The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

the airport.”
    Grabbing the keys to the car she’d rented, she rushed down the carriage house stairs. How could she have forgotten to pick up her brother?
    “Where’s the fire, sis?” a familiar voice asked as she hurried toward the door.
    When she spun around, she saw Ford and Uncle Grant sitting at the kitchen table, looking thoroughly amused. “How did you get here? I mean, when did you get here?” She shook her head. “Oh, I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re here.”
    “Uncle Grant. About an hour ago. And I’m glad to see you, too,” Ford said, rising to his feet to give her a bear hug. “How’s the bride?”
    “Scared spitless that I’ll forget something,” she said, wondering if she should go check her list again. If she hadn’t remembered something as important as meeting her brother at the airport, what else had she missed?
    “Relax, Sprite,” Uncle Grant said, smiling. “Everything will work out.”
    “Did you pick up your tux?” She thought he’d told her he had, but she decided double-checking wasn’t a bad idea, all things considered.
    Laughing, her uncle nodded. “And I got the haircut you told me I needed.”
    With his arm around her shoulders, Ford smiled. “Abby?”
    “What?”
    “Breathe.”
    She sighed. “I’m not sure I have time.”
    Uncle Grant smiled. “Everything is under control, Sprite. Caroline and Mercedes have the ceremony and reception covered, and there really isn’t anything left to do but walk down the aisle tomorrow.” He rose to his feet and placed his coffee cup in the sink. “Why don’t you take a break from all this wedding stuff and introduce Ford to his brother-in-law-to-be?”
    Ford nodded. “Yeah. I have a few things I want to discuss with this guy.”
    “Oh, stop the overprotective-big-brother act,” Abby said, grinning. “You’re going to love Russ.”
    “I doubt that.” Ford shook his head emphatically. “I don’t love guys.”
    Happy for the excuse to see Russ before the wedding rehearsal that night, she removed her jacket from the coat tree beside the door, then took Ford by the arm to pull him along. “Stop your macho act and come on. I can’t wait for you to meet Russ.”
    As they walked toward the stable, Ford asked, “What’s going on with Uncle Grant?”
    Abby had expected Ford to question her on what their uncle had been doing in Napa Valley. When she’dcalled to ask him to come to California for her wedding, Ford had expressed his concern about their uncle’s obsession with meeting Spencer Ashton.
    “He says he’s going to stay as long as it takes to see Spencer,” she answered.
    “On the ride from the airport he said he’s going to the media with the story about Spencer’s illegal marriage to Caroline,” Ford said. “He’s hoping that gets the bastard’s attention.”
    “Nothing else has worked.” Her heart ached for Uncle Grant. He was such a good man. He deserved answers to his questions about why his father walked away all those years ago. “I don’t think Uncle Grant wanted it to come to this, but Spencer didn’t give him any other choice.”
    Ford nodded. “At least one good thing has come from this mess.”
    “And that would be?” she asked as they entered the stable.
    “We’re getting you married off.”
    Abby laughed. “Yes, but I’m not leaving home. Russ and I are going to live on the farm.”
    “Did I hear my name mentioned?” Russ asked, stepping out of the tack room. He walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her until she felt lightheaded. “How’s my best girl?”
    “She’d better be your only girl,” Ford said firmly.
    Russ nodded. “The one and only. Unless, of course, we have a daughter.”
    Ford’s eyes narrowed. “Abby are you—”
    “No.”
    Russ figured he’d be talking to Abby’s brother at some point before the wedding. He’d already received a fatherly speech from her uncle.
    “Honey, as much as I’d like to spend the rest of the day holding you, I think Mercedes was looking for you earlier. Why don’t you go up to the winery and see if she needs your help with something?” He gave Ford a meaningful look. “I’ll keep your brother company while you’re gone.”
    “That sounds like a good idea,” Ford said, nodding.
    “You’re not fooling me.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Ford is going to give you the brotherly warning. And you’re going to tell him that he has nothing to worry about.” She gave him a