Through His Eyes

by Nikki Ash

  Fuck our age difference.

  Fuck my being overweight.

  Fuck Rick.

  Fuck the rest of the world.

  The only thing I can think about is spending the rest of my life being well and truly fucked by this perfect man.

  * * *

  “When’s your birthday?” I ask Lachlan. We’re lying in bed with our bodies entangled around each other. My head is resting against his chest, and he’s drawing circles on my bare back. The sun is rising and we haven’t slept a wink, but I can’t find it in me to close my eyes. In a few hours, I’m going to have to get up and meet Willow, Jax, and Kinsley at the park for her soccer game, and I’m going to regret not getting any sleep. But right now, I just want to lie with Lachlan and learn all there is to know about him. I’ve been asking him random questions in between our heavy make out sessions—some of which end with him inside of me—and I love how he’s an open book with me.

  “On Christmas.”

  “Really?” I lift my head to look at him.

  “Yep.”

  “That’s cool. Kinsley and your birthday are both on holidays.”

  “It’s not as cool as it seems,” he says, his voice serious. “People always tried to give me one present for Christmas and my birthday.” His lips turn down into an adorable pout, and I crack up laughing.

  “Poor baby.”

  “Damn right. When’s yours?”

  “March fifteenth.” I groan.

  “What’s wrong with your birthday?” He laughs.

  “I’ll be the big four-oh.”

  “Eh, don’t fret. You’re like whiskey, you get better with age.” His chest shakes with laughter at his own joke.

  “Ha ha, easy for you to say. What are you turning? Twenty-eight?” I roll my eyes, and even though he couldn’t possibly know I did so, he laughs and says, “One day your eyes are going to get stuck like that.”

  “Wow, you’re just full of jokes, aren’t you?”

  His response, of course, is to tilt my face up and kiss me. “We should start getting ready soon. Kinsley’s game starts in a couple hours. I imagine you’re going to need coffee and something to eat.”

  “You don’t have to go,” I tell him. “We were up all night and you have to work today.”

  “I’ll take a quick nap later, but I’m not missing her game.” He gives the tip of my nose a kiss and shifts me off him so he can get up. “Shower with me?” He waggles his brows.

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Twenty

  Quinn

  “I’ll make the mashed potatoes, and you can make that cornbread casserole everyone loves.” I’m having lunch with Celeste, Olivia, Willow, and Giselle, so we can discuss Thanksgiving, which is in a few days. We’ve decided to do one dinner at Celeste and Jase’s place since their house is the biggest and has the largest dining room.

  “Okay, great.” Celeste types something into her phone.

  “I’ll bring the green bean casserole and sweet potatoes,” Olivia adds.

  “Perfect.” I check the items off my list.

  “I’ll have my mom make the deserts,” Giselle says. Her mom owns an upscale restaurant here in New York. The food is delicious!

  “Jax and I can bring the rolls,” Willow says with a laugh, and we all join in.

  “I think that covers everything.” I check my phone and see it’s almost time for Kinsley to get out of school. Her babysitter, Ember, took the week off to visit family, and the backup one has moved out of the state, so I’ve been picking Kinsley up every day myself. Today is her last day of school before Thanksgiving break. With the snow falling, making the roads slippery, I need to leave shortly so I’m not late to get her. A text vibrates on my phone, and when I click into it, it’s Lachlan: I miss you. Send me a pic. I shoot him back a text, telling him I’m at lunch with everyone, but he texts back he doesn’t care, which makes me laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Celeste asks.

  “Every time I’m not around Lachlan, he’s begging me to send him pictures.”

  Giselle laughs. “Killian does the same thing!”

  “Really?” Olivia asks. “Do you send them?”

  “Of course! Gotta keep his spank bank filled with me,” Giselle quips.

  “I would be so afraid of them getting lost in cyber space,” Olivia says.

  “I send them to Lachlan, but only ones of me clothed. He’s asked for some nudes, but I feel like I’d need to edit them beforehand,” I say, only half-joking.

  “Oh! You should do a boudoir shoot,” Celeste says. “That way he gets his nudes and they’re done tastefully.”

