The Birthday List

by Devney Perry

  I nodded. “If the situation calls for it. I respect the law and we have rules for a reason, but not everything is black and white. Some people, like Isaac, deserve a second chance.”

  Poppy’s hand came to my face. “How’d I get so lucky to find you?”

  “It’s the other way around, beautiful.”

  She leaned forward, pressing her soft lips to mine as the kitchen door swung open.

  “Kissing again?” Molly snickered.

  “Always.” I wrapped my arms around Poppy’s waist, pulling her off her stool and between my legs to take her mouth. This time, there wasn’t a thing gentle or sweet about our kiss. This one was hot and deep—a kiss that left Poppy panting, Molly rolling her eyes and my dick hard behind my zipper.

  “You’d better get me that banana bread,” I whispered. “Otherwise I’ll find something else to eat and we won’t be going to the football game.”

  Poppy leaned in to my ear. “I’ll make you a deal. You taste the banana bread, and later I’ll do some tasting of my own.”

  I groaned against her lips. I loved this woman.

  And since I still wasn’t sure if I should say it, after the game, I’d show her just how much instead.

  “What if they drop me?”

  I kissed Poppy’s worried forehead. “They’re not going to drop you. If you feel like you’re starting to fall, just set your feet down.”

  We were standing in a sea of people. Seventeen thousand Bobcat and Grizzly fans all had their eyes aimed on the football field, but I couldn’t look away from the beauty at my side.

  After we’d left the restaurant, Poppy had pulled on a thick black beanie, and her hair was rolling over her shoulders in a loose cascade to her waist. Her nose was pink from the cold and she’d bundled up in her gray winter coat. Her jeans were tucked into a pair of black, knee-high snow boots.

  She looked happy.

  And I had the picture to prove it.

  I’d taken a lot of pictures for Poppy these last few months—ones that she could count as her daily photo—but today’s was a favorite. It ranked just as high as the picture I’d taken a month ago of her and Nazboo cuddling together, asleep on my couch.

  A cheer from the crowd snagged my attention away from Poppy. It was just a first down, but the Bobcats were getting closer to the end zone.

  “The next time we score, I’ll hoist you up.”

  “Okay,” she breathed.

  We turned our attention back to the game and stood quietly as the kids around us cheered for the players and cursed at the refs. When we’d gotten to the game, I’d chosen to abandon our ticketed seats and squeeze into the jam-packed students’ section. It was wild and crazy—noisy as fuck and I had to stand sideways—but it was the best place for Poppy to do her thing.

  Just as I’d suspected, it didn’t take long for the Bobcats to march down the remainder of the field and score a touchdown, sending the stadium into sheer pandemonium.

  “Up you go!” I grabbed Poppy by the waist and hoisted her high.

  The mass of fraternity guys in the rows behind us didn’t let me down. They kept her high, sending her up the rows as she laid back flat.

  Crowd surfing like a badass.

  I laughed and held up my phone, taking a few pictures as she went higher and higher. When she finally reached a group of people that set her down, I pushed past the students in my row to the aisle. Then I took the stairs two at a time, meeting her on the steps.

  I stopped one step below her so we were almost at eye level, giving me the perfect view of those cornflower blues.

  “Fun?” I asked.

  “Yeah. It actually was.” She laughed and threw her arms around my shoulders.

  I wrapped my arms around her tight, dragging in a few deep breaths of her hair. It smelled like vanilla and cinnamon mixed with the crisp air and everything Poppy.

  “Thank you,” she said into my ear. “For everything.”

  I let her go and leaned back.

  The stadium was still deafening, but it was all just a dull buzz in the background when Poppy was in my arms. The cheers, the clapping, the whistles, it all just faded away.

  There was only her.

  I lifted a hand to her face. “Like I’ve told you, I’m glad to help you with the list.”

  “No, I’m not talking about the list. This is about everything else. Because of you, I wake up smiling. I look forward to each and every day. Because of you,” she took my hand off her cheek and pressed it against her heart, “this only has happy beats.”

