He nodded immediately, climbing up on the bed and situating himself between Cal and me.
“What’s going on, bud?” I murmured, moving to lie on my back so I could look at him. Being sandwiched between the kids was one of my favorite places in the world to be. “Was the movie too scary?”
Cal threw an arm around his small body, cuddling him close. I loved how affectionate he was with all three kids.
“Nemo’s mommy died,” Max whispered. “You’re not going to die, right?”
My heart lurched. I hadn’t thought about how the plot would affect him. “No, baby,” I murmured.
“And if I got lost you’d find me, right?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Of course we would,” I assured him, trying like hell to keep my voice even.
“You won’t get lost, bud,” Cal replied. “But if you did we’d find you. We wouldn’t stop looking until we did.”
“Even if I was on the moon?” Max asked incredulously.
Cal’s handsome face broke into a gentle smile. “Even if you were on the moon. And you know, it wouldn’t just be me and your aunt. It would be the entire club. We’d all look for you and we’d find you right away,” he assured him.
“You mean Uncle Ax and Uncle Ryker too? Everybody?”
“Yep.” Cal nodded matter-of-factly.
Max burrowed deeper into the pillow. “That’s good.” He sighed with contentment. “I want to stay with you forever.”
I looked over at Cal, my heart close to bursting. “You will, honey,” I whispered.
I wasn’t sure if he heard—he was already fast asleep.
****
“This is awesome.” I sighed in contentment as I sat at the nail spa next to Sophie later the next morning. She’d surprised me by coming to pick me up. Cal had practically pushed me out the door, which struck me as odd, but I wasn’t complaining.
Time to myself that involved a foot rub? Yes, please.
“Tell me about it,” she agreed with a sigh. “My ankles are so freaking swollen, but my toes can at least look pretty.”
“You look great,” I assured her.
“Right.” She snorted, her hand moving to her belly. “I feel huge.”
“You’re gorgeous.” Axel’s voice rumbled from his seat toward the front of the salon, where he somehow still managed to look tough despite the location.
“We’re taking you to lunch after this,” she informed me.
“Oh, that’s so nice, but I don’t know if I should be gone that long. Cal’s got all three kids.”
“He can handle it,” she assured me. “It was his idea.”
“Really?” I asked dubiously.
“Really.” She nodded. “Mad’s with my mom, so we have time,” she added.
“Okay. Hopefully the house is in one piece when we get back,” I replied dryly. Now that Max was out of school and the younger kids were still being kept out of day care, the three of them together could be a handful for one person.
“Thank you for this.” I sighed. “I have to admit I’ve felt a bit claustrophobic, between not having a car and not really being able to go anywhere, anyway.”
“I’m sure.” Sophie nodded in sympathy.
“I’m thinking about leaving the hospital,” I divulged for the first time, sharing what I’d been thinking about for the last few weeks. “With all the change Max and Emmie have gone through, I feel like I should be home with them. I want to be home with them, all three of them.”
“Have you talked to Cal about it?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I think he’ll be fine with it. It’s more my own peace with it that I’m grappling with. I worked so hard to become a nurse. I love it. I just love my family more,” I explained.
“You’re an amazing mom.” Sophie smiled. “You have great instincts; you should trust them.”
“Yeah, well, I also married Tim.” I grimaced.
“And did that ever feel right to you?” she countered.
“No,” I admitted.
She shrugged. “My point exactly.”
“I can’t wait until this is all over,” I grumbled with frustration, my thoughts turning to Tim. I hated the fact that he occupied even a fraction of my head space. “I wanted to see if there was something I could do to draw him out,” I shared. “Cal didn’t like that idea much,” I added dryly.
“Yeah, I can’t see you being bait going over well with him,” she replied with a snort. “The guys will sort it.” Her voice lowered as she leaned toward me. “Axel hasn’t shared much but I feel like things are heating up. Maybe they’re making progress.”
