It’s good to see Tank and Merritt. They’d convalesced back in Vegas, which is where they’re normally based—Tank with a gunshot wound to his shoulder, and Merritt with some shrapnel wounds from explosives.
Noticeably absent are Jimmy and Sal, and, of course, Malik. There’s been absolutely no progress in finding him. Things on that front feel… hopeless.
Which is why I’m glad Kynan and Joslyn are going forward with the wedding. There’d been some talk of canceling it—making a quick trip to Vegas to do the deed—because maybe it would be a little inappropriate to celebrate happiness when there had been such tragedy this summer for our Jameson family.
But fuck that is what I’d say if someone asked me.
Bad stuff happens, and it sucks. It’s probably going to happen to one of us again. We can mourn and grieve and have respect for those we lost, but we have to move on.
Most of us feel that way.
“Hey,” Cruce says as he enters the row, leading Barrett by her hand to their seats.
“Hey,” Sin and I say in unison.
Sin leans forward from my right and Barrett from Cruce’s left, so they can survey each other’s outfits.
“I love that dress,” Sin gushes as she eyeballs Barrett up and down.
“Please,” Barrett says with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You look like you walked off a runway.”
Then it starts… the chatter.
The women have bonded since Sin moved to Pittsburgh to be with me. Both Cruce and I decided to move out of the apartments at headquarters—those being better suited for single guys—and bought homes in Squirrel Hill near each other.
It’s not that we’d planned it that way.
It’s that we made the mistake of house hunting together… and the next thing I know we’re neighbors, living only a few blocks from each other.
This meant Cruce and I sometimes carpooled into work, and it obviously meant Barrett and Sin hung out frequently. Barrett’s doing contract work with the government to test her scientific formula for free energy, and she travels to the West Coast a few times a month. But in her off time, she’s been invaluable in helping Sin try to navigate her new life in the States.
“Where did you get that dress?” Barrett asks.
“I found this cool little boutique—”
“Hold up,” I interrupt, waving my hand. “Let’s rearrange.”
Without a word, Cruce and I stand, pulling our women up by their hands. With my palm at Sin’s waist, I move her in front of me, then push her down into the chair I’d vacated. Cruce does the same until Sin and Barrett are now sitting next to each other and Cruce and I are on the outside, thus sparing us from fashion talk until the wedding starts.
Luckily, soft strains of music start to play over the speakers, and everyone moves quickly into their seats.
It’s not the Wedding March but an actual love song Joslyn herself had recorded years ago. We all turn to see Kynan moving up the aisle with Joslyn by his side. Her father had died years ago. While I was introduced to her mom earlier, who sits in the row in front of us, it appears the bride and groom decided to go non-traditional and walk up the aisle together.
“Oh, wow,” Sin murmurs beside me as she takes my hand. “She’s stunning.”
And yes… Joslyn is. Her dress is long and informal, flowing in a bohemian way. She has no veil. There are flowers in her long blonde hair and her feet are bare. It’s the glow of walking next to the love of her life that has her simply radiating a beauty that’s almost indescribable.
Kynan’s also casual, or as casual as he gets if I consider his penchant for designer suits. He’s wearing a pair of dark grey tailored pants and a pale blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm. He’s also barefoot as they breeze by us with quick smiles.
There’s a minister at the front, a wooden trellis covered in white roses above him. Kynan and Joslyn come to a stop before him.
I shift my attention to Sin, who sits beside me, a dreamy smile on her face. We’ve talked a lot about marriage in the two months since I went to London to get her back. Tossed out ideas from a big fancy event to running down to the justice of the peace on a weekday when it’s not so busy.
But we aren’t in a hurry. We’re committed to each other as deeply as if we’re already married right now. People can’t go through the things we’ve been through and not come out bonded tightly. Not sure a marriage license or rings can strengthen what we already have.
Sin tilts her head, realizing my eyes are on her.