  She held my hand against her chest as her bright blue eyes sparkled.

  I loved this woman. I loved this woman so damn much it consumed me.

  What the hell was my problem? Why was I holding back from telling her how I felt? Because I was scared that she was still in love with her husband? News flash, Cole. She would always have a special place in her heart for Jamie. That didn’t mean she couldn’t love me too.

  He had her past.

  I was taking her future.

  I’d get to buy her another dog. I’d get to watch her have our babies. I’d get to dance with her at our golden anniversary. Because I was never letting her go.

  As long as I lived, Poppy would be mine.

  It had taken me a hell of a long time, but here in the deafening stadium, I finally got a clue. It was time to tell Poppy how much she meant to me—regardless of her response.

  Behind us, the Bobcats kicker must have scored the extra point because the stadium erupted again. It was too loud for her to hear, so I mouthed my next three words. Three words that would only ever be hers.

  I love you.

  She smiled and mouthed, I love you too.

  She loved me too.

  Her lips had barely stopped moving when I crushed mine to hers. I thrust my tongue inside, devouring her mouth as she dueled right back. When I finally pulled away, her lips were wet and red and just how I liked them.

  “Ma’am! Excuse me, sir!”

  I tore my eyes away from Poppy’s as a man scurried to our sides. He was wearing a neon-green vest with SECURITY written on the breast pocket. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave, ma’am,” he told Poppy. “You can’t crowd surf in the stadium.”

  “Sorry.” She giggled, grinning at me before turning to walk up the stairs.

  I laughed too, which just pissed the security guard off, and followed behind Poppy. By the time we reached an exit gate, the sounds from the stadium had dulled and I could hear again.

  “I guess we’ll be kind of early to your parents’ after-game party.”

  I threw my arm around her shoulders, steering her toward the parking lot. “I’ve got an idea how we could kill a couple of hours.”

  Her eyebrows quirked. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Cole,” I gasped, arching against his chest. I was on my side with him at my back. One of his arms was under my hip and his fingers were at my clit. The other hand was across my chest, rolling a nipple between his fingers. And while his lips were kissing my neck, his cock was thrusting inside.

  “Come on, Poppy. Get there.” He rammed his hips against my ass, sending his cock even deeper.

  My legs trembled as he stroked harder, hitting the spot inside that would send me over the edge. The thunder of his heartbeat against my spine matched the rhythm of his hips. Every nerve in my body was alive—Cole had sparked them all to life with his burning touch.

  “I’m—”

  My orgasm hit hard before I could give Cole a warning. All of the muscles in my body convulsed as my hips bucked with every pulse of my sex. I forced my eyes open, blinking away the white spots and tears dancing in my vision.

  “Oh my god,” I panted as Cole slid out and rolled me to my back. When he slammed back inside, I nearly came undone again.

  He pressed his hips hard against mine. “You feel so fucking good.”

  I hummed my agreement, closing my eyes to savor the feel of Cole on
top of me. He found a new pace in this position. One that never failed to work me back up to another blinding release.

  “I’m there, beautiful.”

  Speaking was impossible since I could barely breathe, so I just nodded and let go. Wave after wave rushed over my body. Incoherent whimpers escaped my lips at the same time Cole’s roar echoed through the bedroom. His hot release slickened between us as his strokes slowed.

  As we both came down, Cole slid out and collapsed by my side. The comforter had long since fallen onto the floor and the sheets were balled up by the footboard.

  “I fucking love vacation.”

  I giggled and rolled into Cole’s side, tossing a leg over his. “Me too.”

  He kissed my hair. “It was nice to see your parents, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little glad they’re gone. I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.”

  It was the week between Christmas and New Year’s and Cole and I were finally back together in his bed. My parents had come to Bozeman for a week, and rather than stay in a hotel, they’d stayed at my house. I hadn’t wanted to leave them alone since I rarely saw them, so I’d stayed there too while Cole had stayed at his place.