  “That’s actually a really good idea,” I admit. “Lachlan’s birthday is coming up. I could give them to him as a gift.”

  Celeste’s face splits into a wide grin. “Well, look at you, getting all risqué in your old age.” She winks teasingly. “You know Adam’s husband, Felix, right? I think you’ve met him before.” Adam is a model and one of Celeste’s best friends, and Felix, his husband, is a huge well-known photographer. “Want me to see if he’s available?”

  “That would be great. Thanks,” I tell her, feeling both excited and nervous.

  “Have you decided yet, if you’re going to Ireland with him?” Willow asks.

  “Ireland?” Celeste questions. “You guys really are getting serious, aren’t you?”

  “He told me he’s falling in love with me,” I admit. “He asked me to go with him for a wedding.”

  “You should go!” Willow says. “You deserve a mini vacay.”

  “I do want to go, but I feel bad leaving Kinsley with you guys. He said I could bring her, but I hate for her to miss any days since she’ll be out for Christmas break shortly after.”

  “That’s what family is for,” Celeste points out. “You have all of us. I bet Skyla would even stay with her if you wanted her to. It’s okay to lean on us, you know.” Hearing her say the words, knowing my family has my back, solidifies my decision to go.

  “You’re right. Thank you. I’m going to tell him yes.” I send Lachlan a text, asking if the invitation is still available to join him in Ireland. A few seconds later, my phone rings. “Hello.”

  “Does this mean you guys are coming?”

  “This means I’m coming.”

  “No Kinsley?” I can hear his disappointment through the phone.

  “She has school, but my family said they’ll watch her.”

  “I’ll book our flights tonight,” he says with a smile in his voice. “If you change your mind about her, just let me know.”

  “Will do.”

  We hang up, and when I place my phone down on the table and look up, I see four sets of eyes smiling at me. “What?”

  “You are so in love with him,” Celeste says in a sing-song-y voice.

  I don’t even bother to deny it. “I so am.”

  * * *

  “Good morning, beautiful.” Lachlan’s words are accompanied by a kiss to my cheek. I snuggle deeper into his side, hiding my face so we don’t have to wake up. I have no idea what time it is. The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t want to leave this bed ever. And then it hits me. Lachlan is in my bed…in my house…and Kinsley is home. Oh, God! We fell asleep again! We’ve been getting more and more careless lately. Lachlan keeps waking up a little later. And judging by the light shining in through the windows, unless a miracle has occurred and Kinsley is still asleep, she’s going to see him leaving.

  “You have to go,” I stress.

  Lachlan’s body stiffens. “Shit!” he hisses. He shoots up into a sitting position and my head drops onto the pillow. “I set my alarm.” He grabs his phone and swipes it open. “Damn it, I’m sorry, I set it for p.m. by mistake. You go down and distract her and I’ll sneak out.”

  That’s when I remember today is Thanksgiving. “You’re coming back, though, right? For dinner?”

  “Of course.” He cups the side of my face and presses his lips to mine. “Declan said he and Veness
a would be going as well, so I’ll probably drive them over since I still have my vehicle.”

  “Okay.” I pout, not thrilled that I won’t see him until later.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What if I talk to Kinsley about us? She already knows you’re my boyfriend.”

  Lachlan is already shaking his head.. “No, you said you weren’t comfortable with her seeing a man wake up here unless you knew it was forever. One day I’m going to make you mine, forever, and then we will explain why we’re all living together. Until then, I need to do a better job at sneaking out.”

  My shoulders droop in relief at how perfect this man is. “Okay, I’ll go distract her.” I give him a chaste kiss, despite wishing I had the time to devour him. “See you later.”

  I find Kinsley in her room, still in her pajamas and playing with her Barbies. I close her door partially so Lachlan can sneak out without her seeing. We spend the better part of the morning playing and then Kinsley helps me make the mashed potatoes to bring with us for dinner.

