“Aren't you going to eat with me?” she asked as she dug into her food, clearly hungrier than she'd thought.
I shook my head, and she glared at me, calling me a hypocrite with her pretty eyes. I grinned and tapped her nose. “I'm not eating for two.”
“Stop saying that,” she sighed as she swatted my hand away. “We don't know if I'm pregnant.”
I didn't reply, but Arya clearly saw my arrogant assumption on my face because she rolled her eyes before focusing on her food. She inhaled the first omelet and requested a second with a chagrined smile, making me laugh. So fucking cute.
She'd just finished her second and helped me wash and put away the dishes when we heard the rumbling of several hogs coming down the gravel road to the cabin.
Arya began wringing her hands together, and I covered them with my own while giving her a reassuring smile. “Everything will be okay, I promise.” She didn't look convinced. “Do you trust me, baby?”
She immediately nodded, making me smile with pride. “I love you,” she added.
“I love you, too.” I lifted her hands and kissed them, particularly the finger sporting a diamond ring that no one could possibly miss. “I want you to stay here.”
Arya snorted. “Fat chance.”
“Baby—”
“Don't you ‘baby’ me, Dax,” she snapped, interrupting me. I'd never heard her speak so forcefully, and it shocked the hell out of me. It was also hot as fuck. “Neither of you is going to hurt me, and seeing me safe and happy might help defuse Nova.”
I considered arguing some more, but her expression said it would be pointless. Instead, I released her hands, then captured one and threaded our fingers together. “Let's go.”
We'd only taken one step toward the door when she tugged on my hand, urging me to stop and look at her. “Please, don't kill each other.”
“You got it, babe.”
“Also, even if I am pregnant, I want a houseful of kids. I'd appreciate it if you didn't let my brother injure or remove your balls.”
Her expression was so serious that it took me a beat to realize she was teasing me. I roared with laughter and gave her a quick kiss, thanking her for easing our tension, and we moved toward the door once more.
Boots stomped up the steps before there was a pounding on the door. "Dax! Get your motherfucking ass out here, you bastard!"
Before I could say anything, Arya yanked the door open and shouted, “Cool your jets, Nova!”
For a good thirty seconds, everyone stared at her with our jaws slack. Then all hell broke loose. I shoved Arya behind me as Nova lunged for me and grunted as he landed a punch to my gut. He attempted a jab with his other hand, but I blocked his fist while delivering an uppercut and hearing a satisfying crack as my fist met his jaw. The blow knocked him back a step, but we both froze when Arya came rushing around me.
“Good grief, stop it, you two.”
Thankfully, Patriot and Dash had been on Nova's ass, and Dash ran up to grab my girl and drag her away from our brawl. “Best to stay out of their way and let them work it out of their systems, sweetness.”
I glared at Dash, distracted by the way he was talking to Arya. It cost me because the next thing I knew, my nose met Nova's fist. “Fuck!”
We brawled until we were both bloody and bruised, then dropped our asses on opposite sides of the porch and scowled at each other.
“If you touched her,” Nova seethed in a deadly tone, “I will rip your balls off before I break your neck.”
I rolled my eyes and wiped away some of the blood dripping from my nose—luckily, it hadn't broken. “What the fuck do you think has been happening up here, Nova? Soda pop and board games?”
Dash, Patriot, and Arya all chuckled, and Nova threw them a dark look. “Doesn't matter. It's done now. Arya is coming home with me.”
Arya scoffed, but I beat her to a response. “Over my dead body, brother.”
“She's a kid!”
I grunted in irritation. “Open your eyes, Nova. She's a fucking woman, and no amount of brotherly ignorance is going to change that fact. And if you need further proof—that she's all grown up and all mine—she's pregnant.”
His eyes narrowed on me, then he glanced at Arya before refocusing on me. “You've only been up here two weeks.”
“Once is all it takes, bro.”
Nova looked as though he would lunge for me again, but Arya piped up and drew his attention. “If it makes a difference—and it should—I was a willing participant. I love Dax.”
Nova shook his head and struggled to his feet. “You're too young to know what love is, sis. And you barely know Dax. This will pass.”