  The unspoken boundary around my house had kept us apart for seven nights, but we’d dropped my parents off at the airport this morning and immediately come back to his house. With a trail of clothes leading from the door to the bedroom, we’d wasted no time making up for a week of nights apart.

  And now we were having a mini-vacation.

  We’d both taken two extra days off of work to spend together. Our plan was to barricade ourselves in Cole’s bedroom, other than going to dinner at Brad and Mia’s house. Since Cole had spent actual Christmas Day with me and my family, we were celebrating with his family tonight. Cole’s sister, Evie, and her husband, Zack, would be there so we could all have a nice dinner and exchange gifts.

  Then it was back to bed.

  “What time do we need to leave?”

  Cole looked at his alarm clock. “An hour.”

  “Then I’d better get in the shower.”

  His hand traveled down my hip to squeeze my bare ass. “Want some company?”

  I smiled, loving Cole’s ambition. We’d already had sex three times today, but far be it from me to deny my man a shower.

  “Yes, please.”

  “So what did Cole get you for Christmas?” Evie asked.

  “A whole new set of Williams Sonoma pots and pans for his kitchen.”

  “Pots and pans? Oh, brother, no. You don’t buy your girlfriend cookware for your first Christmas together.”

  I laughed. “Probably not most girlfriends, but for me, it was the perfect gift. His pots and pans were atrocious and all my good stuff is at the restaurant. Since I’ve laid claim to his kitchen for my recipe experiments, they were just what I wanted.”

  She looked at me like I was crazy for not wanting jewelry. “What did you get him?”

  “A tool chest for his garage. Your dad actually helped me pick it out.”

  Cole had started searching for an old car to restore and I wanted him to be able to work in his own garage this time. That way, when I was in the kitchen with my new gear, he could be in the garage with his.

  “Tools.” Evie shook her head. “You guys are the least romantic new couple on the planet.”

  I smiled. “Maybe.” Or maybe not. If she had any idea what we’d been doing all day, she’d probably think differently.

  But I kept that to myself and took a sip of beer.

  Evie and I were sitting at the island in Brad and Mia’s kitchen. Mia had refused to let me help cook, so while Evie and I chatted, Mia was at the sink peeling potatoes. Cole, Brad and Zack had all gone to the basement—with Nazboo at their heels—to get more drinks from Brad’s wet bar.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked Evie. At nearly six months pregnant with triplets, she had a beautiful pregnant glow, but she looked ready to topple over when standing.

  “Enormous.” She rubbed her belly. “I’m just grateful for every day the doctor doesn’t put me on bed rest.”

  “Bed rest won’t be so bad,” Mia said from the sink. “Think of how much fun you’ll have ordering Zack around while you watch TV.”

  She laughed. “Good point, Mom. Maybe I should buy a little bell so I can ring for him.”

  “What’s this?” Zack appeared at Evie’s side, kissing her temple before splaying his hand on her stomach.

  “Oh, nothing.” She grinned into her water glass.

  Zack’s hand stayed on her belly as it rubbed slow circles.

  The image of Cole’s hand on my pregnant belly popped into my head, and I jerked, surprised for a moment, until a sense of longing chased it away. I wanted his hand on my growing belly. On our baby. I wanted his hand to have a band like Zack’s, something that showed the world he was mine.

  “Poppy?”

  My head whipped up to Cole. “Yeah?”

  “I asked if you wanted another beer.”

  “Oh.” My cheeks flushed as I came back to reality. “Sorry.”

  His forehead creased. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded and smiled. “I’m great. And yes, please. I’ll take one more.”

  “I’ll get it.” Brad grabbed me a bottle from the fridge before turning to Cole. “So I talked to the city manager again this morning. He’d like you to start sitting in on meetings.”

  Cole tensed at my side. “Dad. No.”

  “It’s just a few meetings. It won’t interfere with your caseload. But if you want to be chief, you need to get to know him.”

