by Natalie Dean
Because, in the end, that was what Elizabeth was. He knew it right down to his bones. They’d come to know each other well in their year of being together, and he knew there would never be another for him. God had definitely set her in his path, and he wasn’t going to ever let go.
But family drama and true love aside, they made it to the restaurant without incident. Elizabeth seemed to have gotten more comfortable with the expensive places that he and his family liked to frequent, but he didn’t miss the way that her eyes widened when she saw the place.
“Wow,” she whispered as he helped her out of the car.
“I know. But it’ll be just us.”
Her eyes flitted behind him, no doubt to the dozens of cars also in the parking lot. “‘Just us’ happens to include a whole lot of people, you know.”
“Oh boy, am I aware.”
And that was that, the two of them headed in. He wasn’t sure who arranged the seating, but he was pleased that most of the people were pretty separated by who they got along with. That would certainly help.
They were family, sure, but Sal could be a little… much sometimes, and sometimes Bart could be sensitive. Something about his PTSD? Sterling wasn’t sure. And then there was Dad’s general sour disposition and Mom’s crumpled expression that always clouded her face anytime he fought with any of their sons.
Unfortunately, the main table was Simon, all of his brothers—minus Samuel—their partners and of course Mom and Dad. That itself was full of its own tension, but he just hoped that they could all behave.
Thankfully, the serving staff was on point. There’d been discussion of a buffet sort of setup, which Simon was perfectly fine with, but Father had refused, stating that buffets were low-class. They’d all chosen not to argue with him, as there were better fights to expend their energy on.
“Thank you all for gathering for me today,” Simon said, standing up after everyone’s drinks had been delivered and their orders taken.
Sterling was proud of his little brother, the actual runt of the family. Sure, he was still as muscled as one might expect an active Miller, but he was the shortest and slightest of them. In fact, he often reminded Sterling of their cousin Benji, the middle child of his set of cousins, all brothers.
But slight or not, Simon had managed to do what none of them had, subtly broken away, going to college to do his own thing. He had a good head on his shoulders, even if he didn’t seem to have a set path, but at least he didn’t have to run off with a woman to distance himself from their father’s tight grip.
“I’m sure you all know that I’ve spent a lot of time working at college to make sure the investment in my education is worthwhile. I thank everyone who’s given me support through this time, from Christmas cards to letters.” He pointed over to Missy. “As well as successful tips on hiding a hamster in my dorm junior year.”
“What?” Dad asked, cutting in.
Simon just continued right on. That was impressive. Sterling wasn’t sure he had the chutzpah to ignore father like that.
“But the one thing that I have learned from all my expensive education is just how much I don’t know. I’ve been taught so much, but we’re all from the same little bubble. I want to know more of the world, all of its colors, cultures and shades. I feel like there’s this whole wealth of knowledge that I can’t find no matter how much I pay a school.”
Interesting, but Sterling didn’t really know where he was going with it. But Elizabeth was leaning forward on her elbows, watching Simon with a hawkish expression. It was one of the ones she only wore when something very important was happening, even if no one else was aware of exactly what was going on.
“And that is why I’ve decided to journey through Europe for the next six months. I have a guide picked out, and I’ve been training in what little free time I have. This isn’t a lark, but something I’ve wanted to do since I got my BA. Now that I have my masters, I really don’t have a reason not to.
“So, it’s with all of you, my family, that I wanted a toast to the future! And wherever it takes us.”
“You what?” Dad snapped, jumping up as quickly as a man of his age could.
“Honey,” Mom said, gently gripping his arm, but Father shook her off.
“And you didn’t think to talk about this with your family?” Dad thundered.
“I am talking about this with my family,” Simon said serenely, looking straight ahead. “Am I not?”
“Yeah, what’s this?” Sal parroted, because of course he did. “You trying to ditch your family like Sammy?”
“You cut off Sammy,” Bart growled from another table. Sterling hadn’t been expecting that, but Sal’s gaze cut right to the burly man.
It was like the clashing of two giants. Of all the family, Bart was the biggest, but Sal was a close second, laden with muscle and a hot temper. Not exactly the best mixture. Sure, he was generally laid back, but when something did get under his skin, it went deep.
“What did you say, cousin?”
Missy’s arm was on Bart’s shoulder, her red lips whispering something into his ear. Bart clenched his drink, but otherwise his posture remained relaxed. “You practically chased Samuel out. Don’t blame him for wanting to stay someplace he’s loved.”
“Oh loved, yes, because it’s just some hippie commune up there,” Dad snapped.
Sterling felt anxiety coiling in his gut. He didn’t want the fight, but everything was unraveling so fast around him that he didn’t know what to do.
Dad continued spewing, “And it has nothing to do with that floozy who—”
Wrong thing to say because then Missy was on her feet. In that flash of movement, Sterling was so reminded of Elizabeth that it was quite uncanny. What was it about the women who loved animals that made them so strong, so ready to throw down to protect the ones they loved?
“You say one bad thing about Virginia, I absolutely dare you,” Missy said.
Dad looked surprised by the strange woman standing up to him, and Sterling took that as a moment to cut in.
“Look, Dad—”
“I don’t need to hear anything from you,” he snapped just as quickly, his eyes flicking to Sterling for only a moment. “Why would I listen to a son that’s clearly just waiting for my death?”
“Hey, now!” Silas said, pushing himself back from the table with enough force for all of their silverware to shake.
“Now, dear—” Mom said, putting her hand on Dad’s arm.
“You know what?” said one of Sterling’s girl cousins from the west, a hard-as-nails type who he’d heard speak a grand total of twice in his life. “You spend so much time bullying everyone, you ever thought your own son wanted to get away from you just so he could breathe a little?”
