Sorry for the late chapter. If you read the author's note for chapter six you know that I had a little computer file malfunction that set me back just a teeny bit (try four pages of writing) and now I have to rewrite it all and try to remember. But I did it. Anyways it was kind of amusing to me because I checked my emails and I think I got more reviews for my authors note than I have for any of the actual chapters with the story. I thought that was kind of funny. Anyways keep up with the reviews because I love reading them. Enjoy. )

"Honey!" a thin blonde haired woman exclaimed enveloping Ryan in a big hug.

"Hi mom," Ryan said returning the embrace.

She pulled away and turned to Brooke.

"And you must be Brooke," the woman said. "I've heard so much about you. I'm Candy."

"Hi," Brooke said smiling. She felt awkward when the woman gave her a big hug as well.

"Come In," Candy said opening the door wider. She let the couple into the house's spacious living room.

"Where is everybody?" Ryan asked seeing the empty room.

"Oh they're down in the den," Candy said. She began walking while Ryan and Brooke followed closely behind. "They've been dying to meet you Brooke."

Great, Brooke thought. They were dying to meet her. What if they hated her? What if she seemed too uptight? What if they thought she was ugly? She hadn't thought about that one yet. What if they thought she was ugly?

Her stomach clenched as Ryan's mother led them down the hall. She felt like she was going to puke any second now. She hoped that nobody noticed that she was breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth to slow her heart rate

Candy led them down the hall and opened the door to a room consisting of a bar, a billiards table, leather couches and recliner, and a big screen television along with forest green walls adorned with mounted dear heads.

There in the room sat Ryan's father, along with his brother, brother's wife, and their newborn child.

Ryan quickly made his way to the seating area where his four family members were seated.

"Hey Dad," He said hugging his dad.

"Hi Squirt," his father said.

This made Brooke smile. That must have been Ryan's dad's old nickname for his son when he was still a kid. It was cute that he still used it today.

Ryan then knocked fists with his brother and gave his brother's wife a hug and kiss on the cheek.

This is it Brooke thought. I'm finally meeting the people closest to him for the first time.

Ryan grabbed her hand for support.

"This is Brooke," he said in a matter of fact sort of way.

"It's nice to meet you Brooke," the older man said giving the brunette a firm handshake. "I'm Kevin."

"It's nice to meet you too," Brooke smiled.

If Brooke had known Ryan in high school, Kevin sure would have been on her "Hot Dad Fantasy" list. He could have given Larry Sawyer a run for his money. She now knew where Ryan had got his looks. From their dark hair, to their chiseled jaw, to their body structure; the two were almost a mirror image.

"And this is my brother Kyle and his wife Erika," Ryan moved down the line of family members to his brother.

If you looked at Ryan and Kyle from a glance, you wouldn't think they were related. They looked different in many ways. Kyle had blonde hair, Ryan had brown. Kyle had blue eyes, Ryan's were brown. Kyle's face was long and Ryan's was short. Kyle resembled his mom, while Ryan looked like his dad. They just didn't look like brothers.

But if you looked closely enough you could see tiny details that proved that they were related. When they grinned out of embarrassment, you could see small dimples at the corners of their mouths. Their skin tones matched, their muscle definition was the same, and their eyes were the same shape when they smiled. Too bad they hadn't gone to high school with Brooke. She could have dated Kyle when he was a senior and she was a sophomore and then still end up marrying his brother.

"I've heard a lot about you," Kyle said. "It's good to finally meet you."

"You too," was all Brooke could say.

"And this is Erika," Kyle said referring to the thin lady sitting next to him cradling the baby in her arms. "And Aidan."

"Hi," Erika said quietly. Either she was as nervous to meet Brooke as Brooke was to meet her, or she was just soft spoken.

Ryan led Brooke to a seat on the comfy brown leather couches.

"Can I get you guys anything to drink?" Candy asked before she sat down.

"Beer on tap," Ryan replied quickly. "Coors… Where's Connor?"

"Oh he's around here somewhere," Candy replied. "He's probably showing his friend his new quad. Can I get you anything Brooke?"

"I'll have the same as him," she replied.

"I like a girl that can drink," Kevin piped in out of nowhere causing the whole family to laugh.

The group chatted for what seemed like hardly anytime. But in reality it had been over an hour.

Brooke liked his family. They were so laid back and easy going. She wasn't used to that. Her whole life she was the little rich girl who got anything and everything she wanted except for the love of a family. She was the one girl at school who sported only the finest Abercrombie and Fitch clothing along with authentic Louis Vuitton and Coach Bags. You could say she was spoiled.

If Brooke had known Ryan's family before she had matured into an adult, she would have had nothing to do with them. In her book, they wouldn't have been worth dealing with. They weren't rich like she was. They were just that normal family. They could afford the things they wanted and had a nice house. But they didn't waste their money on material items.

She probably would have considered them country bumpkins if she hadn't gotten to know them. With their deer heads mounted on the walls, and Georgia Boots, and country lifestyle, she would have felt totally out of place.

Good thing she met Ryan after going through high school and college and after learning about small details that make a big difference. With him their holding her hand for support, she didn't feel totally out of place. In fact, she felt the exact opposite. Now that she had gotten to know the members of the family, she fit in perfectly. She could exchange small talk with them without feeling embarrassed or too shy of what to say. She liked it like that.

The small child began to fuss as Erika rearranged it in her arms.

"Here," Kyle offered. "I'll take him." He gently took the bundle from his wife's arms and placed them in his own. Immediately the baby stopped fussing.

They were the perfectly little family. While at the young age of only twenty-five, Brooke could see the genuine love that Kyle and Erika had for each other. You could see it in his eyes. She only hoped that one day she and Ryan could be like that. She couldn't wait to get settled down and finally be married to him. Starting a family was another thing. She couldn't wait to do so but the having a child scared the crap out of her.

"Dad!" a blonde haired boy who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old rushed into the room. His brow glistened with sweat and he was out of breath.

"What Connor?" Kevin said sitting up.

"Justin was riding the new four wheeler and it got caught and it flipped over on top of him and I can't get it off!" The young teen looked frantic.

Kevin immediately stood up.

"Where is he?" he asked intently. He walked over to the corner where a pair of Romeos was sitting and placed them on his feet.

"In the field."

"Do you need help Dad?" Kyle asked giving Aidan back to Erika.

"Yeah I might," Kevin said. "That bike is pretty heavy."

Kyle quickly rose from his seat on the couch to follow his dad and little brother to the scene of the incident.

"Do you mind if I go help them?" Ryan asked turning to Brooke. He wanted to make sure she was comfortable staying alone with Erika and Candy.

"No problem," Brooke smiled. For once she felt comfortable. At the beginning of the trip she would have been too nervous and when they first got to the house she would have been too nervous. But now it didn't really matter. They were nice people and they had a lot in common. "Go help your brother."