House Of Payne: Payne

by Stacy Gail

  “Your timing leaves a lot to be desired, since we’re locked into playing hosts for at least two hours, if not more.” Her grin grew wider as he groaned, and she reached into her back pocket for her phone. “What I’d really like to do now is get a quick picture of my gorgeous husband to commemorate the occasion. Gimme a big smile, sexy.”

  “Big smile, sexy!” Axl happily cheered on, and as the adults within earshot burst out laughing, Becks took the shot.

  Perfect.

  “Awww. Isn’t my man pretty?” Still grinning, she showed it to him.

  His face fell. “Oh, fu—” At the last second he stopped himself before his youngest could parrot him, then took in the grinning, blue-faced toddler he held. “Guess what, Ax Man? You and I need to clean our faces in a big way.”

  “Angus too,” she added, guiding her oldest to his father’s side before joining the greeting party at the door.

  The general chaos of a six-year-old’s birthday party went fairly well since Payne was kind enough to take the few men who’d come along to the party upstairs to his man cave. Andreas had outdone himself, as usual, with the creation of a cupcake castle in every shade of purple imaginable. Games of pin the tail on the pretty pony—Mia had vehemently vetoed the poor donkey for not having enough glitter—a scavenger hunt, an indoor obstacle course and a balloon-popping spree had to be done so that every child won something to take home along with their bag of party favors. Claire was the mistress of ceremonies and kept the kids hopping from one thing to the next while Becks made sure nothing got toppled or scattered in her enthusiastic wake.

  Once candles were blown out, cupcakes consumed and presents torn into, the sun was getting low on the horizon and more than a few whiny tones were heard. Claire and Mia did their hostessy duty and waved off their guests while Becks and Gabriel quietly began to clean up the wreckage, with Payne and Thomas coming down to help. Eventually Payne insisted Becks take it easy while the men loaded Mia’s impressive birthday haul into the car, then assured Andreas and Gabriel that as he had it the rest of the way, they could have an early evening.

  As Claire’s family also headed out, Becks listened to her husband as he herded the boys into the bath while she heated the hearty chicken noodle soup Andreas had had enough foresight to prepare. Considering how much party junk had been poured into her kids the last few hours, she figured she was lucky they downed most of the soup she gave them before Axl fell asleep with his head on the table and Angus cried over noodles slipping off his spoon.

  Twenty minutes later, with the boys tucked in bed and the house grew as quiet as it ever got, Becks settled back against the pillows and flexed her aching feet. Oy. She really had to try and remember how pregnancy took it out on her poor tootsies on long days like these. This holiday season she was determined to keep her butt planted in a chair and not drive herself completely crazy by trying to make everything perfect.

  Then she grinned to herself. Pregnancy or not, she was pretty sure she had that thought every year, and every year she always went all-out, much to Payne’s bemusement.

  Though she had a feeling he might actually try to rein in her usual holiday mania once she told him her news.

  “The minions are officially out,” Payne announced as he strolled into the room, closing the door behind him. No matter how many times she saw him, he still had the capacity to take her breath away, even in low-riding black sweats and a T-shirt. She only hoped it was that way when they were ninety. “How ya doin’, baby?”

  “Other than my feet bitching at me, I’m great.” Her heart flipped over when he made a sound of sympathy and dropped on the edge of the bed to pull her feet onto his lap. “Another party successfully crossed off the list. Next up—Thanksgiving, then I plunge into Black Friday madness. I hope you’re prepared this year.”

  “My woman is so insane.” Cupping a heel in one hand, he squeezed the ball of her foot with the other until she moaned in pained pleasure. “Remember you’ve got a bun in the oven, yeah? I don’t want you getting trampled at four in the morning just to get some toy the boys won’t even remember six months from now.”

  Her eyes closed on a hissing intake of breath as he pushed his thumbs into her arch. Ooooh. There had to be a special place in heaven for a man who gave killer foot massages. “As much as I know it’ll disappoint Claire, I’ve decided I’m going to do a lot of cyber-shopping this year.”

