by Lila Rose
“I think I’ll come with you, Vice, while these two women gossip,” Clint said.
“No gossip here. Molly doesn’t want to know anything about her brother and the way he uses his—”
“Shut it,” Molly cried, hands over her ears. “La-la-la-la.”
Clint brought her to his chest while laughing. Vice smiled, then winked at me while I giggled. Clint gave her a final kiss and left, following Vice out.
“You can’t do that to me unless you want to pay for my therapy bills. And I’d go see the top doctor in the state.”
“Promise, no more.” I grinned. “Well, except this morning….”
She picked up a carrot and threw it at me. “You’re evil.”
“Why, thank you.”
She came around the counter, grabbed a knife, and started cutting up the lettuce. Then she bumped my hip. “You do seem all gooey over him, and the same goes for him with you. It’s good to see.”
Smiling softly, I admitted, “It’s good to feel.”
“Did I tell you work has offered me a full-time position?” Molly, much to a lot of people’s surprise, was a kindergarten teacher. Currently, she only worked as a substitute, and she’d been hanging out for a full-time position for a long time.
“That’s fantastic.”
“It is, but I’m not taking it.”
Placing the knife to the counter, I turned to her. “What? Why?”
She kept cutting and shrugged. Then a smirk came over her. “At least not yet. Not until after the wedding, which Clint and I are moving up so we can have an amazing honeymoon. If I took the job right away, I wouldn’t be able to take time off for any of it until I’d been there a full year. We don’t want to wait to get married.”
“That’s a good idea. I still can’t believe you two are getting married.”
“I know. I thought he’d never ask. He seemed content with the situation we were already in. Anyway, I have a question for you.”
“Hit me. Ow, I didn’t actually mean hit me.”
“That’s for torturing me. Anyway, maid of honor… will you?”
I squished her side into mine as I hugged her tightly. “Of course.”
“Thanks, babe. And now you’ve agreed, we really need to get things moving. We’re thinking a November wedding.”
“That’s not far away.”
“It’s five months. Heaps of time.”
“Oh, God, we need to go dress shopping and flowers and cakes. The venue, the—”
“Calm down. This is why I’ve enlisted the moms also. They’re amazing at organizing functions. All you need to do is come dress shopping and work out my bachelorette night.”
We looked at each other grinning. “Strippers,” we cried together.
“No,” Vice voiced grumpily as he stalked in. “Clint needs his clothes from the car.”
“He’s in already? And you have no say what goes on at my bachelorette night.”
“Yes, Drew dared him to.” We all laughed. “And I do when my woman will be there.”
There went that word again. The term made me swoon so damn hard there was no way I could reprimand him for attempting to put a stop to strippers. “But no one could be as sexy as you anyway,” I said. My attention was down on the cutting board, so when no one spoke, I looked up to see a smug grin on Vice’s face and Molly sticking her finger in her mouth, pretending to gag.
“What?” I asked. “It’s true. No comparison.”
“Molly, you can do and have whoever you want at the bachelorette night.”
Molly yipped with joy. “Well played, girlfriend. As if you’d have a say anyway, brother.” Molly stuck out her tongue like a three-year-old.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Nothing played there. It’s the truth.”
“Yuck, there goes my stomach again. He ain’t that good-looking.”
“Oh, but he is.” At first, my belly had been in knots with how Vice and I would be in front of company for the first time together, yet, since Molly and Clint arrived, I’d never known it would be so natural around them. We were just us, and it was amazing.
Molly gagged again. “Please, no more.”
Vice came around the counter and took the knife from me to drop it down. He then spun me, so I was in his arms. His mouth came down on mine.
“Guys, seriously. I’ll be sick.” She groaned as if she were in pain. “Stop it!” she demanded, but it was only half-heartily.
The doorbell rang, and Vice pulled back. “That’ll be the rest.” He tweaked my nose and quickly left.
“Jesus. Do you go in a daze after every kiss?” Molly asked, clicking her fingers in front of my face.
Blinking, I giggled, then sighed. “Yeah.”
“Dear God.”
