Chapter 6

Meeting the Family

Ethan

I want to reach across the console and hold her hand while I drive but I hold back, instead settling for the way she rests her arm against mine. I had to practice some pretty heavy restraint to not kiss her at the diner and now that it's just the two of us in the small confines of the cab of my pickup, it's even harder.

"Where are we going?" she asks softly.

"I want you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Someone important to me," I tell her and know she won't be satisfied with my vague answer.

"Your dad?"

"No. Not my dad." I wouldn't do that yet. Not because of her, but my dad is like an overbearing mom when it comes to me bringing women home. He'd jump to every conclusion he could think up.

"Hmm. Well, whoever it is, thank you for wanting me to meet them."

"You're welcome," I croak out. She sings along to the slow country song that's filtering through the speakers and I almost jump out of my skin when I feel the back of one of her fingers brush against my hand. The touch is so light I almost think I imagined it but when my eyes dart to hers, I see her cheeks tinge with pink and a small smile grace her plump lips as she stares straight ahead. Man, this woman turns me inside out. A tiny bit of skin contact and I can barely think.

Luckily, it doesn't take long to get where we're going. She looks around, a bit confused. Rightfully so.

"Where are we?"

"What does it look like?"

"Um, a homeless camp?"

She's leaning forward, looking out the windshield, taking it all in.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

That's the second time today she's told me she trusts me and I still don't know why I deserve it. But I'll take it. I reach for my handle and push the door open. I grab the leftovers out of the backseat of my pickup and meet her by the tailgate.

With the boxes in one hand, I take her mitten-covered hand in my other. I wish there was no barrier between us but it's freezing out here so I'm glad she's warm. Her eyes meet mine, those gorgeous golden browns are shimmering with interest.

"Oh! I almost forgot." I hand her the food and open my tailgate, lift out the heavy tank and drag the storage container to the end. I'll come back for the tote later. She watches me and follows when I walk toward the camp.

"Conner?"

"Ethan? That you?"

"Who else would it be?"

Conner comes into view and Liv gasps. With certainty, I know she wasn't expecting Conner. As soon as he spots Liv, he stops in his tracks and eyes her warily.

"Ethan," she whispers, hand covering her mouth.

"Conner, this is Liv. Liv, this is my bud, Conner."

She looks at me and stretches out the hand not holding the food to Conner who gives her a half-hearted hand shake. "Hi Conner. It's nice to meet you."

He mumbles something under his breath, looks to the ground and kicks at the dirt. I set down the propane tank next to us and step in close, lean down to look him in the eye, place my hand gently on his shoulder to gain his attention. "Conner, speak up. She's a friend of mine and nice. I wouldn't bring someone here I didn't trust, you know this."

He looks up at me, his large green eyes, freckle covered face, and wild, messy mop of red hair making him look just as young as he really is, even if life has given him experiences that makes him older than his age. "It's nice to meet you, too," he says more clearly this time.

"How about you call me Livvy Loo?" She smiles at him and it makes me want to hug her.

"I brought some stuff. Help me carry it over, will ya? We'll grab the rest in a bit." I hand him the small storage container off the tailgate and pick the propane tank back up.

"Okay."

There's a bright blue tarp hanging from two trees separating the tent and camper from the roadside but it's not lost on Liv what she's going to find once we pass through the tarp. She just doesn't know the extent of it. Conner pulls the corner of the tarp back and steps through, holding it back for Liv and me.

Conner is the oldest of the kids at only thirteen. His parents lost their home to a fire but didn't have rental insurance, no family to speak of, no friends to step in and offer support and the community they were in didn't offer up help, either. They packed up their meager belongings they were able to salvage in their car that has definitely seen better days, in the early 90's, and ended up here about a month ago.

"Mom? Dad? Ethan's here."

"Ethan?" Conner's mom Samantha comes out of the old camper I let them use. I had bought it a few years ago with the plan to live in it myself while I build a house. It's definitely not big enough for a family of six but it's better than nothing. Plus, this way they at least have the use of a small kitchen and a bathroom. We have to take it to fill with water and empty the tanks, and I'm constantly worried the generators that keep everything running will run out of gas, but so far, they've managed well. As soon as she sees me, her face lights up but when she notices Liv next to me, they widen with curiosity. I've never brought a single person here. No one but me knows about the family living on my property.

"Hi Samantha. I hope it's okay, I brought my friend Liv here to meet you."