  “Holy shit, you’re going to be sensible about Black Friday this year?” With a grin, he lifted her foot to his mouth to run a lingering kiss over her instep. “Are you sure you’re my wife?”

  “I’m sure I’m your pregnant wife. Your very, very pregnant wife who needs to make sure she takes care of herself.”

  Sudden concern filtered into Payne’s eyes, and he went statue-still as he searched her face. “Your doctor’s appointment yesterday,” he said, resting her foot back on his lap while a hand came to rest protectively on her thigh. “Is everything okay, Becks?”

  “Absolutely. Though there was a little something that appeared that was unusual. Something good,” she added when his brows lanced together and his grip tightened on her leg. “But I didn’t want to tell you about it since my doctor wanted to have another doc look at the sonogram to confirm what she was seeing. I got a call right before the party to let me know the good news.”

  He still hadn’t moved. “And?”

  “And… I get to choose the names this time.” She grinned as at last her secret popped its cork. “We agreed from the beginning—you get to choose the name if it’s a boy, and I get to choose the name if it’s a girl. So instead of Bruce or Ozzy or any other rock idol name you might be thinking about, this time around I get to choose the names.”

  The change in his expression was immediate. Along with the relief there was a dazzling, blinding joy, and if she’d had one lingering worry about Payne not wanting a daughter, that look alone would have killed it. She knew her man was nothing like her father. From the very beginning of their life together, Payne had been highly vocal about wanting a little girl to spoil rotten.

  “Oh, God. Finally.” He shifted closer, then pulled her onto his lap to crush her with careful ferocity to his chest, rocking her for almost a minute before he fell to his side and her back hit the mattress. Still grinning from ear to ear and looking like he’d just won the lottery, he slid down until he was level with her teeny baby bump. “Daddy loves you, baby girl.” He rained kisses over the small swell, nuzzling his face against her tummy between each kiss. “This is from me to you, so listen up, okay? I’m going to tell you that I love you every single day of your life, morning noon and night, and you’ll know without a shadow of a doubt that you are my precious treasure that I’d do anything and everything to protect. I promise you this with all my heart, my sweet little one.”

  Everything inside her melted, and her eyes brimmed over at how wonderful he was. She’d never imagined that a man could be all things—a mind-blowing lover, a hopeless romantic, a loving and attentive husband, and a devoted father. Either her imagination wasn’t very good, or she’d been blessed with a man she hadn’t even dared to dream existed.

  “That was so sweet, Payne,” she whispered, levering herself up on an elbow and stroking his hair with her free hand. “But which little one were you talking to? Baby girl number one, or baby girl number two? I told you,” she added as he looked up with eyes that rounded alarmingly. “I get to choose the names. Plural. As in…two.”

  “Two. Two? Like… wait.” His open-mouthed shock was downright snort-worthy. He again looked down to her stomach, and his hands slid over it as if his palms had somehow magically transformed into mini-ultrasound probes and he was trying to verify just how many babies were on board. “Do you mean two babies?”

  Oh wow, she should have thought to video this. “I certainly don’t mean two of anything else, like guppies or zebras.”

  “Twins. Are we really having twins?”

  “Yes, Payne. The event of having two babies
at once usually means twins.”

  “Twins.” He said the word like he still didn’t know what it meant. “Twin girls?”

  “That’s what they think.”

  “Oh, my God.” He looked up with a jubilant laugh, apparently unable to stop himself from caressing her stomach. “Twins. We’re having fucking twins, Becks!”

  She laughed. “Yeah, I know. Isn’t that awesome?”

  “It’s better than awesome, it’s perfect.” If possible, his eyes suddenly got brighter, and he laughed again. “I can’t wait to tattoo them.”

  She blinked. That was one reaction she hadn’t been expecting. “Wait. What?”

  “I mean, obviously, I’ll have to tattoo them.” He began kissing her belly again.

  “Why is this obvious, exactly?”

  “We have to make sure we never get them mixed up, baby. That would suck, not knowing which one is Courtney and which one’s Jett. What kind of asshole parents would that make us if we mixed up our own kids?”

  Full stop. “A deal’s a deal, and I’m the one who gets to name the girls, remember? I was thinking Agnes, or maybe Griselda.” She wasn’t, but she couldn’t resist.