“What?” she whispers as Kynan and Joslyn start their vows.
I lean in toward her. “We should get married sooner rather than later.”
She scrunches her nose, thoughtfully digesting my words. Finally, she smiles. “I’m down with that.”
“Like… we could do something like this… or I’m fine with a church.”
“Shh,” someone says from a few rows back as Cruce shoots me a chastising look.
Sin ducks her head in embarrassment, returning her attention to Joslyn and Kynan. I merely loop my arm around her shoulder and settle into my chair, thinking of how quickly we could pull off a wedding.
♦
The reception is amazing, the backyard set up with a massive white tent, the ceiling of it covered in thousands of twinkling lights that come on as the sun goes down. There’s a band, amazing food, and free-flowing alcohol.
Sin is off talking to Joslyn. For a moment, I find myself alone while I nurse my beer until my eyes latch onto Anna Tate sitting at a table holding her baby. She gave birth a little over two months ago, and I’m not surprised she’s here. Kynan and Joslyn have kept her inside the fold of Jameson, refusing to move on from Jimmy’s death without her still in our lives.
Kynan had told me that she hung out at headquarters a lot at first, trying to understand what had gone so horribly wrong. There were no answers. Then the stress of Jimmy’s death had put her on bedrest, but Joslyn had been her constant visitor. Even though Anna has family in the Pittsburgh area, it had been a community effort to help Anna through the remainder of her pregnancy.
And then little Avery was born—a sweet baby girl I had been told Jimmy had wanted instead of a little boy as he’d felt he could spoil her a lot more than he could a son.
Barrett had told Sin and me one night at dinner that Anna had started coming around more after the birth. She’d bring Avery by to show everyone, especially because she looked so much like Jimmy.
And then she started helping out here and there while her mom watched the baby so she could get out of the house.
Next thing we know, Anna works part-time at Jameson, mostly as Kynan’s personal secretary, but also wherever else she can lend a hand.
It seems as if Anna has somehow taken Jimmy’s place at Jameson, not to do the same type of work, of course, but so his spirit remains. It’s been nice getting to know her a bit over the last few months. While she’s still a bit grief-stricken over losing her husband as well as overwhelmed with being a single mom, she’s persevered.
I glance one more time over at Sin before making my way over to Anna. She glances up as I approach, giving me a friendly smile, “Hey, Saint.”
Squatting beside her, I set my beer on the table and look at the sweet little girl in her arms. I wonder when that will happen for Sin and me? Avery’s wrapped in a lightweight pink blanket, gazing up at the twinkling lights above her.
Reaching over, I touch my fingertip to her cheek, and she smiles. “She’s the prettiest thing here today, but don’t tell Joslyn I said that.”
Anna snickers, smiling down at her daughter. “I’m a little biased as I favor her, too, so your secret is safe with me.”
“How are you?” I ask, noting the smile slipping a little.
“I’m hanging in there,” she says, her eyes resolute. “One day at a time. Between this little girl and Kynan running me ragged, I’m staying busy enough.”
“That’s good to hear,” I say a
s I straighten up.
“Hey… can you do me a favor?” she asks, also rising from her chair.
“Sure,” I reply easily.
Suddenly, she’s shoving Avery into my arms. “Can you hold her a minute? I have to pee like a racehorse, then I want to grab a plate of food.”
I take the baby, not sure what to do. I don’t have much experience with them at all.
Actually… I have no experience. This is like the first time I’ve ever held one.
“Um… wouldn’t you rather—”
But she’s gone.
Anna ditched me with her child.
I mean, what type of mother does that? For all she knows, I could be the world’s clumsiest dolt. I could drop the baby or—
Avery starts to make sounds of distress. I panic, alarm pulsing through every vein in my body.
“Oh, please don’t cry,” I mutter as I drop into the chair Anna vacated. “Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”
I gently rock Avery back and forth, all the while muttering and pleading for her not to cry.
