by Nikki Ash
Kaden gets out of the booth and comes around to my side of the table, scooting in close to me. “You were assaulted and I put my anger above your feelings and wellbeing. Can you forgive me?”
“Yes, I missed you so much. And I’m quitting the club. I just want to focus on our babies and on us and Tristan.”
Kaden grins and gives me a kiss. “I would really love that, but only if that’s what you want to do.”
“It is.”
He takes my keys out of my purse and slides the keychain onto my keys. “So, you always have a piece of my heart with you.”
“I love it.”
“There’s actually something I have been meaning to talk to you about. You know the recreational center will be breaking ground hopefully next month.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see it all done. It’s going to be amazing.”
“The guys and I were talking and we thought you would be the perfect person to run the place. You will have help of course. Liz will be handling the accounting side, and we will have to hire people and reach out to those who wish to volunteer, but you mentioned you would like to work with kids so I thought maybe you would want to work there.”
“Kaden, I would love to manage the rec center. I have so many ideas. The different sports and programs we can offer. While I was teaching, I saw so many kids wish for after school activities that weren’t offered because of budgeting. I’m so excited.”
“Perfect. The place won’t be up and running until the beginning of next year but we want to make sure we are doing it right along the way. We can sit down and go over the plans, see if there’s anything we need to add or change. Sound good?”
“Sounds amazing.”
After we finish eating, we go to Liz’s to pick up Tristan. The party has ended and Tristan and Bella are in the living room watching Ultimate Fighter on the television.
“How’d it go?” Liz whispers.
“Kaden knows.”
“Ok, good. I wasn’t sure whether to say anything outside. I’m so glad you’re ok!”
Liz pulls me into a hug. “How did he take it?”
“How did who take what?” Kaden comes over and puts his arms around me absently rubbing my belly as he nuzzles his face into my hair, giving me a kiss under my ear. I sink back into his arms welcoming the feel of his body against mine after a week of being without it.
“How did you take me being pregnant.”
“You’re pregnant?” Tristan comes into the kitchen with Bella following him.
“I am. What do you think about that?”
“I think that’s awesome. I hope it’s a boy so I can have a brother.”
“You can borrow my brother if you want,” Bella says scrunching her nose.
“You don’t like your brother?” Cooper asks.
“Of course, I do! I love him. But if Tristan needs to practice, I don’t mind lending Nathan to him.”
We all laugh. “That’s very sweet of you.”
“Well, it might be a boy and girl,” Kaden says snuggling his face back into my neck.
Tristan looks at us confused.
Liz gasps.
Cooper laughs.
“You’re having twins?” Liz looks down at my stomach.
“Apparently so.”
“Well, that makes sense. Why you are so sick and why your tiny belly is already protruding!”
“Yeah, I am only like ten weeks. So, we aren’t going to tell everyone until I am out of the first trimester but there’s definitely two little ones in there.”
“Awww… If I remember correctly isn’t ten weeks a lemon?”
“Oh no! Not you, too!”
Kaden cracks up. “Nope, it’s a kumquat.”
Cooper laughs.
“What’s a kumquat?” Tristan asks.
“Ok, I don’t know what’s up with you all and measuring the size of a fetus by fruits but my babies are not frigging kumquats!”
Everybody laughs.
Chapter Seventeen
Kaden
“Umm… what are these?” Ashley is standing in the backyard staring at my four-wheelers like they are personally offending her.
“Baby, you’ve never seen a four-wheeler before?”
“Oh, I’ve seen them. I’m just wondering what so many of them are doing back here and why my son is sitting on a mini-one.”
It’s a three-day weekend and the entire gang is over for a barbeque. I’m assuming by the look on Ashley’s face, she hasn’t been to the detached garage in the back to see all my toys, four of which are four-wheelers. Since Tristan is too small to ride a regular one, I had a Honda 90 delivered for him along with a chest guard and helmet. He took one look at that machine and jumped on it ready to go. But now looking at the death glare Ashley is giving me, I am thinking that maybe I should have mentioned it to mama bear first.
“Can I ride on the back of Tristan’s?” Bella squeals.
“You should ride on the back of mine, Bella,” Marco cuts in. “I’m older and can drive better. You will be safer with me.”
“Since when can you drive?” Caleb grills Marco.
“Well, I haven’t yet, but I’m older and almost thirteen.”
“There’s no way Marco is riding that death-trap by himself.” Hayley is standing next to Ashley and if I don’t do something quick the women are going to overpower us.
“The guys will each take one, and Marco and Bella can ride behind one of us. Tristan’s got his own, though. He’s got to learn how to ride.” When Ashley’s eyebrows go up in defiance, I jog over to her to defuse the situation. “Baby, I’m going to be with him the entire time. It’s an automatic so he doesn’t even have to shift. He has head and chest gear. I wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”
I give her a small kiss on her lips but it doesn’t work. The tears well up in her eyes just begging to be released. “B-but he’s m-my baby.”
“Yes, he is, but the babies in there.” I point to her stomach. “Are making you a tad emotional.”
If looks could kill, I would be a dead man.
