“They’re going to like you. After they beat the crap out of you.”
That brings the smile back and he laughs. “Why are they going to try to beat me up?”
“Because you’re a man, you’ve had your hands on me, and they love me. And I think it has something to do with owning a penis. It makes men want to beat the shit out of each other. I’m thinking about doing research on it.” I shrug, trying to look nonchalant, but I’m really nervous.
Really. Nervous.
“Have they always beat up your boyfriends?” he asks.
“I’ve never given them an opportunity.” I shrug again. “I don’t bring men home to meet them.”
“Why not?” he runs his knuckles down my cheek.
“No one’s ever deserved to meet my family before.”
His eyes flare and his hold on me tightens. “Julianne, I…”
“There you are!” My mom bursts through the back door of the house and into the tent, her arms open for me.
Gail Montgomery is a petite blond woman with a big heart and loud laugh. She’s happy, kind, and I want to be her when I grow up.
“Hi, Mom!” I pull out of Nate’s embrace and wrap my mom in a big hug.
“Your father and I pulled up at the same time as Will and Matt. They drove together.” She swings her eyes to Nate and smiles wide.
“Mom, this is Nate.” I smile reassuringly at Nate, but he’s already kissing my mom’s hand and laying on the charm.
Why am I surprised? This man charms people out of millions of their dollars every day. He’s going to be fine with my family.
“Mrs. Montgomery, what a pleasure.” My mom melts, and gets a gooey look on her face, and I can’t help but smirk.
“Well, hello Nate. Please, call me Gail.”
“Why is it so fucking pink in here?” Will pushes his way into the tent his hands on his hips, glaring at me.
“Because, douche bag, Natalie is having a girl.” I punch him in the arm before I kiss his cheek. “I owe you,” I whisper.
He looks down at me with a frown. “Huh?”
“I’ll explain later. I have someone I want you to meet, and I want you to be nice.”
Will isn’t really the one I’m all that worried about anyway.
“Will, this is Nate McKenna.” I step back and bite my lip. My brother is taller than Nate by a good three inches, and is wide-shouldered, muscled, and strong. He’s a freaking football player for the love of Moses.
And we have the same genes, so he’s hot in a he’s-my-brother-and-he’s-gross-to-me-but-all-of-America-wants-to-bang-him kind of way.
It runs in our family.
“I enjoyed last season,” Nate states as he holds out his hand for Will to shake. Oh, he’s good.
“Yeah? Why’s that?” Will asks and shakes his hand.
“Well, we kicked Green Bay’s ass, you didn’t get injured, and you helped me win a bunch of money during the playoffs. Next season looks promising.” Nate replies.
“He can stay,” Will declares and goes back inside to find food.
One brother down, three to go.
And my dad.
I need a drink.
Nate winks at me and slides his arm around my waist. “Stop worrying,” he whispers.
“I’m not worried.” I lie.
He laughs and I lead us back inside so I can put some music on. Will is eating a bowl of spinach dip with corn chips and talking with our brother, Matt. Matt is the most laid back of my brothers, and I know he’ll be polite to Nate. Matt gestures for Nate to join them, and I breathe a sigh of relief while I plug my iPod into the sound system and bring up the playlist I made for today.
Adele starts to croon about finding someone like you and I turn as Nat and Luke walk into the room.
Well, Nat waddles.
“I love this song,” she says as she hands Luke her coat and hugs me close. She’s adorable in a black maternity dress and black flats.
I rub my hands over her belly and laugh. “You play Adele for this baby way too much. She’s going to be born bitter and angry at men. Give the poor girl a fighting chance, Nat.”
“Hey, Adele is brilliant.”
“I agree, but start the baby out with something more optimistic.”
“It’s beautiful in here,” Natalie kisses my cheek and I grin.
“I know. Alecia, my new bff, is brilliant. Wait until you see outside.” I glance over at Nate, to make sure no one has killed him and hid the body, but he’s joking and eating with Matt and Will and my dad and Luke have joined them, and my dad seems relaxed and cool.
Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.
“Nate seems to be enjoying himself,” Natalie murmurs.
“So far, so good, but Caleb’s not here yet.”
“Oh,” she says.
Yeah. Oh.
“Come on,” I grab her hand and pull her out into the tent.
“Oh, Jules, this is just…” she stops and takes in the pretty party room and bursts into tears. “I love you so much.”
“Nat, don’t cry. Don’t cry.” I hug her close and rub her belly.
“I’m not sad; I’m so fucking hormonal I cry during Doritos commercials.” She sniffs and wipes the tears from her cheeks. “This is really wonderful. I have a crush on Alecia now.”
“Me too,” I laugh.
We wander back inside and I see that my eldest brother, Isaac, his wife Stacy and my niece Sophie are here. I scoop the sweet baby girl into my arms and blow kisses in her neck, making her giggle.
“Hey, Nate!” I call across the room and motion for him to join me. He excuses himself from the guys and joins me, placing his hand at the small of my back.
Isaac frowns and eyes Nate up and down, and I roll my eyes.
“Nate, I’d like to introduce you to my oldest brother, Isaac, his wife Stacy, and my gorgeous niece, Sophie.”
Sophie immediately holds her arms out to Nate to hold her and he responds without hesitating, bracing her on his forearm, and spreading his other big hand along her back to hold her steady.
Oh my.