Miraculously, she doesn’t, but watches me with interest. Getting a little bolder, I make a funny face.
Avery rewards me with a gummy grin.
“Oh, who’s a sweet little girl?” I coo, crossing my eyes and then blowing a raspberry.
When she giggles, I’m completely fucking gone.
“Wow,” I hear Sin’s voice before I see her. She moves to my side, peeking over my shoulder at the baby. “You’re a natural.”
“Not really,” I mutter, sparing her a short glance before giving my undivided attention back to Avery.
Sin pulls a chair out from the table, turns it, and sits facing me, her knees almost touching mine. We stare at the baby for a bit, dopey smiles on our faces.
“You’re a natural,” she says again, and I hear something in her voice that strikes me as a bit… odd.
Almost relieved even.
When I look up, she’s grinning.
“What?” I ask, wanting to know the secret that hides behind the mischief now in her expression.
“Well,” she drawls as she leans in a little closer to me. “I wasn’t going to say anything yet because I wanted to reveal it to you in a big way, but…”
She smiles coyly, glancing down at Avery, then back to me.
“Reveal what?” I ask blankly, wondering what the hell she’s talking about.
“You know,” she replies with a smirk. “You with a baby in your arms, seeming silly stupid in love. Clearly, you’re good daddy material, so….”
“So?”
Sin finally rolls her eyes, swatting my shoulder with her hand. “You are thick sometimes, Bellinger.”
I’m thick?
What the hell—
I freeze, her words suddenly making sense. “You’re pregnant?” I ask hesitantly.
She grins. “Took a home pregnancy test a few days ago. It was positive, but I hadn’t figured out how to tell you yet.”
“And you thought it would be a good idea to blurt it out at a wedding reception?” I ask incredulously, but, inside, something massive is welling up in my chest.
A feeling…it’s huge. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.
“Surprise,” she says with a pert smile and a shrug. “Are you freaked out?”
And then it comes… a face-splitting grin that touches both my ears. “Hell yes, I’m freaked out,” I exclaim with a whoop. I lean forward, slamming a hard kiss onto Sin’s mouth while taking pains not to crush Avery in between us. “But I’m also beyond happy.”
Admittedly, we haven’t talked too much about kids. Not since our reconciliation in the Rosewood hotel where we joked about getting pregnant. I mean… we dispensed with condoms and we never discussed birth control.
And let’s face it… Sin and I fuck like rabbits all the time. We can’t get enough of each other. I can’t be surprised she’s pregnant.
But I can be deliriously happy, because the one thing I’ve realized is we are ready for this. It’s like we’ve been waiting forever for something like this.
“We need to get married now,” I point out, taking the old-fashioned notion a couple has to be legally wed to have a child.
Sin snorts, not buying that. She thinks we’re too progressive to think that way.
Whatever.
“When we get home, we’re pulling out our calendar and setting a wedding date,” I say, giving a quick glance at Avery to make sure she’s okay. “And this will finally convince your dad to move to Pittsburgh.”
Sin’s eyes light up at that notion. We’ve been working hard on getting him to come here, but he’s been fighting us. We can’t figure out if he wants to succumb to his old ways or if he’s afraid to try living somewhere new.
Regardless, I know one thing about George Westin. He’s as ready to be a grandpa as we are to be parents.
I reach a hand out to Sin, lower it to her belly, and press my palm there. “Hey little Bellinger,” I murmur. “Can’t wait to officially meet you.”
Glancing up, I see Sin’s eyes are a little wet. Her hand covers mine, and she squeezes. “This is everything.”
“You’re everything,” I correct.
“We’re everything,” she says, pushing my palm a little harder against her stomach.
I like that.
A lot.
“Yes,” I assure her. “We’re everything.”
The suspense continues at Jameson Force Security! CLICK HERE to preorder Code Name: Hacker (Jameson Force Security, Book #4), coming March 31, 2020!
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About the Author
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.
Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.
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