"Of course! Austin! Ethan's here and he brought a friend!" The way she says friend when she's calling for her husband to join us makes me chuckle. She shakes Liv's hand as she greets her. I watch Liv closely, wondering what's going through her mind. I probably should have warned her but I didn't want her meeting this family with any preconceived notions. They were judged enough before they came here by everyone else as it was. I turn her to face me, needing the reassurance that I made the right choice to bring her here. Relief fills my veins when I don't see any sort of judgment or pity in her eyes. Curiosity, yes. I probably should have given her a little more credit.

Austin appears, baby Hillary on his hip and Liv gasps, not realizing there would be a toddler in the mix.

Hillary's chubby cheeks are pink and it makes me nervous but Austin and Samantha, they're good parents. These four kids couldn't ask for any better and the fact that they're homeless doesn't change that. They do the best they can with the life that's been handed to them.

He sets her down and she toddles over to me, lifts her little arms in the air and I bend down to pick her up. She nestles into my chest, resting her head on my shoulder. "Where's your brothers?"

She babbles and points to the camper. There's a smaller tent they keep their belongings in as well. It was their only shelter when they arrived, but it was the end of February and there was no way in hell I would take no for an answer when it came to providing them a better place to lay their heads at night.

After they got settled in, they went to a local the situation they are living in. There's nothing wrong with the camper, the quarters are tight and they obviously know they're essentially homeless.

"What's happening, brother?" Austin says, his voice booming, smile contagious, grip on my shoulder strong. He's the most upbeat man I've ever met. And considering he's homeless with a wife and four kids, he has every reason to be pretty bummed out and quite frankly, pissed off, most of the time. But he looks on the bright side in every situation. His take on life is what brings me back here week after week, wanting to help and simply spend time with the family. It's what pulled me in to help the Knights without them asking for it.

I bought this property to build a house on about a year ago but hadn't gotten the process started. It works for an address they can use for now so they don't get reported to CPS and their little amount of mail they receive goes to a PO Box in town that I own. They've been homeschooling so the boys don't fall behind and even though living in a camper is far from ideal, they are doing well. They take trips to the local library often and the kids are crazy smart. I've never met two more determined people to change their lives than these two or to make their "home" just that, a home.

"Not much, man. Brought someone I'd like you to meet. This is Liv."

He smiles at Liv and brings her in for a hug. She holds the containers of food out to the side of her while giving me a wide-eyed look. I just shrug, rubbing up and down Hillary's back. Austin's a bear of a man, he's almost 6'4" and despite his living situation and lack of constant meals, a large man. She doesn't stiffen or recoil at a strange homeless man giving her a hug. She just embraces him like they've known each other for years.

He straight up lies through his teeth because he's never met any of my friends when he says, "Always love to meet a friend of Ethan's." Over her shoulder, he gives me a look that says he's going to be asking me for details later. He's worse than Samantha.

"Brought more propane and this one here had eyes bigger than her stomach so we brought you some food from the diner."

She gives me a side rolling eye. Impressive. "It's true. I got a little nervous and may have ordered enough for ten people."

Conner is eyeing the containers with a hunger that makes my heart break. I know they're not starving. I make sure of it and Samantha and Austin would sooner die before any of their kids went hungry, but they don't get the simple pleasures that going out for a meal brings. I hand them over and he looks thoroughly pleased.

"Go on and bring them inside, you guys can dig in if you want, but your brothers need to come out and say hello before you start."

"Okay!" He sprints off excitedly.

"The boys haven't been feeling well the past two days."

I stand up straighter, wanting to fix it immediately. "What do you mean?"

Samantha waves me off. "It's nothing to be concerned about. They both have colds and Conner had a slight fever last night but they'll be fine. We're watching it."

"You should have called me." I try to keep my voice level because I've made it clear that they can call me any time of the day and I'll be there to help. I hate to think the boys were sleeping out here in the cold if they could have been at my place instead. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place, not wanting to come across as untrusting of their abilities but still offering to help whenever possible.

"Ethan, you do enough for us. Letting us live on your property, constantly bringing us food and all the things we need. We don't need to trouble you."

"Stop it. You know I don't think of it as a trouble."

Austin turns to Liv, who's been listening, watching quietly. "You're probably confused."

"Just a bit," she says, closing one eye and holding up two fingers barely apart.