  He lifted his head and looked at her for a long moment. “Becks…”

  She couldn’t hold back a laugh at his pained expression. “I’m definitely saying no to Courtney, because I’m not a fan. But Jett’s not bad, so that’s still on the table.”

  “What about the name Benatar? I know it’s unusual, but we could call her Benni for short. And then they’d be Benni and The Jett. That’s cute, right? Or Alanis? I like Alanis, and it’s in line with the A names we have for the boys. What do you think?”

  Becks chuckled under her breath. The next few months were going to be fun. “I think we can come up with something we both will love, and if you want to tattoo our little ladies, I don’t see a problem with that. Just keep it tiny and as pain-free as possible, and put it where we can readily see it, like their foot or wrist, okay?”

  “They’re due in May, right?” Then he laughed and nuzzled his cheek to her bump. “They. Holy shit.”

  Again her eyes misted, and she sifted her fingers through his hair. “Yeah, love. They’re due in May.”

  “Okay. I’ll have a design ready for my girls by then. The most important custom design I’ve ever done. I’m already thinking tiny Wonder Woman tiaras—one in red and yellow, and one in yellow and red. Or do you think that’s too much? Keep in mind that it’s got to be epic, like their mom.”

  That had the tears spilling over again, and while hormones probably played a part in her reaction, the joy he always inspired was the major culprit. He’d brought so much happiness and completion to her world that she could hardly remember the empty desolation that her world had once been. True, life was way louder and far more chaotic than she’d ever thought possible, but all of it was extraordinarily good. And it was good because everything about it was filled with love, and belonging, and family.

  And it would be that way forever.

  She wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Thank you for saving me, sweetheart.” A gentle tug on his arm brought him up to settle against her, his mouth coming to press against hers. When he lifted his head, she saw in his eyes he understood she meant so much more than that long-ago act of pulling her out of a burning car. “Thank you for our wonderful, wonderful life.”

  “You’re the one who makes it wonderful.” He kissed her again, and she saw all the love he had for her there in his soft eyes as he gazed down at her. “Thank you for sharing all that beauty I knew was inside you from the moment I saw your art. My world became perfect when you gave me the gift of you, Becks.” He cupped her cheek in his palm and held her still for one more kiss. “Thank you, baby.”

  She smiled into his eyes and spoke the truth. “It’s my pleasure.”

  *****

  There are more stories to be found in the legendary House Of Payne. Look for Scout’s story coming in December, and read on for an excerpt from HOUSE OF PAYNE: SCOUT

  Chapter One

  He’s out to get me.

  Scout Upton sighed at the text from co-worker Angel, oblivious to the hustle and bustle inside Pig In A Poke café. Angel was the youngest tattooist at House Of Payne, Chicago’s premiere tattoo studio and art gallery, if not the world. Angel had come to the House fresh out of high school, brimming with ideas and a marked talent for color work. Her artwork specialized in all things fantasy, from fairies and dragons to wings like the angels she was named after. She was booked months in advance, and her imaginative spin on fairytale themes had garnered her worldwide attention. Life would have been all sorts of yippee-filled awesome for Angel if it weren’t for one thing.

  Twist.

  Scout thumb-typed, “Ignore him. That’s what I do.”

  Angel’s next text popped up almost immediately. No one can ignore Twist when he wants to be a PITA.

  Oh hell, wasn’t that the freaking truth. In the three years Scout had known him, she’d learned that Twist Santiago could give lessons on how to be a pain in the ass. “1. I’m on vacay now for the month of March, so ur talking to the wrong peep. 2. Refer to 1.”

  I’d talk to Payne, but Becks is here.

  Scout frowned. Becks had become a permanent fixture at the House since Payne popped the question. This wasn’t exactly late-breaking news. “So?”

  So, she’s in his office. With Payne.

  “What the hell, Angel, who the fuck cares?” With an irritated sound, she typed as fast as she could so she could get on with her day. “Again I ask, SO???”

  OMG. THEY’RE SO NOISY, SCOUT.