  We arrive at my brother and Celeste’s place, and I see Lachlan’s BMW is already parked in the driveway. When we walk in, Kinsley immediately spots him sitting at the dining room table and gives him a hug. She and Lachlan have become close the last couple months, and it warms my heart to know she has yet another person in her life who loves her. I take a moment to say hello to all the guys—and Declan’s girlfriend—who are sitting on the couch watching football.

  Both Nick and Killian are yelling at the screen, and I can’t help but laugh. They both played several years in the NFL and always have a lot to say when a game is on.

  After I’m done talking to Killian about the new ink he just got done, I walk over to Lachlan. “Hey you,” I say, leaning down to give him a kiss. “Whatcha doing?” I look around and see several of the kids are drawing and painting turkeys.

  “Painting my turkey.” Lachlan laughs. “Hey, Mini-Q, want to draw one?”

  “Yeah!” she exclaims, jumping into the empty seat next to him. He hands her a plate and explains how to trace her hand and then cut it out. I watch as she follows his directions to a T. When she starts drawing and painting the actual turkey, though, she frowns, her gaze flickering between Lachlan’s finished turkey and hers. “Mine sucks.” She pouts.

  “Hey,” he admonishes, cheekily. “You said a bad word. You owe me a dollar.” The room erupts into a fit of laughter—well, everyone but Kinsley, whose brows knit together as she pulls a dollar bill from her pocket.

  “Fine, but it’s a waste of time because you’ll curse soon and have to give it back.” She slaps the dollar bill into his palm with an adorable glare. “My turkey looks so bad, and yours looks perfect.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “It’s not fair. You make tattoos, so you can draw.” She huffs loudly.

  “You’re being kind of rude,” I tell her. “Are you in need of a nap?” Every day after school, she goes home and takes a short nap to help her unwind from her day. We were busy cooking and playing today, so she never took one. It’s about that time.

  “I’m not a baby, Mom,” she whines, her eyes darting around at all the kids at the table.

  “I didn’t say you were,” I point out.

  “Why don’t I help you draw it,” Lachlan says, taking over, “and then you can paint it.”

  “Okay,” she whispers, covering her mouth to hide her yawn. “Thank you.”

  Leaving them to do their own thing, I head into the kitchen to deliver the potatoes. Celeste and Skyla are standing at the double oven, taking the two birds out, Giselle is getting all the sides in order, buffet style, and Olivia and Willow are gathering up the plates and silverware.

  “What can I help with?” I ask, and everyone waves me off.

  “I heard you’re going to Ireland with Lachlan,” Sky says, walking over to me. “Go you, Aunt Quinn!” She laughs, and I roll my eyes. “I told Dad and Mom, I can watch Kinsley at your place, so she can sleep in her own room. I can take her to school in the morning and pick her up.”

  “Have I told you how much I love you?” I take Skyla’s face between my hands and kiss her nose. It’s hard to believe she’s going to be twenty-three next year, which makes me realize Lachlan is closer in age to Sky than he is to me.

  “What’s wrong?” Sky asks.

  “Nothing.” I fake a smile, pushing down the self-doubt. Lachlan told me he’s falling in love with me. He spends the night, every night. No man jumps through the hoops he does, just to get laid by a woman twelve years his senior.

  “Okay.” She gives me a look that says she isn’t quite buying it, but doesn’t argue. “What time are you leaving Thursday? Do you need me to spend the night on Wednesday?”

  “That would be great,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her for a hug. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

  “Oh, stop!” She laughs. “I’m twenty-two and just recently moved out on my own.”

  “And you go to FIT full-time, and will be graduating in May, while helping to run a multi-billion dollar company,” I point out, which has Sky blushing with pride. “Like I said, I’m very proud of you.”

  * * *

  Dinner is served, and everyone grabs a plate, piling food high, and then finding a seat at the expansive table. The kids have a separate table right next to us. Jase gives a small speech about being thankful for everyone here, and I can’t help the tears that come. I don’t know what I would do without my family. Jase and Jax have been there through everything: a dead father, a deadbeat mother, a cheating husband. Helping me to raise Kinsley. And now here they are supporting me as I find love.

  “Hey, you okay?” Lachlan leans over and asks softly, giving my thigh a comforting squeeze.

