used to having your ugly ass around here the last few months.”

  Max had to admit, being closer to his family had been good for him as well. Still, he remained noncommittal. “We’ll see.”

  “Max,” a soft voice called behind him.

  Grant’s smile grew. “Well, hello, sweetheart.”

  Max didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Grant was screwing with him, just the same as he’d do to Grant if their positions were switched.

  Devlin’s small hand touched his arm and the sensation raced down to his groin. He couldn’t wait to get her alone tonight. Although logistics would prove difficult, considering he was sleeping in his mother’s house.

  He turned and looked down at her, surprised to find she was white as a ghost and her face gleamed with sweat. “Devlin, are you sick again?” He took her shoulders and pulled her close.

  She shook her head. “Can we, uh…” she glanced around the circle of his brothers. “Can we talk?”

  Max’s stomach clenched. “Uh, sure.” He searched the room, having no idea where to take her for privacy, other than his bedroom. And that was a bad idea seeing as she looked like she might pass out any minute.

  “Everyone!” his mother shouted. “Dinner is ready. Let’s get to the dining room. Aunt Sally has really outdone herself this time.”

  “Oh, hell yeah,” Grant said, pushing past his brothers.

  Everyone moved, except Max and Devlin. Her head fell as she stared at the ground, but Kayleigh interrupted before Max could find out what was going on.

  “Come on girl, let’s eat,” Kayleigh said, sliding her arm around Devlin’s waist, dragging her away. “You look hungry.”

  “Devlin,” Max called as the two women moved away from him.

  She glanced over her shoulder.

  “We’ll talk after dinner?” It was a question and something in the pit of his stomach told him whatever she wanted to talk about couldn’t be good. Was she leaving? Did she not want to do this with him, have any kind of relationship?

  She nodded once and he saw the tears brimming in her eyes.

  “Hell.” He moved to grab Devlin and take her away from Kayleigh but just as he reached them, Maggie scooted Devlin into the hallway bathroom and shut
the door.

  Max stood outside, waiting, listening for any sign Devlin needed him.

  “Come on, dude!” Jake slapped him on the back. “Let’s get in there before Grant eats all of Aunt Sally’s peach cobbler.”

  Max felt sick to his stomach, his appetite gone as he stood outside the bathroom door, wondering what in the hell Devlin wanted to talk about. And why the hell she’d literally shut him out.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Devlin scooted her chair closer to the table, nestled between Maggie and Kayleigh. She’d never felt one hundred percent at ease around people like the Sumners.

  One of the reasons Devlin and Maggie had been friends when they were younger was because other families had seen Devlin as trouble. Maggie’s dad hadn’t been around enough to care, but Devlin had seen the looks passed between other mothers anywhere she went.

  Devlin was the troublemaker. The one who was always getting their kids to do things they didn’t want to. When she’d seen the original Footloose movie, Devlin had identified with the main character, the one whose dad was a minister. That character had always been trying to break free from the shell her father cast around her.

  It was the same way for Devlin. Her dad was the strict military man. The Marine who demanded absolute obedience to a rigid set of rules. Rules he was obviously immune to. In true military-brat fashion, she’d rebelled, a lot. Truth was, she’d always been a little bit wild, and she had her father to thank for that.

  As she looked around the table, she couldn’t help but wonder how the hell had she gotten here, sharing a meal with the entire Sumner family? More importantly the family of the man whose baby she was officially carrying.

  The double stripes on the pregnancy test had been too convincing—on all four tests Kayleigh had purchased.

  Devlin knew her face was a blotchy mess. She hadn’t needed to look in the bathroom mirror earlier. She’d cried her eyes out upstairs, wondering how in the hell she was going to raise a baby. Especially with a man who was as noncommittal as she was. She’d been an idiot to carry this relationship on as long as she had. But there was just something different about Max Sumner.

  As if feeling his eyes on her, Devlin lifted her head, not surprised to see Max staring straight through her from across the table. He’d made a seat for her by his side, but Lily had escorted her between Maggie and Kayleigh. Thank God, these women seemed to know exactly what she needed right now.

  “You’ll be fine.” Kayleigh leaned over, whispering in her ear.

  Devlin felt Maggie squeeze her leg under the table. She turned to look at her best friend. In Maggie’s eyes she found strength and…unconditional love. Whatever Devlin decided to do, Maggie would stand by her. She always had.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered quietly. She’d never wanted to spoil Maggie’s wedding weekend, but between her fiasco of not fitting into her bridesmaid dress and now being knocked up, she was pretty sure she’d totally fucked it up.

  Devlin had always been a screw-up in one way or another, so her father said, but she thought she’d left that behind. As an adult, though, she thought she’d found her footing. She was a renowned photographer. She was a good person, with good friends. She wasn’t that kid anymore.

  She felt like a troublemaking teenager right now, though. Just as lost. Just as confused. Bringing Maggie down with her.

  Maggie patted her leg and gave her a warming smile.

  “We’ll be fine,” she said.

  We. That’s why Devlin loved Maggie Lawrence. She’d always considered Devlin as part of her family.

  “The Sumners are an amazing family,” Maggie said quietly, “this will be okay, you’ll see.”

  Devlin’s eyes scanned the huge dining room table. All the Sumner boys were home, and some of their extended family as well. Could they make room for one more? Devlin glanced down at her stomach. Well, two. Did she even want to be part of this family? As much as she’d deny it, the thought of being surrounded by people like Maggie, who loved you unconditionally, gave her great peace.

  Devlin glanced back at Max, not surprised to see his brows knitted together as he studied her.