  She laughed before she could stifle it. Her best friend and boss, Sebastian Payne and his fiancée Becks Delgado would have to be just about screaming the damn roof off, considering all the offices at the House were virtually soundproof.

  Before she could think of something to say, another text from Angel appeared.

  And I know you’re on vacation. But didn’t you stay in Chicago?

  Scout sighed again. “A staycation still counts as a vacation, Angel.”

  Yeah. Just not an exciting one.

  On that, Scout couldn’t agree more. Ever since Becks had come into Payne’s life, the memory of House Of Payne’s roots—and the legacy their financial backer, Frank Fournier left behind for her to deal with—had wormed its way to the surface. Procrastination had never been her thing, but for one reason or another putting Frank’s life into some kind of discernible order always got put on the back burner. Now she had a free month, and she was going to spend it doing what she’d been instructed by Frank to do in his Last Will and Testament—complete his memoirs to show his life had meant something.

  “Exciting or not, I’m still NOT AT WORK. You’ll just have to cope w/ Twist until I’m back in April.”

  Ughhhhhh. Ok. I’ll try not to kill Mr. Alphahole, but no promises. Enjoy ur time off.

  “I would, if work shit didn’t keep bugging me,” she muttered, typing a quick farewell just as she heard her name called at the counter.

  “Here you go. English breakfast tea, extra hot with room for milk, same as always.” The man behind Pig in a Poke’s serving bar, Leo, jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “You sure I can’t talk you into trying the coffee? It’s a new blend we’re trying out.”

  She frowned at the man who’d served her tea for four years. “And be a coffee-drinking drone like everyone else?”

  “With your pinup-girl hair and flower tats, no one could ever mistake you for anything other than an original, Scout.”

  Truer words had never been spoken, or so she hoped. “You say the sweetest things. But I’m still not abandoning my tea for coffee.”

  “You don’t know what you’re missing. And I guess I can’t talk you into a muffin or Danish either, right?”

  She grinned. This was the game they’d played since she’d shown up at Pig In A Poke, and she loved every second of it. “I made the best cream scones
last night. One taste, and you’d swear you were in heaven. Or at the very least Buckingham Palace.”

  He did his best to look surly. “Why do you even come in here? Can’t figure out how to put a teabag into a hot cup of water?”

  “Leo, if I don’t have your smiling face to brighten my morning, the rest of the day sucks out loud.”

  He actually blushed before swatting a beefy hand in her direction. “Get outta here already.”

  “You bet. See you tomorrow.” Hitching her hobo bag across her body, she toasted him with her tea and headed for the door, phone still in hand. Her next stop was the flower shop at the end of the block to pick up a dozen of whatever fresh blooms had come in. Maybe while she was there she’d text Payne just to give him a heads-up about Twist being an asshole aga—

  A blur of movement to her right flashed like lightning—too fast for her to react. The impact of body on body sent her crashing into the side of the café. Her tea went flying to the sidewalk even as her phone was tugged from her hand. She had just enough time to glimpse someone in a gray hoodie and jeans sprinting down the sidewalk.

  Holy crap, I got mugged by the Unibomber!

  “Hey!”

  A masculine shout sounded, and before she could blink another blur streaked by to tackle the Unibomber lookalike, who’d run out of sidewalk and had to slow for a busy street. Behind her, the café door exploded open and Leo raced out to stand next to her, his eyes bouncing from her to the tangle of arms and legs at the end of the block before he braced a hand on her shoulder.

  “You okay, Scout?”

  “I…” Good Lord, she had no idea. For the first time since she’d mastered heels at the age of fourteen, she had the craziest feeling she was about to topple off of them. Then she realized why. She was shaking so damn hard it was a wonder she wasn’t setting off earthquake sensors around the globe. “Yeah, I’m okay. My phone—” She gestured toward the two fighting down the street, then squeaked when her mugger kicked her would-be savior in the face before stumbling to his feet and racing away. “Oh, my God!” Without a thought, she ran—high heels, shaky knees and all—to where her rescuer was gaining his feet. “Sir, are you all right? Are you… holy shit.” Slowly he turned to face her, and the sidewalk vanished out from under her. “You?”