"About four months ago, the house we were living in burned down. We weren't prepared, didn't have renters' insurance and we lost almost everything, including our jobs when we couldn't keep up with hours because we were trying to figure out our living situation. Ethan was filling up at the gas station when we coasted into town on fumes. The kids were hungry and crying, Samantha and I were exhausted and had no idea what we were going to do with only about five hundred left in our name." He looks into the trees beyond their tents. Samantha wraps her arm around him and he does the same, sliding his hand into the back pocket of her jeans. "Ethan here, he wouldn't take no for an answer and here we are. He's an angel," he adds on, teasing, but not really. In his dark moments, when he's unsure of their next moves or he's feeling down about not providing for his own family, he's been brought to tears by my generosity. He and I see it differently. Where they see me as their angel, they don't see the blessings their family brings to me.

"You give me far too much credit."

"How about we agree to disagree," he jokes.

"Wow. I'm so sorry to hear about the fire. I can't imagine what that must have been like for you."

"Thank you. It was a scary time but we survived and that's all that matters."

Conner comes back with his brothers, neither of them looking like they feel good at all. With the temperatures dropping again to remind us winter hasn't completely let Michigan out of its grip, and snow coming soon, it makes me nervous and I know I won't sleep tonight.

I crouch down in front of them both, letting Hillary sit on my bent knee as I get a closer look at the boys. "Not feeling too good, huh boys?"

The second oldest Levi shakes his head, sniffs and wipes his nose with his sleeve. Chase coughs, a deep, wet sounding cough. I mentally add a case of Kleenex, extra blankets, another heater, and whatever else they'll need for cold and flu season to the list of what I'll bring next week. And Germ-X. Lots and lots of Germ-X.

"Aww, buddy."

"I'll be fine," he mumbles, eyes shifting to look at Liv and back to me.

"Oh! Sorry. Liv, this is Levi and Chase."

"Hi guys. I'm sorry you're not feeling well."

They shrug and look to their parents. "Can we go back inside and lay down?"

"Sure," Samantha says, feeling their foreheads with the back of her hand.

Conner takes Hillary's hand and they all disappear around the corner and into the camper. They're not starving and they're clean, able to use the laundromat to wash clothes, but their living conditions are far from ideal. Far.

Austin gestures to the lawn chairs they have set up around the tent and we all take a seat. "So how's it really going?" I keep my voice low so the kids can't hear me thorugh the thin walls of the camper, knowing they try to keep as much hidden from them as possible.

I shouldn't have been worried, though, because Austin smiles wide and I know whatever he's about to say is going to be awesome. "I'm glad you came today. I found a job," Austin says, pride evident in his voice.

Absolutely awesome. "The construction company I told you about?"

He's practically beaming with excitement. "Yeah. Thanks for the recommendation. The owners, Barrett and Josh, seem like good guys to work for. We even get benefits. Benefits, can you believe it? I've never had a job that offered insurance and vacation days, not that I want to take days off because I can't wait to get back to work, but having the option is huge. But, if I prove myself to them, I'll have use of a company pickup in a few months, too. And they helped Samantha find something, too. She'll be cleaning their office and a few others at night. We'll be busy but this," he points around them, "it's almost behind us. Not that we aren't grateful," he rushes to add but it's not necessary. I know what he means.

Samantha reaches over, holds her husband's hand and smiles. "Ethan, it gets better. Josh, he has a couple rental properties, and he's letting us live in one for super cheap until we can afford to pay the full rent. Not only do we both have jobs, but we have a place to live."

I sigh in relief. Not because I don't want to continue helping them, but because they deserve a break. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you both. So what's the plan?"

"Actually, we can move in this weekend. We'll be in a home," Samantha says, smiling. She laughs nervously, like she hates to believe it's possible.

"No way!"

"Yup! In just a few days we'll be out of your hair."

"I'm not going to keep telling you guys that you're not a bother."

"We plan to pay you back for everything you've done for us," Austin says.

"Wrong."

What no one besides my dad knows is that when Jessie died, she left money to me. I didn't want it but couldn't refuse it, either. Dad told me to hang on to it and use it for something that would make her proud. Helping a family in need would have been something she would have done without question. Especially one who doesn't expect it. Helping them has barely put a dent in what I inherited but it would have been worth it even if it did.

"You're a stubborn asshole," he jokes.

"I told him he was relentless this morning!" Liv says, giggling.

Samantha points back and forth between us. "When did you two meet?"

"Last night." I say it knowing how it sounds. I just like messing with them.

Her mouth forms an O and Austin barks out a laugh, draping an arm over the back of her chair.

Liv pushes my shoulder. "It's not like that. I mean, yes, we met last night and had breakfast this morning but we didn't spend the night together! Well, we kind of did because I was at the Goat until like two am and then saw him again first thing but we didn't like, sleep together or anything and uggghh!" she trails off, dropping her face into her hand.

