Owned Forever by Willa Edwards Read Free Book Online Page B

Grant. You did such amazing work.”
    His mother and Kate’s father inspected the cabinets lining the kitchen walls, refinished and hand carved by Grant. “You did this, son?”
    Grant nodded. “It’s just an update of the previous cabinets. I created some new doors with glass inlays and some custom carving, then re-stained everything to the color Kate choose. It really wasn’t much.”
    Daniel clenched his jaw. Grant always made everything sounds so damn easy. Like everyone did that. It probably was easy for him.
    “It’s great work.” Her father praised, and Daniel noticed the smile that came to Kate’s lips with the compliment. “I don’t know that I’ve seen custom work like this, even in Dallas. You’re talented, son.”
    “Daniel did all the accounts and made sure we stayed under budget.” Kate squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him, but instead she made him feel three inches tall.
    And just like that, he was the scrawny kid in high school again, following after his older brother like a lost puppy. Hell, even as an adult he was still doing that. He’d been the second one to fall in love with Kate. The last one to join into this relationship. He was always runner up, second choice. Grant would always be quarterback, while Daniel was always class treasurer. To the world—and even to Kate.
    “You did a great job too, sweetheart.”
    His mother smiled at him and Daniel shrank another inch. The only thing worse than being placated by his future wife was being placated by his mother.
    “The only thing left to do is paint and move in the furniture.” Kate pointed to the sample taped to the wall, giving them an idea how the living space would look completed.
    “Hector and some of the hands are going to paint the whole house. As a wedding present,” Grant called from the back of the room. “They just wanted to wait so you could see the place, before it got too messy.”
    His smarter brother had been staying to the back of the group since the moment they’d picked up Kate’s parents at the airport. With each stop on the ranch tour, Daniel had grown more and more jealous of him.
    Sometimes being the one to marry their girl sucked. Having to deal with Kate’s parents definitely ranked high on the list.
    “Isn’t that nice of them,” Gale added, trying to stay as upbeat and cheery as possible.
    “They’re really great guys,” Kate added on, almost as sweet and fake.
    Her mother nodded, walking around the room, inspecting every surface. She strode toward the bedroom door, and Daniel sucked in a breath. He might not be Margo Baker’s biggest fan, but no mother should have to see what they’d installed in her daughter’s bedroom.
    Thankfully, she moved on without opening the door, stepping back into the kitchen instead. Daniel pulled in a grateful breath. He looked up at his brother, and Grant—though he didn’t show it as much—appeared just as relieved.
    “It’s not as nice as your townhouse in Dallas.” Kate’s mother turned up her nose at the Formica countertop, scuffling her feet along the beige tile floors as if testing to see if they’d withhold her steps.
    True, Kate’s townhouse in Dallas—the home her parents had bought her—was nicer than this place. But he hoped this house meant more to her than her place in Dallas ever could. This home was theirs together. They’d all cleaned and repaired and designed it together. That meant more to her, right?
    “It’s a great place to start. Once we get the ranch running a little smoother, we might think about building a bigger house on a parcel of land by the road. But right now, this is all we need.” Kate smiled over at her mother, trying to look happy, even as her shoulders slumped and the sad glaze covered her eyes.
    He hated when she looked like that. He tightened his hands into fists, fighting back the urge to slam one into something. And he had a few ideas what he wanted to start with, if he could.
    “At least it will all be