Broken Love (Broken #4)(7)

I PULLED DOWN the driveway to my parents’ house and floored it.

I’m late. Oh shit, I’m late.

Liza was sitting on the front porch holding my precious little nephew, Nickolas.

I put the car in park and practically ran over to them.

“Let me have him!”

Liza laughed and handed Nickolas to me.

“Hello to you too.”

I glanced up and smiled at Liza. “We totally need to do a girls’ night. I have so much to tell you about Paris and Italy. Maurice got on Jase’s nerves when he spent a couple days with us. I loved it! Of course ever since France, Jase really hasn’t been the same.”

“I know. He spent some time with a girl there and things didn’t end the way he wanted them to. I’ve tried talking to him about it but he keeps pushing me away.”

The front door screen made a small noise when it opened, causing us both to turn and look. My mother placed her hand on her hip and starred at me. “Ava? How long have you been here?”

“Gosh, for a while now.”

Liza turned and looked at me with a smirk. “Yep, she’s been sitting out here loving on her nephew.”

My mother’s smile warmed as she walked over and kissed me on the forehead. “Okay, well your father and Layton are with the boys and the gentlemen who are going to help the ranch become certified organic. They’re headed back up to Layton and Whit’s place and they want us to meet them there.”

Walker and Jase were the ones to convince our fathers that it was time to go organic. It was something we all talked about as a family. My father and Layton had been business partners for years, and I loved how involved we all were as a family when it came to the cattle ranch, including me. I’d been known to throw on a pair of jeans and boots and get in there when it came time to doing the dirty stuff.

“So, who exactly are these guys who are going to be helping?”

Motioning for us to get up and follower her to Liza’s car, I stood up and smiled down at Nickolas who was sleeping peacefully in my arms.

Liza opened the backseat door as I placed him in his car seat and Liza took over.

“Two guys who started a consulting business helping ranches all over the country who are wanting to go organic. Their father owns a cattle ranch in Montana.”

I smiled and said, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to Montana.” Snapping my seatbelt in, I laughed. “Can they offer us a tour of their dad’s ranch?”

Liza got in the car and started down the driveway. “Yes. As a matter of fact, they offered for all of us to come stay for a weekend and tour the ranch.”

“Are y’all going to go?” I asked looking between Liza and my mother who was sitting in the back seat.

My mother nodded. “I think so. Layton thinks it would be a great learning experience, plus it is a hell of a lot cooler up there right now.”

Dropping my mouth open, I glared at my mother. “Wait! When are y’all going?”

“Two weeks,” Liza said with a giggle.

“What the hell! Y’all are all going to Montana and you didn’t even let me know!”

My mother cleared her throat as she adjusted something on Nickolas. “Well, Ava I figured you weren’t going to drop everything for a last minute trip.”

“To f*cking Montana I would!”

“Watch your language,” my mother said with a slight grin. She always told me I was her little me and I knew I was. I also liked being compared to my mother. Not only was she beautiful, but smart as hell and sassy to boot.

My arms crossed over my body and I pouted as Liza lost it and laughed full on.

“Oh, stop being a baby, Ava. We just decided this earlier today when your father got the email from Mr. Montgomery. He wants us to come before they start getting colder weather in.”

“I’m in!”

“What about your job?” Liza asked.

“It’s fine. The owner of the boutique owes me a huge favor, so I can take some time off from there. And I can work anywhere for Maurice with the designs.”

My mother smiled big and said, “Well, it looks like we’re taking a family vacation to Montana!”

Liza and I both let out soft screams of joy so we didn’t wake up Nickolas.

Minutes later we were pulling up and parking in front of Layton and Whitley’s house. Whitley came walking out onto the porch and down to the car with a huge smile on her face. “Oh I love when my daughter comes to visit me!”

Liza laughed. “Mom! I see you every day when I come to work!”

Whitley brushed off Liza and headed to me where she pulled me into her arms and hugged me. “I’m talking about my adopted daughter.” Pushing me back some, Whitley let her eyes wander all over me and then pulled me back into a hug as she whispered, “You look so beautiful, but your eyes are totally bloodshot.”

I let out a chuckle as I whispered back, “Is it that obvious?”

Whitley stepped back and quickly said, “I have eye drops, don’t worry.”

Laughing, I gave her a friendly push as I headed up to the house.

“Everyone is outside; Jase just started grilling some steaks!” Whitley called from over her shoulder as she scooped Nickolas out of Liza’s arms.

Wrapping her arm with mine, my mother and I headed through the house and to the back. “Now, Ava, try to keep your very outspoken thoughts to yourself.”