by Marla Monroe
“Thanks. I want to spend as much time with her as I can. I want to spend time with him, too, but he will benefit more from time with you two than with me.” Tina leaned into Zack then moved over to Cole. “Thank you both for letting me bring them here next week.”
“We’re going to enjoy it as much as you will, baby.” Cole kissed her before pulling her into his arms. “Let’s head up to bed now. You need to get some sleep.”
Zack watched as Tina grinned and pulled away from Cole to run out of the kitchen toward the den. They looked at each other then chased after her.
Just as they entered the den, Zack’s heart dropped when he saw Tina collapse halfway up the stairs and fall backward. He and Cole raced to reach her before she hit her head. Cole managed to grab her as her head hit the bottom step.
“Fuck! Tina, baby.” He pulled her into his arms.
Zack grabbed her hand, holding it to his chest. “Is she okay?”
“She’s not waking up. She’s breathing.”
“Is her head bleeding?”
Cole held her to his chest. “Look and see. I can’t feel anything.”
Zack leaned over and checked, but he didn’t see anything. “Doesn’t look like it. We need to take her to the hospital. This is the second time she’s passed out. Something’s wrong.”
“You drive.” Cole lifted her in his arms as he stood up.
Zack grabbed the keys to the car and hurried to open the doors for Cole. Once he had them settled in the car, he locked up the house and jumped in the car to drive. She was going to be okay. There wasn’t another option. He couldn’t survive if she wasn’t in their lives. She made his world turn and brought the sunshine every morning.
Chapter Fifteen
“Why didn’t you call us and tell us you were sick?” Alexis asked. She felt terrible that they hadn’t known and been there to help Tina.
“There was nothing any of you could have done. I’m fine now.” Tina’s beaming smile belied that she had been sick at all.
Alexis was excited and had news to share, but she didn’t want to be insensitive. Maybe she would tell everyone later. Right now, they were all busy helping Tina get ready for the kids from the children’s home that would be visiting over the next week. The guys were putting up a basketball goal despite the temperatures being in the twenties outside.
“Do you think the bedroom will be comfortable enough for them? I thought that Antonio would want his own room, but Cole is probably right. He’ll feel better having Rachel in the same room since they don’t really know us that well.” Tina was flitting around the room, straightening pillows and tightening the covers on the twin beds.
Alexis grinned. “I’m sure it will be perfect for them. They are so lucky that you are going to let them visit for a week. Are you sure you’re well enough to handle two kids right now?”
“I’m fine. Besides, I have Cole and Zack to help me. They won’t be any trouble at all.”
Parker chuckled and held up a book from the bookshelf. “I remember this book. My dad used to read it to me. I had forgotten all about it. I need to get one for Addison.”
Carly ran her hand down the center of one of the twin beds. Alexis thought she seemed awfully quiet. Since she was smiling, she didn’t think there was anything wrong. Maybe Alexis was just projecting her good news on everyone else.
“I think everything is ready, Tina. Let’s go check on the guys.” Briana grabbed Tina’s hand and pulled her out of the room. “I don’t trust Kyle and Dillon not to be teaching the girls something they don’t need to know.”
Brandy giggled. “Tell me about it. Matthew is already winking at all the girls.”
“You know he’s going to be such a flirt with dads like those two,” Briana said.
“Just wait until your girls grow up and want to date,” Brandy pointed out. “I bet you anything your husbands are going to be standing at the door with shotguns.”
Parker nodded her head in agreement. Alexis was sure Brandy was right. The men wouldn’t be able to help themselves when their daughters grew up. Right now they had everything under control, but come high school, those days were going to be a distant memory.
They located the men all congregated in the den with the children watching a sports channel. Alexis smiled as both Cole and Zack jumped up to pull Tina between them. It was obvious they were being extra careful of her. She smiled when Neal and Mark crooked their finger toward her. They had huge grins on their faces as well.
Zack grabbed the remote off the coffee table and muted the sound on the TV as everyone found a seat in the den. Allen pulled Addison on his lap while Dillon and Gavin had a daughter apiece. Brandy and Matthew were sitting on West’s lap and Carly, Drew, and Roger all sat on the floor on cushions in front of the couch.
“When are you picking up the kids, Cole?” Shane asked.
“We’ll get them tomorrow morning after breakfast and keep them until Sunday afternoon around two or three. They have to be back in time to get settled to return to school.”
“We were hoping that maybe you would all come over on Saturday for a party for them. We planned to cook out hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and watch kid-friendly movies,” Zack added.