Dad turned bright red at that, and it was very clear that there was no repairing the situation. Simon sat calmly, sipping his drink and happily eating a cheesy biscuit. Sterling didn’t know where his youngest brother got his nonchalance, but he himself was sorely in need of some.
That was when a hand alighted on his elbow. He jerked in surprise before realizing it was Elizabeth, tugging on his sleeve. He shot her a stressed, curious expression, and her eyes shuttled to the door that was just a bit behind them and then back to him.
Oh. He got her point. And maybe it was cowardice, but he wanted to get away from the maelstrom behind him. It brought him no peace and just reminded him of all the avarice and resentment his branch of the family was putting into the world.
He nodded and then they were flitting out, nobody seeming to notice against the growing argument. They ended up outside, and the cool evening air was a blessing against his skin.
Turning to Elizabeth, he was completely ready to apologize, but stopped when he saw she was chuckling ever so lightly.
“What?” he asked, sighing in relief. Trust Elizabeth to take the bite out of such an awful situation.
“Oh, nothing.” She smiled and crossed to him, her arms circling his neck. “I j
ust thought that I had gotten used to the antics that came along with having a large family. But I suppose there’s always something new to experience.”
She was trying to comfort him, he knew that, but something about her word choice made his heart skip a beat. “Do you mean that?”
There was that cute little head tilt she did whenever she was trying to glean more information. “What do you mean?”
He swallowed, each of his words, feeling like they carried their own weight. “That you’re getting used to us. As family?”
“Well, yeah. I would say we’re practically family already, right? It certainly feels like it.”
Oh, oh. Did she have any idea of what she was saying? Sterling thought probably not, but then again… with the way she was looking at him, it was hard not to feel like he just might be the center of the whole entire universe.
“Yeah, it does,” he said. He couldn’t resist anymore, he dipped his head down, claiming her mouth in his. His hands went about her waist. And like usual, he was flooded with heat and desire and more love than he thought it was possible for a single body to contain.
She was his salve, a balm for his soul. His teacher, his friend. She made him better in every way possible. He never wanted to be without her, no matter what that meant for his family and their fortune.
When their kiss broke, he didn’t let go of her. No, instead he let his forehead rest against hers, looking into those perfect, deep eyes of hers. Eyes that saw the worst in him but still found a way to love him.
“What if we really did become a family?”
“I don’t—”
But then he was reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He’d had it ever since she had agreed to be his girlfriend and had kept it on him for when the time would feel right. And he couldn’t imagine a moment more right than the one they were in.
The sun was setting behind Elizabeth, illuminating her in the delicate tendrils of coral and gold, shining along her dark skin like a seal of approval from God himself. And the way she was looking at him? It made his toes curl and his heart pound. Made him want to climb a mountain and scream of his love for her. Made him want to go around and smack anyone who dared do anything to hurt her or besmirch her name.
Except he didn’t do any of those things. Instead, he knelt, flicking the box open with a finger to reveal a jeweled band.
“Elizabeth, I love you more than I can ever hope to say. But I hope you see it in my actions every day.”
“This… this can’t be happening,” she said, hands going to her mouth. “Did you plan this?”
He shook his head. “No. Just been waiting for the right time, and I’m sure hoping this is it.” Taking a deep breath, and then another, he affixed her with his steadiest gaze. “Elizabeth Brown, will you do me the honor of marrying me and having to deal with my crazy, dramatic family for the rest of our lives?”
It was like the moment after lasted an eternity. On one hand, he was absolutely certain that she would say yes. How could their love be so good if she didn’t feel the same as him? But at the same time, there was that little insecure voice that said he wasn’t good enough and that he never would be good enough. He would always be the younger twin. The middle child. About as useless as the junk drawer in the kitchen.
But then Elizabeth was speaking, and all the darkness was chased away. “Of course! Yes, absolutely, positively, yes!”
And just like that, he was soaring, flying higher than he ever thought possible. Slipping the ring onto her finger, he shot up and then they were kissing again. Naturally he had to spin her around, and she only protested a little.
“Do we need to get back inside?” Elizabeth asked.
“No way,” he said. “I’ve finally found the love of my life and I just want to bask in this moment, just the two of us.”
“That sounds perfect to me.” She kissed him again.
He was going to have her lipstick all over his mouth, but he couldn’t care less.
“I’m so happy you came into my life,” he said between tender kisses. “You are perfect exactly as you are.”
That must have been the right thing to say. Elizabeth’s eyes misted over, and she wrapped her arms around him tighter.
Sterling held her, kissed her, hoped that she could feel how every single cell in his body was as in love with her as physically possible. And he took solace in knowing that no matter what happened with his family, their love was true.
It was a confusing, crazy time on the ranch, but he could always look to her for direction and what was important. Just as they’d found each other that one summer day, together they would find their way.
He was sure of that.
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About Author - Natalie Dean
Born and raised in a small coastal town in the south I realized at a young age that I was more adventurous than my conservative friends and family. I loved to travel. My passion for travel opened up a whole new world and new cultures to me that I will always be grateful for.
I was raised to treasure family. I always knew that at some point in my life I would leave my storybook life behind and become someone's mother, someone's aunt and hopefully someone's grandmother. Little did I know that the birth of my son later in life would make me the happiest I’ve ever been. He will always be my biggest achievement. The strong desire to be a work-from-home mom is what lead me down this path of publishing books.
While I have always loved reading I never realized how much I would love writing until I started. I feel like each one of my books have been influenced by someone or something I’ve experienced in my life. To be able to share this gift has become a dream come true.
I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed creating them. I truly hope to develop an ongoing relationship with all of my readers that lasts into my last days :)
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