“Are you saying my concerns for my child aren’t real? That I am only worried about the well-being of my only son because you knocked me up and I am carrying two babies in here?”
I hold my hands up, palms out silently waving the white flag but it’s too late. She’s revved and ready to ride.
“And even if I am a tad emotional, don’t you think it’s a bit rude to point it out? It’s not my fault, my hormones are all over the place. Maybe you should have thought about this, when you insisted I get rid of my birth control. Now my son is sitting on a death contraption about to go riding through the millions of acres of woods where he can get lost or hurt.”
Damn, I love this woman. I feel a smile grace my lips and I quickly try to reign it in before she catches it.
“So…. Does that mean we can’t go riding?” Bentley whines. Kayla smacks him.
Ashley huffs and storms off but I chase after her. Yeah, yeah, I’m pussy whipped. I’ll be the first to admit it. “Wait, Ash.” She stops and turns glaring at me. “If you don’t want him to ride on his own, he can ride on the back of mine. I’m sorry, baby. I don’t want you stressed.”
I am granted a small smile, warming my heart. “Ugh! He can ride. Just be careful, please. I’m going to go start on the side dishes for lunch. I can’t be out here and watch this. It’s going to give me a heart attack.”
I look back and forth between Tristan and Ashley trying to decipher the code of what she just said knowing if I make the wrong choice, my ass will be in the dog house tonight.
“Tristan, we will practice with your new four-wheeler later. You’re on the back of mine, bud.”
I hear a soft giggle behind me, then tiny hands come up behind me. “Good decision. You will definitely be rewarded tonight.”
“Holy shit, bro! Those trails are something else.”
“Yeah, we need to go again, and soon.”
“I can’t believe aft
er all these years, we have never gone mudding after a good rain.”
We spent the good portion of the morning and early afternoon riding the trails that line up to my backyard. Once we returned and got cleaned up, the ladies had lunch ready to go. Ashley can make a mean homemade cornbread casserole.
I look around and take a moment to thank God for everyone at this table. Everybody is chowing down and talking. The kids are laughing. We are all healthy and happy.
“You ok?” Ashley looks at me quizzically.
“Yeah, I am. Thank you.” I bring my lips to hers and what starts off as a quick kiss quickly turns into something more. Suddenly there’s a piece of food hitting me in the side of my head.
“Hey!”
“Quit making out like teenagers at the lunch table,” Cooper laughs.
Ashley leans over and whispers into my ear, “Later.” That one word has my dick twitching.
Ashley
“Mom, you landed on Park Place, and dad has a hotel on it. You owe him…”
“Fifteen hundred.” Kaden waves his monopoly card in the air excitedly. I would like to smack that smirk right off his damn face.
Let’s have a family game night, they said…
It’ll be fun, they said…
Fun, my ass! While Tristan and Kaden are holding all the damn deeds to everything that matters. I have like two hundred bucks left and own Oriental freaking avenue!
“I need to go to the bathroom really quick! Don’t let mom steal my money.” Tristan runs out of the room to the bathroom.
“Hey Ash…”
“What?” I glare at Kaden knowing I’m about to lose. I hate losing. And for the record, I am so done with family game nights.
Kaden moves closer to me, giving me a kiss on my cheek, then bites down softly on my ear lobe. The act sends sparks right to my core. This pregnant woman is horny twenty-four-seven these days.
“If you give me a blow job behind the hotel I own, I might consider your debt paid.” I laugh out loud throwing my money onto the board.
“I’m out.”
“Oh c’mon, baby. I’m sure we can work something out.”
“How about you put Tristan to bed while I take a shower and then we can meet in bed to negotiate?” I squeeze his semi through his jeans.
“Tristan!” he yells. “Time for bed.” Then he turns to me. “I’ll meet you in bed, and you better be naked.”
“Fuck. Yes!” Kaden is lying in bed wearing nothing but a pair of briefs watching TV when I walk out of our bathroom naked, as he requested.
I wave the Park Place deed in the air. “So, I apparently owe you fifteen hundred dollars. I’m here to work off my balance.”
When I get close enough, Kaden moves to the edge of the bed, then grasping my hips pulls me close to him, so his face is level with my protruding belly. I am now fourteen weeks pregnant, and while you would think a month wouldn’t make a difference, when you are carrying twins, it does.
After placing several small kisses on my belly, Kaden looks up and smiles at me. “I love you.”
I entwine my fingers into his hair, then leaning down to give him a kiss. “I love you, too.”
Squatting down in front of him, I quickly pull his briefs down so his dick pops out. The sight of his beautiful dick has me licking my lips in anticipation. Kaden chuckles.
“Get up here.” I look up in confusion.
“I don’t want my fiancée sucking my dick tonight. I want to make love to you.” Grabbing me under my arms, he lifts me up and places me on the bed.
“Do you know what today is?” Kaden starts raining kisses all over my face. My cheeks, my forehead, my lips. Then he moves downward to my neck and collarbone.
“Sunday?” He laughs as he moves lower to kiss each of my nipples causing me to stir.
“Yes, it’s Sunday. But it’s also three weeks until we get married.”
Holy moly! I can’t believe it! In three weeks, Kaden Scott will be my husband.
