Ask Me Why Read Free Page A

have to fix it every year?”
    â€œ
Every
year.”
    â€œSure is pretty out here.”
    â€œWe think so, too.”
    â€œBut remote. Seriously, Cam. What do you do when you need milk?”
    â€œWe wait until the morning and get it when we’re in town.”
    Patrick shuddered dramatically. “I’d go crazy.”
    â€œI thought I would, too, but it’s amazing how quickly I adapted to life without everything at the tip of my fingers. Being way out here is an adventure, and I love it.”
    â€œWill you still love it when you have babies and need diapers in the midst of a blizzard?”
    Cameron laughed. Leave it to him to come up with a worst-case scenario. “I’ll send my mountain man out to get them for me. A blizzard is nothing new to him.”
    â€œBetter him than me.”
    â€œDefinitely better him than you. As I recall, you’ve never changed a diaper in your life.”
    â€œTouché,” he said, chuckling.
    They drove around the final bend in the road before the cabin came into view with a huge white tent off to the left side of the house. The autumn foliage was now past peak but had retained a breathtakingly beautiful golden hue that would perfectly match the dark gold silk dresses her bridesmaids would wear on Saturday.
    As she brought her car to a halt outside the cabin, she was relieved to park next to Will’s big truck. She was glad he was here to help her welcome her dad to their home. At the sound of Cameron’s car arriving, their yellow Labs, Tanner and Trevor, came running around the cabin to greet her.
    â€œThere’re my boys,” she said to Patrick. “Come meet them.” She got out of the SUV and was immediately accosted by the dogs, who were now hers as much as they were Will’s. “Hi, guys! How was your day?” Cameron gave them both an equal amount of love and attention, which was richly rewarded with wet dog kisses that she absolutely adored.
    â€œBoys, this is your grandpa, Patrick. Dad, meet your granddogs, Trevor and Tanner. Trevor has the black collar and Tanner’s is red. That’s how we tell them apart. And Tanner has this sweet white patch on the top of his head.”
    â€œNice to meet you, boys.”
    â€œSit.” Both rear ends dropped at Cameron’s command. “Now shake a paw and say hello properly.” Two left paws were extended to Patrick, who played along, laughing as he shook each one.
    â€œThey’re adorable.”
    â€œI know, right?”
    â€œThey only do that for her,” Will said as he joined them, extending his hand to Patrick.
    Her dad surprised them both when he bypassed Will’s hand to hug him. “Good to see you again.”
    â€œYou, too.” Will seemed pleased by Patrick’s warm greeting. “Welcome to our humble home.”
    â€œIt’s beautiful.” Patrick took a long look around at the towering evergreens and Butler Mountain in the distance. “I can see why you love it here.”
    â€œIt’s our own little slice of heaven.” Cameron leaned into Will’s one-armed embrace, closing her eyes when he kissed her temple. She opened her eyes to find her dad watching them with a smile on his face. “Come on in and see the rest.”
    â€œI’ll get your bags,” Will said.
    â€œThank you.” Patrick offered his arm to Cameron. “We need to practice for Saturday. I’ve heard I’m supposed to give you away or some such nonsense?”
    Cameron laughed. “It’s not nonsense, Dad. It’s
tradition
.”
    â€œWhat if I give you away and then decide I want you back? Does this arrangement come with any sort of return policy?”
    â€œAbsolutely not,” Will said from behind them.
    â€œI had a feeling he would say that,” Patrick replied glumly. “A girl owns your heart and soul for thirty years, and then you have to
give
her to another guy? It’s