  “Yeah, just getting emotional.” I laugh it off. “Thank you for being here.” I press my lips to his cheek. “I love you.” I still in my place, realizing what I said right after the words come out.

  Lachlan turns to face me. “Do you mean that?”

  “Yeah.” I nod once. “That wasn’t how I wanted to tell you, but yes, I do mean it. I love you.”

  He grins the most beautiful boyish grin, and cupping the side of my face with his hand, he says, “I’ve been waiting for you to catch up, beautiful. I love you.”

  Twenty-One

  Lachlan

  “You have your cell phone?”

  “Yes.” She nods.

  “Passport?”

  “Yep.” She nods again.

  “Laptop to do edits during the flight?”

  “Oh! I forgot that.”

  I chuckle as I watch Quinn run back upstairs, for the third time, to grab her laptop. It’s four in the morning, and since our flight to Dublin leaves at seven, we have to get going, so we can get through security. Flying out of JFK is always a hassle, but during the month of December, it’s exceptionally crazy. Luckily, it’s the week after Thanksgiving and a few weeks before Christmas, so it shouldn’t be too horrendous.

  “Got it!” she whisper-yells, not wanting to wake up Skyla or Kinsley. “Oh! I need the adaptor!” She takes off running her sexy ass back up the stairs again, while I get the pleasure of watching. While she’s up there, I spot Kinsley walking down the stairs, rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists.

  “Everything okay, Mini-Q?”

  “Yeah, I heard Mommy running around and I wanted to say bye.” Her tiny mouth curls down into a sad little pout. “I’m going to miss you guys.”

  “We’re going to miss you.” I glance up the stairs and don’t spot Quinn, so I kneel down in front of Kinsley and whisper, “I got it.”

  Her eyes widen. “Can I see? Please!”

  Pulling the box out of my pocket, which reminds me I need to stick it in my luggage before we go through security, I hand it to her.

  “It’s so pretty,” Kinsley murmurs with a giant smile on her face. She’s staring down at the three carat, platinum, princess cut engagement ring I purchased the day after Quinn told me she loved me—that was af
ter I spoke to Kinsley and asked if she would be okay with me asking her mother to marry me and the three of us becoming a family.

  She hands it back to me. “I really want to go with you guys,” she says with tears brimming her lids, breaking my heart. If it were up to me, she would be getting on that plane with us, but Quinn is her mom, which means it’s up to her, and I have to respect her decision.

  “I know, but your mom doesn’t want you to miss school. After I ask her, I promise we’ll Facetime you on your iPad, though. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she agrees.

  “Kins, you’re awake?” Quinn comes jogging down the stairs with her laptop under her arm and her cord in her hand.

  “I wanted to say bye.” Kinsley wraps her arms around her mom’s waist. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she says with heavy emotion clogged in her throat. It takes everything in me not to beg Quinn to let her go with us. She might not be my daughter, but I’ve grown to love her as if she’s mine, and I hate the idea of her being upset in any way.

  “Oh, sweetie. I’m going to miss you too. I’ll Facetime you every day. I love you.”

  “Okay, love you more.”

  “C’mon, Kins,” Skyla says, making her presence known. “Since you’re up early, why don’t we get ready and go to breakfast before school? We can go to our favorite donut shop.” She waggles her eyebrows, and Kinsley’s frown turns right side up.

  “Okay! Bye, Mom! Bye, Lachlan,” she yells, running up the stairs.

  “Thank you,” Quinn says to Skyla, giving her a hug.

  “You’re welcome. Have a good trip.” She smirks at me, and I stifle a laugh. She was sleeping on the couch, so my guess is she heard Kinsley and I talking, and she knows I’m planning to propose.

  * * *

  The six hour flight to Dublin was spent with Quinn wrapped up in my arms while we talked, flirted, an even made out. Purchasing first class tickets was the best decision I could’ve made. With only the two of us sitting next to each other, the flight was actually enjoyable. Since Ireland is five hours ahead of New York, we arrive at six p.m., and after renting a vehicle—where I splurged and got a BMW M5—the same model as mine, only newer—we drive the two hours from Dublin to Galway.