“Because we live here now, are we your family too?” asked Peyton.

I stopped in the act of stabbing a piece of chicken with the fork, spinning around to face Peyton. Her eyes were wide, and she was looking expectantly between Carter and me. April had gone very still. Carter squeezed me to his side. “Do you want to tell them?”

I nodded, then lowered myself to my haunches. Peyton ran straight to me.

“Of course you’re my family too.”

“Grandma and Grandpa too?”

“Yes.”

I’d met them last weekend, when they flew in to officially meet me and to see the girls. They were both great people. Mrs. Sloane definitely seemed to want to move to LA permanently. Mr. Sloane insisted he had to be at the farm, but I could see him melting a little every time his granddaughters insisted they wanted to spend more time with him.

I wasn’t known for orchestrating ambushes and interventions for nothing, so I foresaw planning one or the other in the near future where the Sloanes were concerned.

Peyton snuggled closer, lacing her little arms around my neck. I’d told Hailey last week that Carter and I planned to get married, so of course, the whole Connor clan knew the next day. But we hadn’t told the girls yet.

“Carter and I are getting married.”

Peyton squealed with joy. April looked between Carter and me with a smug smile before saying, “I already know. Hailey told me.”

“You’ve made my favorite,” Jace exclaimed when we were all seated around the table a while later. “You always know how to put me in a good mood.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to bribe you.” I cocked a brow, leaning into him and nudging his shoulder playfully.

“Aww, Val. You know I’m always at your service, like the dutiful brother I am.” He gave me a mock salute. “Though I’ll never say no to fried chicken.”

Truthfully, I’d just wanted to lift his mood, but since he’d just offered his unconditional support, I couldn’t let this pass.

“Would you be willing to do another campaign with us? This one is shaping up to be great.”

Jace grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I know. Our PR person says they’re calling me the face of success.”

“Oh, dear God.” Hailey shook her head mockingly. “There’s a real risk this will go straight to your head. As your sister, I feel it’s my duty to keep you grounded.”

“Not before he agrees to another campaign,” I admonished her.

“Val, of course I’ll do it. Is it true they’re also calling me a heartthrob?”

“Yep. Which is just a nicer way of spelling heartbreaker,” I teased.

Jace shook his forefinger. “No, no. Big distinction. I like heartthrob much better. It’s not judgy.”