“I need to make love to you as many times as possible before then,” he says with urgency.
“Why? What will happen once we’re married?”
Kaden looks at me like I’m stupid before he breaks out into a huge grin. “I’ll never be able to make love to you as my fiancée, again.”
“You’re so silly!”
He gives me a kiss on my belly. “Hey there little ones. Hopefully you have no idea what is going on because I am about to make sweet, sweet love to your mama.”
He looks up at me and winks, soaking my non-existent panties in the process. Then he does just as he promised, and makes sweet, sweet love to me for hours.
Chapter Eighteen
Ashley
“You look breathtaking, sweetheart.” My mom stands arm’s length gushing over my wedding dress like it’s the first time she has ever seen it. “I’m just so glad Giselle was able to get the seamstress to bring it out more. I need to hurry up and get married before my belly grows again!”
We are sitting in one of the rooms at the amazing wedding venue Kaden and his mom picked out. Parkside Mansion is gorgeous on the inside and outside. The ceremony will be held outback under a huge white tent, which will shield the blazing Colorado sun, and the reception will be held in their ballroom.
Most of our guests flew in yesterday, some early this morning. Since it’s a tradition for the bride and groom to not see each other the night before the wedding, the girls planned a spa day for us yesterday with lunch. It was the perfect bachelorette luncheon. The guys all stayed at Bentley’s cabin and spent the day skiing, returning this morning.
Earlier this morning, Kaden’s mom brought me by the venue so I could see everything before the wedding. She told me that it will all feel like a blur once the wedding gets started so she wanted me to take it all in now. The outside is simple. White wooden back chairs that lead up to the front where we will say our vows. Light pink petals are littered along the walkway and upfront.
The ballroom is filled with large circular tables with light pink linens all covered with sterling silver vases that are filled with fresh gardenias. It’s all simple and elegant and I love it. The linens even match the bridesmaid’s dresses.
“Oh Ashley, you look beautiful!” Hayley comes over and gives me a one-handed hug since she is holding something in the other. “This is for you, from Kaden.”
I take the wrapped box from her hand and unwrap it. Inside is a puzzle box with the image of what the puzzle will be when it’s completed. It’s a picture of Kaden, Tristan, and I holding up the sonogram we got last week at my appointment where we found out the sex of the babies.
“A thousand-piece puzzle?” Kayla chortles. “That’s more like work than a gift.”
“No, it’s perfect.
Inside the box, there’s a note on top of all the pieces.
Ashley,
Love is like a puzzle, hard to piece together, but beautiful when all the right pieces are put together. I can’t wait to spend my life putting all our puzzle pieces together, baby. I love you.
Love always,
Kaden
“Don’t you cry! You can’t go messing up your makeup until he at least sees you!” Rose pulls me into a hug. “Thank you, my darling girl. You took my broken grandson and pieced him back together.”
“What did you get him?” Hayley asks. I feel the blush hit my cheeks.
“I did a boudoir photo shoot…”
“Nice!!” Kayla exclaims. All the women giggle. I look over at Rose, embarrassed that I just admitted to doing a sexy, naked photo shoot for her grandson, but she just smiles and winks.
“You ready?” My dad opens the door extending his hand to me. “Yes, I am more than ready.”
Once we get to the backdoors of the mansion, Bella and Tristan walk down the walkway first. Bella is the flower girl and Tristan is the ring bearer. Next, Hayley, Liz, and Kayla all walk down the aisles escorted by their husbands. Once they get to the end, the wedding march begins and my dad walks me
down the aisle.
As my dad kisses my cheek giving me away, Kaden takes my hand in his. “There are no words, Ash. You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you. You look handsome yourself. Thank you for the puzzle.”
“Do you know what it took to make my dick go down after seeing those pictures of you right before having to come out here?” Kaden whispers making me smile.
We stand in front of the Ordained minister and say our vows to one another. We have decided to create our own vows but decided to keep them simple and begin and end them the same. I couldn’t memorize mine to save my life so I pull the paper out of my dress. Kaden chuckles.
“I, Ashley, choose you, Kaden. To stand by your side and sleep in your arms. To be the joy to your heart and the food for your soul. To learn with you and grow with you. I promise to respect you and cherish you as an individual, a partner, and an equal. I vow to support you, push you, and inspire you, and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live.”
I take the ring Tristan hands me and put it on Kaden’s finger. He looks down at it for a moment then back up at me with unshed tears in his eyes.
“I, Kaden, choose you, Ashley. I promise to choose you every day, to do the hard work of making now into always. To laugh with you, cry with you, grow with you, and create with you. I promise to protect you and above all love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live.”
Kaden takes the ring from Tristan and slides it onto my finger.
“Kaden and Ashley Scott, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Kaden bridges the gap between us and kisses me like it’s going out of style. Everybody claps and cheers.
After we take way too many pictures, we make our way to the reception where the DJ announces us as Husband and Wife.
After we enter, we are called to the dancefloor for our first dance. Kaden insisted since he was planning the wedding he would also be planning the song to our first dance. Then by Brad Paisley comes across the speakers and tears hit my cheeks.