I nodded. I’d noticed the same. More phone calls, more meetings. Cal had been mum on the details, only sharing they’d gotten a license plate from Tim being dumb enough to drop the flowers off himself. I felt there was more to the story but I didn’t press. Ironically, I was okay with not knowing every detail, for now at least.
“I’ll let you guys eat,” Axel told us after we pulled up to one of our favorite lunch spots. “Just grab me something to go, all right, baby?” he asked, looking tenderly at Sophie.
“You sure? You can join us, honey,” she protested.
“Got a few calls to make. I’ll be right out front,” he replied, stroking the top of her head.
“I think last time we ate here was when we had that run-in with the Riders,” I recalled after we’d been seated on the outdoor patio.
The rival club had threatened us and ultimately caused the serious car accident where I’d broken my arm.
“Glad all that’s over with,” Sophie agreed. “Let’s order you a glass of wine,” she suggested, looking over the menu.
My brow rose. “Are we celebrating something I’m not aware of?”
She looked up at me. “We can celebrate the fact we have a few hours of girl time that involved a foot rub and—if you’ll go with it—alcohol.”
I laughed. “All right, sounds good.”
By the time we walked out to Axel and Sophie’s SUV, I was full and relaxed. “The wine was a good idea, thank you.” I grinned at Sophie as Axel pulled us away from the curb.
“Wine is always a good idea,” she agreed.
It was late afternoon by the time we pulled up in front of the house. “Do you guys want to come in?” I offered, though I figured they needed to get back to Maddox.
“Nah, we’ll catch up with you later,” Sophie answered vaguely.
“Okay, thanks for lunch. And Ax, thanks for chauffeuring us around.” I waved in parting after I’d gotten out of the SUV.
“Love you, Jilly,” Soph replied with a wave as they pulled away.
I took a moment to regard the house, so peaceful-looking from the outside. I could only imagine what type of chaos might greet me inside. But the truth was, after only a few hours away, I’d missed the kids and Cal.
I loved my life. Muddy footprints through the house, constant requests for food, the fighting, the loving, a frequently crowded bed—all of it.
“Hello?” I called when I walked in, surprised to be greeted with silence. Then I saw the sign posted on the wall. Walk This Way, it directed with an arrow.
I quirked a brow, putting my purse down and following the arrow dutifully out to the patio.
I stepped through the double doors and gasped. The backyard had been completely transformed and was full of what appeared to be the entire club. The pool had been covered and over it a large white tent had been erected, with lights strung diagonally from all four sides.
My eyes swung from a grinning Scarlet to Sophie, who walked up to stand alongside her, delivering a wink in my direction. She’d just dropped me off. Had she sprinted back here? Flashes of her water breaking momentarily distracted me from my awe.
What was happening?
My eyes found Cal, standing in the center of the tent, holding Mason with Emmie and Max at his side.
I walked to them as though in a trance, my heart pounding as realization dawned.
�
��What are you up to?” I asked, breathless, looking up at Cal in question.
“I thought of a million ways to do this,” he replied, his eyes bright as they looked down at me. “Ever since I first laid eyes on you.”
My eyes filled with tears and I swallowed my emotions back, not wanting to miss a moment of what was rapidly becoming one of the most significant events of my life.
“Didn’t feel right to do this without the kids,” he continued. My gaze swung from Mason down to a grinning Emmie and Max. Emmie was practically jumping up and down with excitement. “We couldn’t wait another day to ask you to be with us forever.”
I sucked in a ragged breath, my hands flying over my mouth.
He set Mason on his feet and got down on one knee. Whoops and whistles enveloped us as the people we loved most looked on.
“Jill, I thought I was living before you. I thought I was content. Then I met you. You were like a spark for me, baby. You ignited dreams long dead. With you I can have it all. You make me whole. You’re my forever. Will you be my wife?” he asked, opening a ring box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. He looked over at the kids leaning adorably against him. “Will you be ours?” he asked with a radiant smile.