“They would enjoy being around everyone and the other kids, too.” Tina looked hopeful.
“Sounds like a great idea to me.” Alexis squeezed Mark’s hand.
“We’ll be there,” Shane added.
Everyone talked about what they would bring and added their ideas for what Cole, Zack, and Tina could do during the week with the children while they had them. Alexis loved being a part of the gang. It was like one big happy family. They all cared about each other and supported them no matter what.
“Hey, everyone!” Tina stood up, holding the hands of her men. “We’ve got something to tell you.”
Alexis turned her attention from playing with Matthew and looked at Tina and her husbands. They all looked pretty excited.
“The reason I was sick the other night was Cole and Zack’s fault.”
“Hey!” Zack pulled her hair before kissing her.
Everyone grew silent wondering what she was talking about. Alexis held Neal’s hand and felt Mark’s on her shoulder.
“It seems that despite all our best attempts to prevent it,” Tina began. “I’m going to have a baby.”
Alexis started laughing and jumped up to hug Tina. She couldn’t get close enough with Parker, Brandy, and Briana beating her. She and Carly just looked at each other and laughed. Then all of the women started crying together.
“Hey! What’s with the tears?” Cole demanded.
Shane and Allen just shook their heads. “Get used to it, man. When they’re pregnant they cry all the time.”
“They’re not all pregnant, are they?” Zack asked.
“God, I hope not!” Gavin wrapped his arms around Briana’s waist and pulled her away from Tina.
“Actually,” Carly began. “I am.” Drew and Ranger grinned like idiots.
“Well, I guess if we’re spilling the beans, then I should confess that I am, too.” Alexis couldn’t hold it in any longer. Everyone began talking and crying all over again.
“Can you believe it? We’re all going to have babies at the same time!” Tina jumped up and down until Cole put a stop to it.
“Easy, baby. You’re going to jiggle poor junior until he’s seasick.”
“I’m going to have a little girl. You watch and see.” Tina wiped at her eyes as she smiled up at him.
Alexis was so excited that her friends were having babies, too. She knew how much Tina had wanted to get pregnant and how worried she’d been. Now that she was, maybe she would relax more and lose some of the stress that had seemed to be plaguing her lately. Of course, Cole and Zack would be riding her hard to take it easy from now on. She was already getting some of that from her men.
“Tina, what about Antonio and Rachel? Are you sure having them next week isn’t going to be too much for you?”
Parker asked.
“Not at all. I’m fine now that we know what is going on. I was a little anemic, so the vitamins will help with that. There’s no way I’m going to cancel their visit.”
“Well, if you need help, you can always call on us to help,” Brandy said.
“I know. You’re all the best family I’ve ever had.” Tina started crying again, and the men all moaned.
“Don’t start that again, babe.” Zack brushed a tear away with his thumb. “I can’t stand to see you cry.”
Cole looked over at Zack and shook his head. “Might as well admit it, man. We’re going to adopt those kids anyway. Looks like we’re having triplets, guys.”
Tina squealed and threw herself in Cole’s arms. Alexis couldn’t stop the tears from falling. There had been too much happening in all of their lives lately for her to keep from boohooing along with everyone else.
Mark kissed her lightly on the lips before passing her to Neal for another kiss. She loved her men. They had helped her learn to relax and enjoy life instead of trying to make her life into something she thought she wanted. Now they were going to have a little baby to love and adore. If anyone would have asked her even a year ago if she planned to have children she wouldn’t have been able to answer them. She’d never thought she was the mothering type until she met her men and the rest of The Dirty Dozen crew.
Now all she could think about was how happy she was and how much she loved all her friends. Between her part-time job, her husbands, her baby on the way, and the charity work they were doing as a group, Alexis figured she had a pretty full life. In fact, it was overflowing with happiness. Looking ahead, she saw baby showers, first steps, and first days at school along with a whole lot of Dirty Dozen Happiness.
THE END
WWW.MARLAMONROE.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marla Monroe has been writing professionally for about ten years now. Her first book with Siren was published in January of 2011. She loves to write and spends every spare minute either at the keyboard or reading another Siren author. She writes everything from sizzling-hot contemporary cowboys to science-fiction ménages with the occasional badass biker thrown in for good measure.
Marla lives in the Southern US and works full time at a busy hospital. When not writing, she loves to travel, spend time with her cats, and read. She’s always eager to try something new and especially enjoys the research for her books. She loves to hear from readers about what they are looking for next. You can reach Marla at [email protected] or visit her website at www.marlamonroe.com.
For all titles by Marla Monroe, please visit
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
About the Author