"She rambles when she's nervous."

She lifts her head and glares at me but the twist of her lips says she's trying not to smile.

"We actually met once about ten years ago."

"Really?" Samantha asks, perking up at the prospect of some sort of romantic story.

"She was just seventeen, though."

"Ahh. Didn't want to be a cradle robber, huh?" Austin teases.

"That and her brother was sure to tell me to stay the hell away."

"Her brother?" Samantha's voice comes out full of humor.

"He and I lived across the hall from each other, been friends for years."

"No shit? So then how did this happen?" Austin asks, pointing between us.

"She came into The Flying Goat last night and," I shrug, trailing off while looking at Liv. The lines beside her eyes crinkle as she smiles back at me.

"And you hit it off," Samantha finishes for me.

Austin clears his throat. "Anyway, yeah, Josh brought me over to look at the house yesterday. It's perfect. Three bedrooms. A full bathroom so Samantha can relax in a bathtub sometimes. The kitchen has really nice appliances and there's even a garage that's attached to the house. And, get this, it's furnished. No one's even used it." His eyes sparkle and Samantha's smile is so wide. He shakes his head like he can hardly believe their luck. "No shit. They have living room furniture and beds and dressers. I guess Barrett's wife owns an interior design business and found all of it on a clearance deal. Even a TV in the living room and the kitchen is stocked with what we'll need."

I reach over and grab Liv's hand and squeeze. She has no idea what hearing this does to me but the way she turns her head to me and smiles tells me she has a little bit of an idea.

"This is because of you, Ethan. You introduced me to Barrett, believed in us and provided for us. We'll never be able to repay you."

"Have us over for dinner one night and I can experience what you've been bragging about all these years and that will be repayment." I turn to Liv and explain, "From what Austin says, Samantha here is one of the best cooks in the world."

"He exaggerates," Samantha says shyly.

"Lies. And you're on," Austin tells me.

We chat for a few more minutes then I hear some terrible coughing come from the tents. Samantha is quick to jump to her feet, moving to check in on the kids.

Liv glances at me with a worried look on her face. I scratch my jaw and keep hold of her hand. She nods and I hope she's thinking what I'm thinking. "Austin, hear me out a minute, okay?"

"Whatever you're about to offer, get it out of your head. No. We've taken far too much from you as it is."

"It's supposed to snow tonight," I tell him and he can't hide the worry.

"I can't take more from you than I already have," he whispers angrily.

"You're not taking. I need you to understand that. Your family is my family, you hear me? Now, we're going to pack up the tents and you're staying at the hotel until you can move in to the house. Just keep what you'll need for the next few days and we'll store the rest."

"Ethan."

"Don't argue with me, okay? Let me do this. Those boys can't be out here in this weather, you know that. They look like shit, Austin, and that's not a reflection on you or Samantha. Kids get sick. It's what happens. So please, let me do this one last thing."

His head drops and shoulders shake and watching this big, strong man crumble is humbling and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from tearing up as well. Liv loses the battle, though.

"Besides, think of how much fun the boys will have watching a movie in the hotel, swimming if they're feeling up to it, maybe ordering takeout and eating it on the bed. Think of it as a much-needed vacation before you both start working. Austin, you deserve this. The last several weeks have been hell for all of you and I know you, you'll dive head first into this new job because you've missed working."

They've both done odd jobs over the last few months but nothing was permanent or offered enough money that it would change their lives. Still, they've been actively trying to fix their situation and are doing the best they can.

Austin stares at the tent and blows out a breath. "I'm fine here, but Samantha, she needs a break. And the kids need a bed and a warm place to sleep to get over their colds."

"I'm glad you see things my way," I say completely smug.

"Seriously. You're annoyingly stubborn. And thank you. You've changed our world, Ethan." He shifts his attention to Liv. "I don't know the situation between you two, but you've found yourself a good one."

Liv's chin wobbles and she nods, looking at me out of the corner of her eye.

"Go tell the kids and Samantha and you guys can get started. I'm going to bring Liv back to her car then I'll come back with my dad's enclosed trailer so we can load it up and leave all your stuff in there until we can move you in this weekend."

He begins to stand when Liv does the same, only she springs to her feet. "Why are you bringing me to my car?"

"Uh, right now I'm not sure."

Austin chuckles.

"You don't think I'm capable of helping?"

"Nope. I thought maybe you could use your car to take Samantha to buy some things for their new house," I say, backpedaling.