  “Dude,” Jake hit his arm, passing a huge bowl of mashed potatoes.

  Max took the bowl, his eyes never leaving Devlin’s.

  Feeling self-conscious under the weight of his stare, she ducked her head and fumbled with her napkin.

  “Devlin, dig in.”

  She raised her head and looked down the table. Valerie Sumner was staring at her. The Sumner matriarch. What would she think of Devlin getting knocked up by her son?

  Devlin reached for the salad bowl, scooping a small amount onto her plate, wondering how the hell she was going to eat anything.

  Maggie pushed a plate of roast beef in front of her.

  Devlin sniffed carefully, judging whether her stomach would be able to handle the food or send her running to the bathroom. Thankfully, she was hit by the delicious aroma and her stomach growled. Devlin grabbed the platter and added several slices to her plate.

  “Dang woman, you eating for two?” Ben snorted.

  Devlin went still as a statue, nearly dropping the plate of roast. Thankfully Maggie grabbed the tray.

  “She had a stomach virus for a week, Ben, you know that.” Maggie scowled at her fiancé. “She’s trying to catch up.” Poor Ben had no idea what the hell was going on.

  That made two of them.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Valerie said.

  Devlin looked at the woman sitting so far away. Valerie’s eyes were warm, her voice so genuine and concerned. She was everything a mother should be. And everything Devlin never could be. Devlin swallowed down a sob.

  Maggie leaned toward Ben’s Aunt Sally, cutting off Devlin’s eyeline to Valerie in the process. “Oh, hey, Sally when will Holly be here?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon,” Sally said. “She put off making reservations until Ivy had her flight information from Paris. The girls had hoped to connect through JFK and fly home together, but Ivy’s connection is actually through Houston for some reason.”

  The table chuckled but Devlin couldn’t find any humor inside her.

  “Do you think she might have some time in the next day or two?” Maggie asked. “We need her to look at Devlin’s dress.”

  “What’s wrong with your dress?” Max asked in an unusual display of concern over fashion.

  “Oh, it’s nothing.” Maggie waved a hand. “The bridal shop messed up her measurements and we need her to make some adjustments.”

  “Oh, that’s awful,” Valerie said.

  “I don’t see why she couldn’t,” Sally said. “I still have all her sewing stuff at home. I’ll have her call you as soon as she gets in. Can you come to my house?”

  Devlin could see the worry in Maggie’s eyes. She was stressed beyond measure. Not only was Maggie trying to plan this wedding and run the huge lodge, now she was trying to shield Devlin and cover up her secret.

  “I can go by myself.” Devlin patted Maggie’s leg.

  “I can take you,” Max offered.

  “Um, no you can’t.” Ben raised both brows as if reminding him of something he didn’t want anyone else to know. Everyone at the table turned to stare at Ben. “I just mean, he’s going to be busy finishing up some last-minute stuff at the barn, right Max?”

  “Oh, uh, yeah.” Max’s eyes widened as if he’d finally figured out Ben’s secret code. “I’ll be busy.”

  Devlin hoped she and the girls were better at covering secrets than the guys were. Because, they sucked at it.

  “Oh, I’ll take you,” Lily said. “That way I can see all my sisters.”

  “Aren’t you busy with planning?” Valerie asked.

  “Oh, please, Aunt Val.” Lily waved a dismissive hand in the air as if she’d been underestimated. “I’ve got it all under control.”

  “She’s good,” Sally said at the other end of the table.

  “You guys should do this professio
nally,” Aaron said.

  “Do what?” Sally asked.

  “Wedding stuff. A company,” he said.

  “Would that be considered a professional career, Aaron?” Kayleigh asked with sarcasm.

  “Kayleigh, I told you I was sorry.” Aaron rolled his eyes, obviously exasperated. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  The room went silent for an uncomfortable moment before Kayleigh laughed. “I’m just messing with you, doctor” she said lightly, breaking the tension. Everyone laughed but Kayleigh still held a wicked gleam in her eye.

  Devlin wondered if she really was just teasing, or if she was just doing her best to make Maggie’s wedding weekend go as smoothly as possible.

  “That’s actually not a bad idea,” Elle said. The woman had been so quiet during dinner, Devlin hadn’t even noticed her.

  Emmett stared at his fiancée. “What?”

  “The wedding business,” Elle answered. “Maggie had to go to Denver for almost everything. It was a big hassle.”

  “Yeah, I did,” Maggie answered. “Even the DJ and the photographer are coming from Denver for the day.”

  Devlin had wanted to capture Maggie’s special moments on film as her photographer, but Maggie had forbidden her, saying she wanted her best friend to enjoy the day. She’d probably slip a camera in anyway. She couldn’t help it.

  “Daisy is a florist,” Elle said.

  “And Ivy could cook. She’s becoming a cook, right?” Emmett asked Sally.

  Sally raised a brow. “Chef, Emmett. Ivy is becoming a chef.”

  Emmett smiled and winked. “Got it.” He tapped his temple.

  “Holly does fashion design and could do the dresses,” Ben said.

  “Abbie’s a photographer,” Maggie added.

  Valerie smiled as if solving an intricate puzzle. “And Mia does hair and make-up.”

  Mia held up a hand in the air. “Oh, hell, no. No offense, Aunt Valerie, but I have no desire to come back to Canyon Creek and do hair. Could you picture it? It’d be like something out of that Magnolia movie. What was it called.”

  “Steel Magnolias” several people answered in unison.

  “That’s the one,” Mia said, spooning in another fork full of potatoes. “No thanks. I’m happy as a clam in Chicago.”