Samantha
As I walked into the kitchen, I caught sight of Ethan standing by the stove, his back to me as he carefully sliced a pizza. When he turned around and saw me, his eyes widened slightly, and a slow, appreciative smile spread across his face.
"You look great, Samantha," he said, his voice warm and genuine.
I felt my cheeks flush at the compliment, an unexpected rush of warmth spreading through me. I wasn't usually one to get flustered, but there was something about the way Ethan looked at me—like he really saw me, not just the model or the public figure, but me—that made it hard to keep my cool.
"Thanks, Ethan," I managed to say, hoping my voice didn't betray how flustered I was. "Just trying to fit in with the country vibe."
He smiled again, that easy, genuine smile that made my heart flutter. I quickly busied myself with grabbing a plate, trying to distract myself from the way my stomach was doing little flips. Why did he have to be so damn charming without even trying?
As the meal progressed, I found myself continuously impressed by Ethan's cooking. The pizza was amazing, the crust perfectly crispy, the toppings just right. But it was THE PIE that really blew me away. When Ethan brought it out, the girls practically squealed with excitement, and I couldn't help but grin at their enthusiasm.
"This is… incredible," I said after taking my first bite of the pie. It was rich, decadent, and absolutely delicious. I'd had my fair share of fancy desserts, but this one was something else entirely. "I've never tasted anything like it."
Victoria, sitting across from me, nodded in agreement. "It's divine, Ethan. I think you might have just earned my hand in marriage."
Ethan shrugged clearly pleased by our reactions. "I'm just glad you like it."
Before I realized it, I pulled out my phone and started taking more pictures of the plates of food. The Harpies had been blowing up my phone with messages since I'd sent them the earlier pictures, and I knew they'd want to see more.
Samantha: Just had the most amazing dinner, and guess what? Ethan made us THE PIE. Seriously, I might actually ask him to marry me and damn the consequences. Or maybe I'll just lock him up in my basement. Do any of you know how to DIY a dungeon?
Olivia: Already considering kidnapping. This is serious. Wait, what? They actually gave it a title? They call it THE PIE?
Grace: Is that coffee and chocolate I see? Marry him. Actually, let me marry him.
Natalie: I am literally without words. What does this guy do for a job?
I laughed to myself and sent them a few more pictures. They responded with heart emojis and more jokes about kidnapping Ethan. I grinned. Like a fool, I might add.
The meal wound down. I ate too much. Then I helped clear the table and joined Victoria and the girls in the living room. We were all still buzzing from the food and the fun of the day, and the girls were showing Victoria more pictures from earlier, their laughter filling the room.
"Dad is amazing," I heard Lily say as she swiped through the pictures. "He can do anything."
Maya nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, and THE PIE was so good! Did you like it, Aunt Victoria?"
Victoria smiled warmly at the girls, clearly enjoying their excitement. "I did, and it was absolutely delicious! Your dad is quite the chef."
As they continued chatting, I felt my mind wander. When was the last time I had such a fun day? When I wasn't worried about an event, a cause, a guy… I can't even remember.
And then I heard a sound behind me, and I turned to see Ethan walking into the living room. My breath caught in my throat.
He was wearing something very similar to what I had on—a fitted plaid shirt that showed off his broad shoulders and chest, dark jeans that hugged his muscular legs just right, and a cowboy hat perched on his head. He'd trimmed his beard, and his long hair was pulled back, giving him a hardy yet polished look.
He looked… incredible.
Everyone just stared at him.
He fidgeted a bit. "I bought the hat earlier." He smiled. "I think I like it."
Victoria and I exchanged a quick glance. Clearly, she was just as speechless as I was. Ethan was attractive; there was no doubt about that, but seeing him like this, all cleaned up and dressed in something that accentuated just how strong and fit he was—it was almost too much to handle.
"You look amazing, Dad!" Lily exclaimed, jumping up from her seat to give him a hug.
Maya quickly followed, beaming up at him. "Yeah, someone is going to try to wrangle you up!"
Ethan chuckled, clearly a bit embarrassed by the attention. "Seriously, Maya. 'Wrangle' me up? You were stretching on that one."
Maya lifted her head indignantly. "Father, you lack poetry in your soul."
He rolled his eyes.
I laughed softly, shaking my head in disbelief. "Ethan, you look so good."
He gave me a shy smile, adjusting the hat on his head. "Well, thank you kindly ma'ma. I wasn't sure if I pulled it off."
Victoria finally found her voice. "Oh, you definitely pulled it off, Ethan. You look like you were made for that outfit."
Ethan blushed at the praise. "I just hope I don't embarrass you tonight. I'm not much for dancing, remember?"
Lily piped up, "Don't worry, Dad. You'll do great. And if not, you can just stand there and look cool."
We all laughed at that, and I felt the last of my nervousness melt away. Tonight was going to be fun, and I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.
As we got ready to head out, I caught Victoria's eye again. There was a knowing smile on her lips, and I had a feeling she was thinking the same thing I was—that tonight was going to be more interesting than any of us had anticipated.