Mom turns off the SUV, and I climb out. I think to check my appearance, but it’s too late. Rather than Bronco leading the way, a blonde woman rushes straight for me. She’s probably a decade older than my mom but still curvy in the way men love. Despite the roughness of her beauty, I notice how her blue eyes sparkle.
“Are you her?” the woman demands.
“I’m Lana Maude or just Lana,” I say, uncertain what to call myself, despite Shelby encouraging me to go with the name that helps my confidence.
The woman steps back and very obviously sizes me up. Mom pops open her door and joins us.
“I’m Lineke,” she says to the woman. “And you are?”
“Is this your mother?” the woman asks before turning back to laugh at another approaching blonde woman. This second sister seems younger, but her blue eyes don’t sparkle in the same way. “Were you twelve when you had her?”
“No. Which one of you is Barbie?”
The second woman frowns instantly. “How do you know my name?”
I ought to care about the conversation occurring between my mom and Bronco’s sisters. Except I see him at the doorway and can’t look away. His daughter tugs at his arm, not wanting him to go out to us. He can’t get free without hurting her. Finally, another girl wraps the younger one in a bear hug, allowing Bronco to escape. I catch his gaze and never want to look away.
“Are we behaving, ladies?” he asks his sisters.
“Shelby Campbell is starting trouble again,” mutters Barbie.
Bronco only smirks and then focuses on me. I suspect if we didn't have an audience that I’d pull out my best flirting tricks. His gaze is too direct, and there’s that humor around his lips. I feel as if we’d be having a ball if we weren’t surrounded by pissed-off women.
“Mom?” Desi asks from the car.
I wake up from my lust-filled stupor and wave for her to join me. “Bronco, this is my daughter Desi.”
Before Bronco can speak, I hear, “That’s a boy’s name.”
I assume one of his sisters is starting shit but then realize it’s the older daughter.
“Is it, Mom?” Desi asks me.
“No, baby, and boy names aren’t bad. Taylor is a boy’s name. Kirby too.”
“Oh, yeah,” Desi says, grinning again.
Bronco exhales deeply, and I sense despite his casual smile that he’s about to lose his temper.
“Desi, this is Summer and Sidonie,” he says.
The younger girl dives for him and stares at me in horror. “No.”
“I’ll get Carina.”
Bronco turns to Sidonie and whispers something. Meanwhile, Mom tries to explain the family situation to Bronco’s sisters, who are purposely being difficult.
“What’s with all the boy names?” Barbie asks when Mom mentions Max.
“Her name is Maxine.”
“Poor thing.”
Though I can’t see my mom’s face, I bet she’s as ready to lose her temper as Bronco. Instead of focusing on the drama, I only see Carina, who gurgle-grunts when I remove the straps from her seat. Opening her eyes, she isn’t happy to be awake. I slide her into my arms and reach for the diaper bag. Then I return to where Bronco gives his daughters a talking-to with his back to Desi.
“I think they’re in trouble,” Desi whispers as I join her.
Giving her a wink, I ask Bronco once he turns back, “Can we go inside?”
“Your house is big,” Desi adds, and Bronco flashes his friendly smile.
“I’ll have Conor bring in your bags. Bambi, if you’re done being a bitch, can you make us some coffee?”
Rather than get upset, Bambi throws her head back and laughs. “I’m not making no fucking coffee.”
“I’ll do it,” a large, bearded man announces from back at the front door.
When he disappears inside, Bambi frowns. “No, I’ll make it,” she says, hurrying after him.
Barbie stops glaring at my mom long enough to snarl at me. Then she heads into the house.
Bronco gestures for me to follow him. He’s acting casual, but I spot him peeking at his baby. Desi bounce-walks next to me. She ignores the whining girl behind her and the crabby teenager in front. My daughter then oohs and ahhs when we enter the house and sees the walkway overlooking the entry and a family room.
“Wow,” she says to Bronco. “My aunt is building a pretty house too. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s done. Right now, it looks sad.”
Bronco chuckles at her wording, which only gets Sidonie to whimper and tug at him to