Hunter reached over, placed a palm on Nathan’s forehead and pushed him away. “Go sit down, Nathan.”
The room erupted in laughter as Nathan started to back away. Before he turned, he blew me a kiss and winked.
“He’s going to give his parents hell,” I whispered to Hunter.
“Already does,” he replied before pointing at another couple. “Uncle Dirk and Aunt Merit.”
The couple smiled and waved. “Nice to meet you.”
“Bradly belongs to them,” Hunter stated, as I covered my mouth and attempted not to laugh. “They have a daughter, Avery, but she’s currently in Paris.”
“Wow,” I stated, as I looked at Merit. She gave me a smile, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. She clearly missed her daughter. “College?”
“No,” Merit replied. “Avery is sixteen. She’s attending school there while she does some modeling.”
My eyes went wide. “Goodness. That’s incredible.”
Merit nodded, and I swore Dirk huffed.
“My grandparents will be here soon. They like to make an entrance,” Hunter joked.
“Did someone mention grandparents?” a female voice said from behind us.
Turning, I smiled when I saw an older couple standing in the doorway of the living room. They looked to be in their mid-seventies, and I could see where the good looks in the family came from.
My mother and father joined me as Brock walked up to his parents and hugged them both.
“Mom, Dad…this is Gilbert Howse, his wife, Laura, and their daughter, Kipton. This is my mother and father, Ty Sr. and Stella Shaw.”
We all exchanged greetings, and I was instantly enamored when Stella pulled me into a hug. She pushed me out at arm’s length and gave me a once-over.
“Goodness, if you aren’t even more beautiful in person. I was rooting for you to win Miss America.”
I could feel my cheeks heating. “Thank you so much, I appreciate that.”
“Third place isn’t too shabby,” Ty Sr. said as he shook my hand.
Lincoln clapped her hands and got everyone’s attention. “Now that we’re all here, let’s head on in for dinner.”
A few of the younger kids ate in the breakfast area, while the rest of us sat in a huge formal dining room. There was a large buffet on the wall that was covered in food. I loved that they had kept things so informal. After picking up a plate, I made my way down the line. Hunter was in front of me, and my mother behind me.
She leaned in and whispered, “What’s in the water here? They’re all so good-looking!”
I gave her a warning look as I whispered, “Mom! Be quiet.”
“I’m only speaking the truth. I thought you had beautiful blue eyes, but this family puts yours to shame.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Thanks.”
Hunter turned and looked past me to my mother. “I have to respectfully disagree. Kipton has beautiful eyes.”
My cheeks heated with embarrassment while my mother poked me in the back.
The rest of dinner was spent with everyone breaking off into different conversations. My mother and father were seated near Lincoln and Brock. On my right was Lily, for which I was so thankful. On my left was Hunter. Lily and I spent most of dinner talking about our degrees, school, and our love of horses. A few times, Hunter asked me something and we quickly got lost in conversation. But it never took long, though, for one of his cousins to pull my attention away.
All in all, it was a beautiful, relaxed dinner. My mother and I both offered to help Lincoln clean up, and she refused, insisting the cleanup could wait until later. We all made our way back into the large family room…and that was when the fun really began.
Brock declared it was game night. We all voted and decided charades would be the game of choice. Before long, it felt like my parents and I were part of this large, amazing family. I’d never laughed so hard in my entire life, and to watch both younger and older cousins—as well as aunts and uncles—bickering was probably one of my favorite parts of the evening.
“You should see them play Monopoly,” Georgiana stated as she sat down next to me.
Turning toward her, I raised a brow in question. “That bad?”
She sighed. “Hunter and Morgan do not like to lose. I heard they once had a game going for days.”
I looked back out to see the siblings in question arguing over something she drew on a large piece of paper. After charades, we’d moved on to Pictionary.
“How does that look like a sneaker?” Hunter asked.
“It clearly looks like a shoe, Hunter! I’m a fashion designer. I know how to draw a damn sneaker!”
“Language, children,” one of the mothers called out, but exactly who it was remained unknown to me.
Smiling, I looked at Georgiana. “Do you come from a large family?”
“No,” she replied with a shake of her head. “You?”
“Nope. But I wish I did. I can only imagine what it’s like at the holidays with this group.”
She chuckled. “A lot of fun. They fight often, but boy do they love each other fiercely. You’ll see for yourself since you’ll be staying here for two months.”
“I have to admit, I did a bit of research on Hunter when I found out I was going to be hosting the show. I don’t remember seeing Dirk and Merit listed as family.”
Georgiana glanced over at the couple, who were in deep conversation with my parents. “They’re not blood related. Dirk has been Brock’s best friend since childhood, and he rode on the PBR circuit with him. They’re like family, and the kids have always called them aunt and uncle.”
“That’s so nice,” I said as I took a sip of my drink. “I’d love to have a big family someday. I always wondered what it would have been like to have a brother or a sister.”
“Me too,” Georgiana said wistfully as she placed a hand over her stomach. I don’t think she was even aware she’d done it multiple times this evening.
When she saw me glancing at her hand, she immediately moved it.
“It must be exciting to have your sister-in-law pregnant along with you.”
Georgiana grinned. “It is exciting. Lincoln and Brock are crazy thrilled.”
“Congratulations again.”
Her eyes lit up as she returned my smile with one so brilliant, it made my chest squeeze with something like…jealousy? I pushed that thought away.
“I also heard you both own a boutique in town. That’s so fun!”
She nodded. “It definitely is. And Morgan is so damn talented. She has a new lingerie line coming out for spring. Avery, our cousin, the one in Paris, she’s modeling some of the tamer designs, so Dirk and Merit don’t have a heart attack seeing their sixteen-year-old in lingerie.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you two chatting about?” Lily asked as she sat down on my other side.
“A new line they have coming out,” I said, smiling at Georgiana.
“Yep. A lingerie line Morgan helped design. I’m dying for everyone to see it.”
Lily gasped. “Morgan designed a lingerie line? Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to see!”
We soon got lost in a conversation about the store. “Do you have to supply your own clothing for the show?” Georgiana eventually asked.