“Say yes, Jilly!” Max cried, more exuberant than I’d ever seen him.
I laughed, nodding fiercely. “Yes!”
Cal slipped the ring on my shaking hand as a cheer rose around us. He stood up and kissed me hard, wrapping his arms around me. I felt tiny arms wrap around my legs and kneeled down to scoop Mason up as Cal grabbed Emmie and Max. The five of us stood in the most beautiful embrace of my life.
****
Evening had fallen and the party was in full swing. The outdoor lights illuminated the tent and the yard beyond. Music blared and beer flowed.
Sophie and I sat in lounge chairs as I reveled in being on cloud nine.
“It’s gorgeous!” Sophie exclaimed, not for the first time, as she looked at the beautiful diamonds sparkling on my finger. The unique design boasted a large center stone flanked by two diamonds on either side. Each stone, Cal had explained, represented a member of our family, with me at its center.
I nodded my agreement, admiring my ring. “You are so sneaky,” I accused with a grin. “I can’t believe we spent all afternoon together and you didn’t slip!”
Sophie wasn’t known for being able to keep a secret.
She groaned as Axel and Cal approached. “That was so hard!”
I laughed. “Well, it was a fantastic surprise. I’m still in shock.”
“Baby, let’s get you fed,” Axel coaxed, taking Sophie’s hand and guiding her toward the impressive spread that had been set up.
Cal took her vacated seat, pulling mine closer. I turned to him with what I was sure was a dopey smile. “How did you pull this off?” I marveled.
“I had help,” he replied with a shrug before his eyes turned to my ring. “Is the gold okay? I just thought it looked more like you….” He trailed off. It was one of the few times I’d ever seen him appear uncertain.
“It’s perfect,” I assured him firmly. And it was. I just couldn’t help but think about how long it would be before there was a second band to accompany it, about how long until he’d wear my gold as well. “I wish we could go to the courthouse tomorrow,” I admitted, sharing my thoughts out loud.
He reached for my hand, pulling it into his lap. “You don’t want a big wedding?”
I shook my head. “Not unless it’s important to you. I did all that and well, for me this is about being tied to you and those kids.” My head cocked in the direction of Max, Emmie, and Mason, who were running around like hellions. They really needed to go to bed soon. “It’s not about the show for anyone else. This, tonight….” I sighed happily. “This is more than enough.”
He pulled me close. “I won’t argue with whatever method gets you my name the fastest, and baby, that day’s coming,” he assured me firmly.
God, I hoped so.
“Jill Jackson,” I mused. “Has a nice ring to it.”
He squeezed my hand. “Damn right it does.”
I turned toward the party, taking in the flow of conversation, Connie and Wes dancing with his hands on her belly, the kids running with squeals of delight.
“I think I might want to stay home with them for a while,” I told Cal on a murmur, my eyes trained on Max as he helped Mason stand up after he’d fallen on his behind. “Not permanently,” I amended. “But I wasn’t sure, financially….” I trailed off.
“Financially we have no worries,” he was quick to assure me. “You work because you want to, not because we need it.”
I nodded, taking that in. “I feel like they need me right now,” I explained, my eyes finding his. “I’ll want to go back at some point, but for now I want to make this time as stable as I can for them.”
“I think it’s a great idea.” He nodded. “I would have said something myself, but I know how hard you worked to become a nurse. Knew it had to be on your terms.”
How I loved this man.
“Yeah,” I agreed quietly, my decision made. After all the inner turmoil, in the end it was easy.
“You’re too far away,” he protested, pulling me into his chair to lie over him. He scented me, his nose skimming my neck and the shell of my ear. “Can’t fucking wait till everyone clears out and we can start our real celebration.”
My entire body hummed in response.
“Well.” I grinned, rising and holding my hand out to him. He stood up, pulling me in close. “Let’s go enjoy our party so I can enjoy you later. Every inch of you,” I added, my lips ghosting his neck.
I relished his intake of breath, the way his arms tightened around me.