More than one set of footsteps approached. Vice, with Grayson beside him, walked in, and Grayson was a sight to behold since he was holding a baby girl who looked about one. She already had a head of wild black ringlets and was currently slapping her daddy’s face.
“Ooh, come to Molly, cuteness.” Molly dropped the knife and took off for the bundle of joy. Grayson laughed, and Vice rolled his eyes at his sister.
A boy about two ran in next. My eyes widened as he started stripping. Kenzie and Trent quickly followed behind him. “Noah, keep your clothes on.”
“But swimmin’, Mom. Swim.”
“Buddy, Mom said after lunch you can go.” Grayson knelt beside a muttering Noah and helped him get redressed.
Greetings were had, and when I saw Noah still pouting, I said, “Noah, maybe you can help Vice by telling the others in the pool it’s time to hop out.”
“’Kay.” He nodded and since he was already standing by Vice, he reached up and took his hand. I had to thin my lips because seeing it was beautiful. I was already thirty-seven and had thought I didn’t want any more children.
Until that moment.
Watching Vice smiling and talking about something with Noah, as Grayson followed, I knew if he wanted a child of his own, I would give him one.
Whoa! That thought was a bit advanced for our relationship. But now it was playing around in my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking more about it. My belly swollen with Vice’s baby, seeing Vice hold his own child for the first time, Vice and I being alongside each other through all the trials and tribulations of childhood, and lastly… Vice sitting down with Drew, reading, talking, and advising.
I wanted it all.
My hip was bumped. I glanced to find Molly watching me. She smiled. “He’s always wanted children.” She kissed Makala’s cheek. “I can see you both with your own child to spoil right along with Drew, and right about now, I think that’s on your mind also.”
She knew me well. I smiled. “Maybe.”
“She’s totally thinking about his little swimmers and how many babies they can pop out,” Trent boomed.
“Dad!” Kenzie snapped.
“What?” He grabbed a beer out of the fridge, shut the door, and opened his bottle, then took a long pull. When he rested his drink down on the counter, he looked at all of us still staring at him with shock.
“Jesus, I’ve stayed in the wrong room. Bloody women,” he mumbled, then picked his beer up and quickly strode out of the kitchen.
“Sometimes I think super gluing his mouth closed would help.” Kenzie sighed and took a seat opposite me on the bench. “Do you need a hand?”
“No, thanks.” I smiled. “I’m almost done anyway. Tell me how you’ve been?”
“Good, great actually. I have something to show you.” She grabbed out her phone and started flicking through things. Only before she got a chance to show me anything, Trent came barreling back into the kitchen.
“There’s a woman in the swimming pool area.” He glared at Kenzie.
“That’ll be my mom, Jenny. Did you introduce yourself?” I asked, hiding my smile by biting my bottom lip.
Trent’s narrowed gaze swung to me. “That’s your mom?” He gulped.
“Dad, where’s
your beer?” Kenzie asked.
“Puddin’, I think I left the iron on.”
“You don’t iron.”
“We have to go.”
“Trent, did you meet Jenny?” Molly asked.
A snort came from the doorway and then Grayson walked in. “He got in there, put his beer down, spo—”
“Son, if you say another word, I’ll… shit, I don’t know. Steal my grandkids.”
Grayson’s lips twitched. “As I was saying, he put his beer down, spotted Jenny, and made a run for it.” Grayson chuckled. “Jenny wondered if you have irritable bowel syndrome to bolt from the room like that.”
“I do not. Did you tell her I didn’t?”
Grayson shrugged. “I wasn’t sure, so I told her that.”
Trent groaned. “Now she’ll think I shit myself all the damn time. Great one, son. You’re a pain in my ass too.”
All three of us giggled while Grayson chuckled.
“It’s not funny. I have to—” His eyes widened comically when he glanced to the doorway, and I knew why when Mom walked in.
She paused. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?”
“No!” Trent squeaked. Molly snorted loud. Trent cleared his throat. “Uh, no, you didn’t. I just had to tell the ladies about, uh, something. That’s why I rushed out. I’m Trent by the way.”