  “Dad, I never said—”

  “Hold that thought.” Brad held up a finger as he emptied the bottle of wine into Mia’s glass. “Let me get another bottle of wine.” He smiled at me, then walked out of the kitchen, heading back downstairs to their wine cooler.

  “What’s going on?” I whispered to Cole when Brad was out of sight.

  Cole pushed out a loud breath and nodded toward the living room.

  I followed him out of the kitchen, waiting to speak until we were alone. “I thought you didn’t want to be chief of police.”

  “I don’t. But I’m having a hard time getting through to Dad. I just . . . he’s got these plans for me and I hate letting him down.”

  I gave him a sad smile. “I think the only way you could let him down would be by taking a job you don’t want just to make him happy. Don’t you think it would be better if you were honest with him about how you feel?”

  Cole ran his hand over his face as he considered my advice. “You’re right,” he breathed. “I need to make him hear me. I’ll tell him when he comes back upstairs.”

  I stepped into his space, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Want me to stay?”

  He hugged me back and kissed my hair. “No. Thanks, beautiful. But I’ll handle it.”

  “Okay.” I let him go and went back to the kitchen just as Brad was coming back upstairs. When Cole called him into the living room, Mia shut off the water in the sink and came to the island.

  “Is Cole finally going to make Brad listen to him? It’s about time.”

  “What?” My chin dropped. “You knew?” I hadn’t even known.

  Mia shrugged and took a sip of wine as Evie laughed. “Oh, Poppy. Mom knows everything.”

  “Just wait until we do presents later,” Zack said. “We make her tell us what’s in every one of her boxes before she opens them. In all the Christmases and birthdays I’ve seen, Mia has never gotten one wrong.”

  “It’s true.” Evie nodded. “She’s been like that forever. None of us can pull off a surprise. Maybe you’ll be the one family member who can stump her.”

  Family member. Those two words sent a surge of warmth through my heart as I realized just how true they were. I was a part of Cole’s family, just like he’d become a part of mine. Brad and Mia. Evie and Zack. They’d let me into their lives, their family, taking the love that Jamie’s parents
no longer wanted.

  I smiled at Evie, glad I could be part of this tradition. “Maybe I will get to surprise her. I doubt she’ll guess what we bought for her.”

  “Please,” Mia huffed. “I’ve known for weeks what you and Cole got me.”

  “What? Did he tell you?”

  She shook her head. “No. I just figured it out.”

  “No way.” There was no chance she’d ever guess our gift.

  “No way, what?”

  Cole and Brad walked back into the kitchen. Brad looked sullen but he was trying to hide it, while Cole’s relief radiated through the room.

  No one brought up their conversation in the living room. Instead, Evie brought them both into ours. “Mom said she knows what Poppy and Cole got her for Christmas, but Poppy doesn’t think there’s any way she could have guessed.”

  Brad chuckled. “Take my advice, Poppy. Just accept that there is no such thing as surprising Ms. Crane. The harder you try, the faster she figures it out. Save yourself the stress.”

  “But, how could she possibly—”

  “You got me a puppy like Nazboo.”

  My chin fell open as I gaped at Mia. Impossible. Cole and I had just ordered the dog yesterday. The puppy wasn’t even weaned yet, so we’d had to wrap up a collar and leash along with a picture.

  “How—I don’t—” I blinked and closed my speechless mouth.

  “See what I mean?” Zack muttered.

  I took a long gulp of my beer and looked up at Cole. “So much for our big surprise.”

  Cole chuckled. “Sorry. I should have told you about Mom’s superpower. Honestly, I thought we might have had her on this one, but I guess not.”

  “Are there any other family secrets I should know about?”

  “Don’t tell her!” Brad shouted as both Mia and Evie opened their mouths. “If I’m lucky, it will take her a few years to figure out mine.”

  The kitchen erupted in laughter as Mia kissed Brad’s cheek and went back to making dinner and Zack and Evie started debating baby names. And I just smiled and leaned into Cole’s side, happy to be part of it all.

  Hours later, after too much food and drink and gifts, Cole and I loaded up a sleepy Nazboo and drove home.