Out of the kitchen stepped a man I would have recognized anywhere as Grace’s twin: an inch taller, with a well-trimmed beard and side-swept hair … but those same unmistakable eyes.
My sister walked out next to him, doing a slow clap and pointing a teasing finger at me. “What, you’re the only one who gets to plan a big surprise?”
I ruffled her hair, then reached to shake Elijah’s hand. “Nice to meet you, man, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Likewise,” he said, looking me up and down skeptically then turning to his sister. “So we’re not moving to California?”
“No, you’re moving here. And the perfect studio apartment just opened up." Her eyes crinkled as she tilted her head toward the garage.
His smile widened, less restrained than hers, and I found myself looking forward to getting to know him. Although if he was already plotting with my sister, we were in trouble.
“Do you need a place to stay?” I asked. I wanted to be alone with Grace, but knowing how much her brother meant to her and how long they’d been apart, I could put aside my desire for the night.
“No, I’ve got a place for tonight,” he said, his eyes shifting over my shoulder. I turned quickly to see a shadow moving towards us, and stepped in front of Grace protectively as another man entered our living room.
“You broke my sister’s heart,” he said. From her stories, I instantly recognized Isaac, looking slightly older than me. His hazel eyes weren't menacing like Levi’s, but protective. He stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest.
I dropped my arms at my sides and nodded in confirmation. “A mistake I want to spend the rest of my life making up to her.”
When her hand slid into mine, I pulled her forward and wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
His chin tilted back so that even though he was shorter, he could look down at me. “And you broke my brother’s nose.”
“Nobody speaks that way to Grace,” I said, then felt her elbow in my ribs. “Although I shouldn't have resorted to violence.”
Isaac cocked his head in agreement to what neither of us would speak aloud: I’d stay civil, but if Levi ever stepped out of line around Grace, I’d punch him again in a heartbeat.
Unless Isaac got to him first.
He lifted a brow. “She’ll have a daughter soon. You up for it?”
“Why do you think we’re in this six-bedroom house? I know she’ll fill it.”
His eyes glimmered in appreciation before he held out a hand, which I shook forcefully. “Welcome to the family.”
Our handshake extended longer than necessary, neither of us wanting to be the first to step back … until Mallory let out a loud, judgmental scoff.
“Alright, the overbearing brother parade can wrap up now, the lovebirds need private time and we need to be far, far away when they get it,” Mallory said, making a shooing gesture at Isaac. “Go on, I promised your wife I’d have you home by 8:30.”
She started to walk by until I stopped her with a gentle hand around the back of her neck. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it, Shrimp?”
She faked an innocent ‘who, me?’ face. “Grace was freaking out waiting, and these two would have hounded her for details. Trust me, this is better.”
She squeezed herself under Grace’s arm for a tight hug and murmured in her ear, and Grace tilted back her head with that glorious laugh. Fuck, I’d missed that laugh, maybe more than anything.
Mallory smacked my arm. “Don’t break your back tonight, old man.”
She walked backwards towards the door, ushering Grace’s brothers. “Mom stocked the fridge so you wouldn’t need to leave for a few days. We’ll all be back on Sunday morning for brunch, don’t eat the facon without me.”
“Your fake meat is safe here,” I said dryly, wrapping my arm around Grace’s shoulders and pulling her close.
Right before she closed the door, Mallory said, “Mom and I worked on one more surprise, first door at the top of the stairs.”
My sister always had to have the last word, didn’t she?
When the door shut, Grace melted into my arms and said in disbelief, “I don’t know if I can take one more surprise.”
“But aren’t they all good things?”
She nuzzled into my chest, shaking her head. “Are you really moving here?”
“I am,” I said. “Was that really Isaac, giving me the third degree?”
“He did,” she said with a soft laugh. “We're really moving into this house?”
“We are,” I said, then said definitively, “You’re really going to be a mom.”
“I am,” she said quietly, a hint of anxiety in her voice. “Are you sure you want to do it with me?”
“More sure than I’ve ever been in my life,” I said, interlacing our hands. “Let’s go see that final surprise, together.”
She pulled our joined hands to the stairs. In front of the first door on the left, she took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Ponies. Toy ponies everywhere, and a white canopy bed with pink bedding and twinkle lights.
Grace gasped as I lifted one with a smile. “Welcome home, Rainbow Dash.”
Chapter 45Grace