“Come on, lovebirds! If I can’t drink, you’d both better!” Connie hollered with a grin.
Cal swatted at my backside as I broke away and walked toward my girls. “Not too much, Jill. I want you aware of every second we have together later,” he called, a heated promise deepening his tone.
I blushed with a nod.
As if there were anything I could ever forget when it came to Cal.
Chapter 32
“I can’t believe it’s your last day already!” Laurie pouted.
My last shift at the hospital had come quickly, not two weeks after I’d made my decision, but I was ready. I was sure the guys were ready too. Having one of them escort me to and from work every day had to be a pain. Poor Ram was on deck today and was currently posted up in the waiting room. Then again, maybe he didn’t mind judging from all the fluttering eye lashes he got from the nurses.
I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It’s not forever,” I assured her. “Hell, maybe when I get back you’ll be head nurse.” I winked.
With Laurie’s determination and intelligence, it was entirely possible.
Her eyes lit up at the thought as we caught up briefly in the hallway in between patients.
“How’s your not-so-secret admirer?” I asked, shifting topics with a lifted brow. She’d confided that Tag had continued to express interest but had been mum on the details.
A pink blush covered her cheeks. “I don’t know about admirer,” she protested. “He’s walked me to my car a few times after a late shift, but that’s it. There have been a few texts...,” she admitted.
“A few?” I prompted, nudging her suggestively.
She rolled her eyes. “All right, fine. More than a few. But he hasn’t asked me out or anything. I’m not sure if he thinks of me that way. He’s so intimidating and so…” She searched for the right words. “…male.”
I grinned. I could relate all too well.
“And I’m just me.” She shrugged.
“Yes, gorgeous, intelligent, thoughtful you,” I replied firmly. “He’d be lucky to have you.”
She bit her lip and after a moment nodded, just as a paramedic I’d never seen before came bursting frantically through the emergency room doors.
“I need a nurse!”
he cried, pulling at my arm.
Laurie gave me a confused look. It was highly unusual for us to not have been notified a bus was coming in, but we both scrambled to comply and rushed out front. The ambulance was pulled haphazardly to the curb, its lights flashing.
“We just need one nurse,” the paramedic told Laurie as I jumped up into the ambulance to examine the man lying on the gurney.
His words sent alarm bells ringing and in that moment, I knew. I turned to warn Laurie. “Laurie, no!” I shouted, desperately trying to get her to run.
I was too late.
She’d already stepped inside.
The man posing as a paramedic shoved her the rest of the way in and shut the doors. I immediately tried them, panicking when I discovered they were locked from the outside.
The man pretending to be a patient sat up, gun in hand. “Guess we get two for the price of one today.” He grinned.
The ambulance took off at alarming speed, sending Laurie and me flying. I landed roughly on my side before quickly scrambling to a seated position as Laurie did the same.
“What’s happening?” she cried, her eyes wide with fright as they landed on me.
I felt an odd calm sweep over me then, motivated by the need to comfort her and the desire to not give in to my fear.
There was no doubt in my mind who was behind this.
“This was orchestrated by my ex,” I gritted out, wincing as I shifted. I’d be bruised tomorrow from the fall. Hopefully that would be the only injury I sustained. “I’m so sorry, Laurie.”
“Where are you taking us? Who are you?” Her questions shot out in a panicked tirade.
The man grinned. “I always was a sucker for a nurse. The deal was to deliver you in one piece.” His eyes shifted to me before moving back to Laurie. “Now, you. You I can have some fun with.”
“You’ll be dead before you can have any fun,” I gritted out. “Do you know who you’re messing with? Do you know who my man is?” I asked, my tone incredulous and underlined with a confidence I felt down to my very soul. Cal would come and he’d come to kill.
The man reached out and grabbed my hair roughly. “You’re pretty confident for a bitch with a gun pointed at her head,” he snarled, his face an inch from mine.
Cal (The Ride Series Book 5) Page 19
