on her left and although he tried to appear casual, Brian knew his cousin was aware of every breath that woman took.
He shot a sly glance at Grant. Him, too, even if he is trying not to show it. Maybe he'd have a word with Grandma Kate about them. Then he could tell Grant to get a room.
Brian took a drink from his soda. He really could have used something a bit stronger, like an entire bottle of tequila. But Chloe couldn't have alcohol for the time being, and so they were all drinking Coke to keep her company.
"Y'all don't have to babysit me," Chloe said. "Just go do whatever it is you usually do."
The door opened and Julian came into the house. Brian could hear him toe off his boots as he usually did. Then he appeared in the doorway of the parlor and nodded to the room at large before turning his attention to Chloe.
"How are you doing there, Miss Chloe?"
"I'm fine. Really." She looked around the room and gave everyone the evil eye. Brian thought his future sister-in-law would fit right in, here in Lusty. They had more than their share of women who didn't like to be babied, especially when they needed it.
"I'm glad to hear it, because there's a line of vehicles coming down the lane." He turned his head and looked at Brian, and then Chase. "Critters are all settled in for the evening, gentlemen."
"Good," Brian said. "Grab a Coke and come join us."
"I will, thanks. Think I'll be setting out some plates and things, first, though."
"Appreciate it," Chase said.
Brian knew Chloe had no idea why Julian would say such a thing, but he and his brother and their cousins understood perfectly. By the way Carrie tilted her head, he guessed she'd figured it out, too.
After all, she belonged to them, and Lusty, now, too.
Chase got up and went to the front door just as the sound of car doors closing and voices reached them.
His mother and his Aunt Pam Jessop were the first to make it inside the house. Brian got to his feet, as did his cousins. He watched Chloe and Carrie from the corner of his eye even as he went over to his mother and kissed her cheek. Then he reached for the casserole dish she'd brought with her.
"That's all right, dear," his mother said. "I'm just going to go put this in the oven so it will keep warm."
"I can take it, Abigail." Carrie came over and also kissed his mother's cheek.
"No, dear. You've had quite a harrowing day. You need to relax and just let the family take care of you."
"I wasn't the one in that apartment." Carrie lowered her voice and sent a look over at her sister, clearly not wanting to say anything that would upset Chloe.
"Perhaps your body wasn't, but your heart was right there, sweetheart," Abigail Benedict said. "Go and sit with your sister. I think she's about to be overwhelmed." Then his mother looked at him. "And you and your brother go take care of your woman."
"Yes, ma'am." Brian grinned because Chase and Carrie had said the same words at the same time as he did.
This is what I love about Lusty. Brian stood behind Carrie as she sat with Chloe while his family members - aunts, uncles, and cousins - dropped in to see how Chloe was doing. Many brought gift bags containing clothing or other items the woman would need for the next little while.
Carrie's apartment had become a crime scene. Chloe hadn't yet realized that she wouldn't be able to get any of her things out of there, at least not for a few days. He also knew the place would have to be thoroughly cleaned and reckoned Jake would have to hire in a special company, likely from Waco, to take care of it.
At one point Chloe shook her head and whispered, "But these people don't even know me!"
Andrew patted her shoulder. "They know Carrie, and the cowboys there, and us. They know Adam, and they know you matter to us all. That's enough."
Of course, his Aunt Bernice, Aunt Samantha, and Grandma Kate arrived as well. Brian didn't think those three ever missed an occasion to visit and pamper, especially if there was another woman involved. He blamed it on genetics, and maybe a little had to do with their unique heritage. The birth of boy children in Lusty had always been more common than the birth of girl