Mom smiled. “Nice to meet you, Trent. I’m Jenny, Adalyn’s Mom.” She walked forward holding her hand out. Her smile faltered when Trent just stood there staring down at her hand. Like it was a tampon.
Then he boomed, “Right,” and then laughed nervously. But instead of taking her hand, he patted her on the upper arm. Her whole body jolted. “Do you ever get the feeling you want to kill your kids?”
Mom glanced at me, then back to Trent. “Yes. Nearly all the time.”
He laughed, then snorted, and lastly coughed. “Uh, good to know I’m not the only one.” He turned back to the room and glowered at all of us. “Is dinner ready or what?”
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Vice
Another laughed fell from my lips as Trent once again complained about how he’d acted like a fucking idiot. Not that he cared what Jenny thought, of course, nor was she his type, plus he was still in love with his deceased wife. Still, he wouldn’t shut up about Jenny, which told me he was full of shit and wanted to get to know Jenny. Turning the steak, I glanced through the windows and saw Drew sitting at the table with Noah. Young Noah had taken a huge liking to Drew right away in the indoor swimming pool room; it was understandable since Drew was an amazing kid. Makala was sitting on the floor playing with toys and kitchen utensils that Adalyn had found for her.
“I think Molly’s getting clucky,” I told Clint.
Clint glanced in to see Molly sitting with Makala on the floor while Adalyn and Kenzie were in the kitchen getting the salads, no one would eat, out. “She has been for a while. So expect to be an uncle soon.”
Trent scoffed. “The way Adalyn was eyeing you earlier with Noah, you’ll have her knocked up just as fast.”
I tensed. Adalyn wanted more children?
Trent barked out a laugh. “And the way you’re smiling, you like the idea.”
Grayson lifted his beer, his eyes meeting mine. The dick had been right all along. I’d found the one.
Shit, as sappy as that sounded, I was glad my one was Adalyn. Trent was right. Even though we’d be older parents, I still wanted my own child with the woman who was currently running from the kitchen outside.
“Careful, baby. It’s been raining,” I called and put the lid in the barbecue.
She didn’t stop though. She came right for me, and it was lucky I had my feet planted firmly on the ground because she hit the front of me hard, grabbing my tee and shaking it.
“Did you see? Oh my God, Vice. I can’t believe it. Mom left her phone in the car, and I left mine at home, so she’s gone to get it to check my site, since she’s in charge of all that, so I don’t know if it’s affected sales yet. But I can’t believe she was wearing my work. Talking about my work online!” she cried.
“Baby.” Taking her head in my hands, I ordered, “Calm down and—”
She spun out of my hold when her mom called, “Adalyn, Adalyn. Oh, dear it’s, oh my, I can’t believe….” Jenny came running out waving her phone around.
“Be careful, it’s slippery,” Trent called. We all looked at him, and he glanced back at us, then muttered, “Shit.”
“Adalyn, look, come look. I don’t know how you’re going to make it all, but it’s happening. It’s finally happening for my baby girl.”
Jenny thrust her phone at Adalyn. Once my woman had it, she looked at it for a moment before letting out an excited cry. Then her breathing changed. Her hand went over her heart, and her eyes widened with a shimmer of moisture.
“How am I going to do this? I can’t… that’s… I… never, how. Oh God.” She groaned. “I’ll be ruined before even starting.” She spun back to me and asked, “How can I do this without failing?”
It struck me in the chest how she sought out my help right away, when whatever it was scared and yet thrilled her.
“Tell me what’s going on, baby, and I’ll help the best I can.”
She nodded. Sucked in a breath and nodded again, more to herself. “Right, um, okay.” While she worked out where to start, I glanced over her to see Molly, with Makala and Kenzie standing close.
Kenzie stepped up further when it seemed Adalyn was still struggling with what to say, or she was in shock about whatever it was. “I mentioned to Adalyn how Evelyn loved the site I showed her and brought some of Adalyn’s work. She also wore it to an event, and when asked where she got it from, Evelyn mentioned Adalyn’s site.”