"Good answer," she praises me, patting me on the chest, "even if it was a lie."

"So to clarify, I'll go grab Dad's trailer and Liv will come back with her car so she and Samantha can go do their thing."

"Ethan, man, this is too much."

"Shut up and quit fighting it already."

"Besides, this is my treat," Liv pipes in. "I mean, basically I'm just looking for an excuse to go to Target and get in a little retail therapy."

I could kiss her. "You gonna deny the lady?"

"Two peas in a pod," he murmurs, walking to the tent to tell Samantha the plan.

****

As soon as we're back in my pickup, I drive us down the road and around the corner and put it in park again. I've been fighting my instinct to kiss her for far too long now and I'm done.

Without warning, I steal a kiss without a single ounce of guilt. Leaning over the console, I thread my fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head and pull her close. Her breath catches and I take advantage of her open mouth.

I explore, taste, nip, tease. I don't want to miss anything. Our first kiss of what I hope is many. I close my eyes, savoring the way she seems to relax under my touch. My thumb draws a line along her neck, from below her ear down to her collarbone. I can feel her pulse pounding and have no doubt mine matches.

She tastes like coffee and sweetness and bacon which sounds weird but it's intoxicating and addictive. Liv moans, turning her head to the other side to give me a new angle. Her tongue mimics my own in a battle of dominance and I reach over, press the button on her seatbelt and release it. She doesn't hesitate and dives over the console.

It's clumsy and she knocks her head against the steering wheel, her feet end up against the passenger window and her back on my lap. Not exactly what I intended when I unlatched her belt, but it works. We both fumble around as we laugh into each other's mouth. I reach down next to my seat, push the button for my seat to slide back, lean down and kiss her again.

Damn, she's a good kisser. Her lips are soft but demanding, like she's not afraid to take what she wants. She shifts, raising up so her back is against my window and her butt is nestled nicely in my lap. Our position is similar to the way she sat on my lap in the diner but this time we have privacy and I can hold her the way I wanted to hold her when we were there.

I reach between us and unzip her coat, slide my hand around her waist and pull her close. She arches her back when my mouth and tongue blazes a trail along her jaw, sucking lightly just below her ear. She's so responsive, body shuddering, tiny squeaks and moans escaping her throat, fingertips digging into my scalp as she tries to pull me close. The air in the cab of my pickup is sizzling with sexual energy. The windows fogging up against the cold outside temperatures.

"Ethan?"

"Hmm?" I don't stop my exploration but she has other plans. She traces the shell of my ear with the tip of her finger then leans back. Her golden eyes are soft and draw me in.

"I need to tell you something."

"Anything." She stares at me long enough that I start feeling nervous. "Hey," I say, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, "whatever you have to say, you can tell me. Don't be nervous. Not with me."

She looks between us to where I've tucked our hands together against my chest. I squeeze her hand and with her eyes still downcast she says quietly, "I really like you."

I grin, tip her chin up. "Yeah?"

"Like really like you. It's kind of taken me a little by surprise."

"Yeah?"

Her crazy unique, beautiful golden eyes turn a few shades darker. "Is that all you have to say?"

I grin, playing the ends of her hair, kiss her on the cheek, letting my lips linger before letting her see my truth. "I really like you, too. Like, really, really, like you."

She blows out a breath, rests her forehead against my chin and wraps her arms around my neck.

"I'm really scared. In my world, relationships don't last. I never saw myself wanting to stay with anyone. But this feels different and I don't know why. We barely know each other," she mumbles against my skin.

I remove her hands from behind my neck and lean back so I can look at her pretty face. "This feels different?"

Those little shoulders lift and rise. "As terrified as I am to admit it, yes, it does."

I rub a thumb along her cheekbone. "Good. Because it feels different for me, too."

"It does?"

"Yeah, Liv, it does. I don't know what it means, but I know I'm not ready to let you go and I'm open to whatever comes our way. Now, is there anything else on your mind or can we kiss again?"

She shakes her head. "That's all. I only know a little bit about you but it doesn't feel that way at all. It just feels, I don't know, natural, or something. Like I was supposed to meet you last night at your bar. But that's crazy, right?"

"You mean like fate?"

"Yeah. But, I don't know if I believe in fate."

"Well, I believe that there's such thing as being in the right place at the right time. Last night was just our time to meet. What we do with that moving forward is up to us."

"But that's just it. How can there be so much between us already?"

"Don't know. But I trust my instincts and they're telling me to hang on tight." And then I kiss her. A kiss to do my best to show her that I'm all in, ready for more.