“I know,” I tell him with a nod filled with certainty. “I want this to be hers. I never touch the money I get from my partnership in the ranch. Wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it since the trusts coming my way was transferred over for Rian’s future.”
I don’t mind telling my brothers, it’s not like I ever hid anything from them. My shares in Sagebrush aren’t as high as the rest of my family. And they shouldn’t be.
Because they’re there and I’m not. But I’m still a Connors.
Now I can do something good with the money.
“Fine,” Pope’s word lands with finality. “Do what you need to do and then make sure you bring her around. Rian’s party?”
“She’ll be there,” I tell him, knowing she will be. Rian invited her and I know my woman won’t let her down.
“Good,” he grunts and strides away.
“Well,” Ace slaps my back and I glare at him, “looks like all that’s left is to make sure Brielle is on board with your plan.”
I can hear the doubt in his voice, but I’m not worried. She’s already mine.
CHAPTER 10
BRIELLE
I can’t even describe what is going on in my belly at the moment. I’m excited because I’m on familiar roads which make it feel like I’m seeing the world through a filter, but I’m also nervous. I haven’t seen the rest of the Connors family in a long time.
Now I’m showing up with Everton and Rian? It’s strange, right?
“I already know Mimi made macaroni and cheese,” Rian chirps from the backseat after pulling out the earbud she had in.
My eyes widen and I swear my mouth waters, “Mrs. Connors’s mac and cheese is legendary.”
“You’ve had it?” Rian blinks her big eyes as she stares at me, and I glance back over my shoulder at her.
“Of course,” Everton rumbles from next to me, his entire demeanor relaxed in a way I’m more than a little jealous of.
“It was my favorite,” I tell her honestly.
“It’s my favorite,” she gasps. “It’s why I know Mimi made it for dinner.”
The smile stretching across my face is wide. I almost jump outof my skin when Everton’s hand reaches over and finds a home on my thigh. Uncertainty fills me and I push his hand away. He huffs out a breath through his nose and puts his hand on my knee.
I let it go because I can’t pretend I don’t like it, and I know he’s not going to give up. The man is stubborn, always has been.
Needing some sort of distraction, I nod toward her tablet and ask, “Are you watching something?”
“Hamilton,” she chirps brightly.
“She’s obsessed,” he tells me, his voice teasing. “One day, after they were learning about the Revolutionary War and the birth of our nation at school, she came home and said she was going to watch it. She did and the next thing I knew, she was singing along.”
I can’t help but giggle as I look back at Rian. “It’s a wonderful show. I’ve known people in it. There’s a lot of talent on that stage,” I nod toward her tablet.
Her eyes go round and fill with awe. “You saw it live?”
“Yes,” I admit and chuckle. “I’ll always be willing to go to shows with you Rian.”
“You’re not going to leave me out,” Everton rumbles, his words thick with emotion.
When I look at him, worried I’ve overstepped, his eyes are glassy and he has a secret smile on his face filled with love. He glances back at his daughter in the mirror and it’s clear he loves my offer. For her. Because he sees that she needs something more in her life.
And he trusts me with her.