It happened. I hadn’t actually asked Kenzie if she’d gone through with showing Evelyn, but she had. And Evelyn must have loved it enough to mention it to everyone.
“This is good, Adalyn. Many follow Evelyn and, once she shares online that she loves something, they’ll want it too,” Grayson said.
She nodded and then forced the phone in my face. I took it and… “Fucking hell.”
“Yes,” Adalyn whispered. Then she screamed, “Five thousand orders! How am I going to do it? I mean, I have some in stock already, but the rest I’ll have to make.” She threw her hands in the air and started pacing.
“I never thought something like this would happen when I mentioned to Kenzie to show Evelyn,” I said, more to myself than anyone and certainly not to Adalyn, because she didn’t know I was behind it… well, until then.
She turned, tangled, and would have hit the ground if it wasn’t for Trent reaching out and straightening her up. He patted her back and ushered her toward me. “You?” she screeched. “You asked Kenzie to mention it to Evelyn?”
“Haven’t we just been over that?” Clint asked. Adalyn and I sliced a glare to him. He zipped his lips with his fingers and took a step back.
“Adalyn,” I started in a calming voice. “To start with, I only asked Kenzie because I had refused to change the contracts at work and I wanted you out of… fuck.” I had really put my foot in my mouth.
“Idiot,” Trent coughed into his hand.
“Keep going,” Grayson urged.
“It’s okay, Grayson. I don’t think I need to hear any more. I can see it clearly now. Vice wanted my business to do well so I’d quit because he wanted to screw me. Simple.” She went to walk away, but I grabbed her wrist.
“Adalyn, please it’s not like that at all.”
She snorted, shaking her head and frowned. “Mom, can you get Drew ready to leave—”
“No,” she stated with a snap, causing Trent to laugh. “You’ll stand there and listen to what he has to say. I will not let you walk off in a huff when I think he didn’t mean to hurt you by asking Kenzie to help.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and I wanted to pick her up and hug her tightly to me.
“Clint,” Molly called. “Come inside
and help with the kids.”
“But I’m hungry,” he whined. Grayson tagged the back of his neck and shoved him Molly’s way.
When they left, Grayson picked up the tongs and opened the lid to the barbecue. “We’ll take care of the meat.” He gestured with his head to the end of the deck, where we’d be out of hearing distance.
Nodding my understanding, I pulled Adalyn along behind me and walked us to the end of the deck. I moved her around until she had her back to the house. Glancing back down, I saw Jenny eyeing us, while Trent stood quietly beside her. Grayson had Kenzie curled into his front while he flipped the meat over. It would probably be well done by the time we got to eat it, but I didn’t care. I had to sort things out.
Looking down to Adalyn, who wouldn’t raise her gaze to meet mine, I sighed and started anyway. “I hate you’ve taken what I asked Kenzie to do as a means to sleep with you. I didn’t do it for that reason. I did it because I took a look at your site also and your work is amazing. It just wasn’t getting noticed like it should have been. I wanted to help, that’s all. I didn’t want anything in return.” I groaned in frustration when she glared up at me. “Okay, at first I asked because of the contract, but it was never with the intention of fucking you. I want more. I want there to be a relationship where it could lead to marriage and more between us. You mean so much to me, Adalyn.” She bit her trembling bottom lip. “Do you trust me enough to believe my intentions were good?” Adalyn remained silent, her bottom lip disappearing completely beneath her top teeth. “I also asked Kenzie to show her if she thought she would like your work and to tell her not to buy it if she didn’t absolutely love it.”
When she continued to say nothing, and I still didn’t have her eyes, I asked again, “Do you trust me?” Taking her chin between my fingers, I gently pulled her head up and saw tears welling in her eyes. My stomach churned, my heart ached. All in all, I was gutted from seeing the hurt on her face. “Baby, please. I don’t want things to end when they’ve just started. We can be something wonderful, Adalyn. Do you still want that?”
“Y-yes.”
My whole body relaxed. Christ, the thought of losing her cut me to the bone.
