I’d already filled Kaylee in about Blayze having a crush on her a month or so back.
“Ty, would you mind grabbing a bottle out of the little cooler I brought?” Lincoln asked me. “It’s in the living room.”
“Sure.”
With Morgan in my arms, I headed into the living room. A large picture window looked out over the front yard and the front pasture. I could see someone driving down the gravel driveway. I walked to the front door and opened it, Morgan gazing up at me with those big blue eyes of hers.
“I know, princess, you’re hungry.”
With a quick glance back to the drive, I saw it was Dirk’s truck as he drew closer.
“Is that my little sweet pea?” Dirk said once he reached us, making goofy faces at Morgan and causing her to giggle. Then she held her little hands out for Dirk to take her, which he promptly did.
“Come on, dude, even my niece? You’ve got to capture her heart as well as the millions of other single women out there?”
Dirk laughed and kissed Morgan on the cheek. “This is the only girl I’ve given my heart to, so back off. You got your own girl.” I smiled, and Dirk raised a brow. “I don’t think in all the years I’ve known you, Ty, I’ve ever seen that smile on your face.”
“Probably not.”
“Holy shit. You’re in love with her.”
I nodded.
He stared at me for a moment, then laughed. “Dude, you’ve got it bad. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. I actually asked her to marry me earlier today.”
Dirk’s eyes went wide. “No kidding. Did she say yes?”
“Of course she said yes, dickhead. It’s me we’re talking about here.”
Laughing, he walked past me and shielded Morgan from my outstretched arms.
“Give her back to me.”
“No, you get to see her all the time. I don’t.”
“She’s my niece, dickhead.”
“Mine too.”
“Not by blood.”
“So!”
“So!”
When the door opened and Kaylee stared at both of us, we stopped. “Do you two hear yourselves?”
“He started it,” Dirk said, giving me a smirk.
“Whatever,” I shot back.
I walked up to Kaylee and kissed her as Dirk made a gagging sound from behind me. “There are little eyes watching—they don’t need to see that crap.”
“You’re just jealous, Dirk. But someday, someone is going to catch your eye, and you’re going to fall in love,” Kaylee said.
“Hard pass,” Dirk replied, walking by the two of us and going into the house.
“Welcome home, Dirk!” Kaylee called after him. He simply raised a hand and gave a wave.
When she turned back to me, I saw the happiness in those baby-blue eyes of hers.
“Your mama asked me why I was in such a good mood. Am I normally not in a good mood?” Her brows were furrowed, and it was the cutest thing ever.
I chuckled. “Well, even I’ve noticed the smile that seems to be plastered on your face permanently.”
“Lincoln asked me if I was pregnant because there’s an ‘air’ about me.” She raised her hands and put air quotes around the word.
Our hands laced together as we walked back into the house. “Want to tell them?” I asked.
She jumped and faced me. “Can we? Oh my gosh, Ty, it’s killing me not to say something!”
I pulled her to me and leaned down, brushing my lips over hers. When we both needed some air, I barely moved away from her lips and whispered, “I haven’t given you your ring yet.”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “That’s okay.”
“I was planning on it this weekend.”
“You have it?”
Laughing, I kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Yes, baby. I have it. You okay telling them without the ring?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s do it.”
“Okay. I’ll let you do it when you’re ready, since it’s your family and all.”
“Fair enough,” I said, giving her one more quick kiss.
The second we walked into the dining room, Kaylee let out a squeal of delight.
All eyes turned to us.
“We’re getting married!” she cried out.
My mouth dropped open, and I stared at her. So much for me telling the family.
Lincoln and my mother both jumped out of their seats and rushed Kaylee. Lincoln hugged her first, and then my mama wrapped them both up in her arms.
Brock and my father both stood and made their way over to me. Brock shook my hand, then pulled me in for a quick hug. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you both.”
I slapped the side of Brock’s arm. “Thanks, Brock.”
Then it was my father’s turn. He gave me a wide smile, shook my hand, and also did the quick hug. “You couldn’t have picked a finer woman, son.”
“No doubt about that, Dad.”
Then my eyes landed on Dirk. He grinned, then said, “My chances are getting better and better. Just need to get the last Shaw brother hitched, then all the single women will be mine.”
Morgan let out a little scream of excitement that caused all the women to look over at Dirk.