Both men had the sense to stay put.
Lynn quickly strode from the backyard and was almost clear when the asshole yelled, “Make sure the next time you sleep with Ryan you tell him we said hi first.”
“Derk!” Mr. Murphy yelled, his voice echoing throughout the quiet neighborhood.
That was it. See if she'd ever return to the Murphy home again or confide in her brother. Fuck everyone who thought she and Ryan didn't belong together.
18
Ryan lay in bed with Lynn draped naked across his bare chest. For the third night in a row, they had the house to themselves and made the most of their precious time before he told his brother of his relationship. Brady was down for the night, well at least for a few hours, and the house was quiet.
“Things didn't go well when I told my brother,” Lynn whispered against his chest.
His finger stopped the travel up and down her bare spine. She had the softest, most flawless skin he'd ever felt on a woman. Her long, lean body fit perfectly with his. She truly was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever had the pleasure of body worshiping.
“What happened?” Ryan heard his tone go hard. He didn't give a shit if Russ was her brother, if he hurt her, the man would answer to him.
“He's upset I didn't listen to him and didn’t stay away from you. He never wanted me to take the job. Then he called you a manwhore.”
“Well, I can't argue with the manwhore. Sorry,” he said, unable to rightfully defend himself with regards to his bedroom practices. How could he? “Why would he tell you to not to take the job?”
“He told me you were a mess.”
“I was, well, maybe still am a bit, but I’m getting better.”
She shrugged, the motion causing her breasts to move on his chest, which caused his body to come alive, again. “I guess he was worried.”
“He's your brother, he's only looking out for you. I do the same with Beth.” He resumed his stroking of her silky skin.
“I suppose,” she murmured.
He could tell there was something on her mind, though she didn’t address it, which was out of character for Lynn. She was a straight shooter. One of her many fantastic qualities. Number one being that she tolerated his dumbass. “Is there something else?”
Finally she looked up. Her beautiful features still held that post coitus flush. “What is this between us? I mean, I understand why Russ would worry, but do I have something to be worried about?”
He blinked, surprised. Then he quickly realized they hadn’t discussed their relationship, what they wanted, or where they were going.
“What do you want between us?” he asked, somewhat anxious about her answers. He never considered their possible different expectations.
She ran a finger over his bare chest. “Well, I’d like us to be exclusive.”
“Yeah, that’d be a good idea.” Fucking Robert came to mind. “You still harassed by dickhead?”
She tilted her head confused.
“Robert.”
“No, not since your pissing contest.” She rolled her eyes.
“That was no contest, babe. He didn’t even enter the game.”
“Arrogant much?”
He stared blankly. It was true, Robert didn’t have a thing on him. Any man who hightailed it away from a woman he supposedly loved because of a tiny threat from a former Navy SEAL, who happened to know how to kill in a variety of manners and hide a body, well, he didn’t deserve to play in the same park.
“Okay, so we’re def exclusive.” He really liked that term with her.
“What are you looking for long term, Ryan?” she asked softly, then gnawed on the inside of her mouth.
Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t see myself getting married, Lynn. I’m sorry. I just can’t. But I also don’t want to be without you. Hell, I’d love for you to move in here with me, Brady, Sean, and Beth.”
She blinked. “Are you serious? That’s an insane amount of people in the same home, and you’ll be getting two more very soon.”
“I know, but I can’t and won’t move away from Sean. He’s saved my life so many times I’ve lost count. And when I thought I hurt Brady, he’s the one who was on the floor with me, letting me know everything was all right, and helped me work through all that fucked up shit. He’s the one who insisted I keep my son. He’s had my back forever. There hasn’t been a time where we haven’t been together. Sean means the world to me.” He hoped she could understand his relationship with his brother. Most people didn’t comprehend the need for the two of them to stay together. Their relationship had been that way since they were young boys and never wavered. Lucky for Sean, he’d found Beth who didn’t mind living with him. Though that probably stemmed from being an only child and desiring siblings her entire life.
“I don't know that I can move in here with you, Ry,” she said, her tone filled with disappointment.
“It's not a decision we need to make today.” At least for now he wouldn't pressure her, sensing that she'd turn him down. Damn, talk about a blow to a male ego. Guess he deserved that karma after all the years of playing around with women like his personal toys.
She nodded. “True. We have time.”
He noticed she breezed right over the spouse thing. Hopefully she understood he wasn't husband material. Great boyfriend arm candy? Yes. Though he'd never given the boyfriend thing a whirl, there was a first time for everything, right?
His shrill cell phone ring blasted the bedroom. He reached over, fumbled for the phone, and answered without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?”
“Beth went into labor. We're on our way to the hospital,” Sean said, his voice strained. Ryan recognized that tone. It was the one that came out when his brother was under severe pressure.
“Is she all right?”
“She's in pain. We'll be at the hospital in five minutes.”
“Do you need me there?”
“No, Mike and Jill are with us. I'll call as soon as I can.” Sean disconnected before Ryan responded.
“Beth went into labor,” Ryan said.
“Isn't it too soon?”
Ryan shook his head. “Sure they'd like her to go term but the babies should be fine.”
“Do you want to go? I'll stay with Brady.”
“Thank you,” he said softy. He suddenly rolled and pinned her beneath him, hands above her head. How he loved her in this position. Submitted and restrained. “But I'll stay here until Sean calls.” He ground his hips and his growing erection against her open core. He leaned down and claimed her mouth then yanked away. “I have a better idea on how to spend the time waiting.”
Those entrancing eyes rolled to the back of her head. “I bet you do.”
***
Ryan strolled into the maternity ward hospital room at ten in the morning with balloons and flowers in hand. He stopped at the sight before him.
“Jill, take a picture of me with a baby in each arm,” Mike Connors demanded excitedly. He held a newborn baby girl in each arm, cradled against his oversized frame. They looked like fake dolls in his grasp. The man's eyes were enormous, and the smile that donned his face was one of pure joy. Holy hell.
“Michael, we already have a picture like that.” Jill sounded exhausted.
“Then one on each shoulder,” Mike insisted.
“Dad,” Beth's soft voice interrupted.
“Ryan.” Jill finally noticed him. She abandoned her husband and approached him with a kiss on the cheek. Of course he had to lean over for her to reach him.
He went straight to his sister-in-law, who, despite the fact she just birthed twin girls, looked stunning with her ebony hair sprawled against the white bedding, her ocean blues bright, and her fair features slightly flushed. He leaned down and kissed her cheek then handed her the white roses. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Dad, will you please let Ryan see his nieces.”
Mike growled. Literally. He growled at t
he room.
“For God's sake, Mike,” Sean snapped. He stood on the other side of his wife, holding her hand and brushing her hair off her face.
Ryan went to his brother and they gave each other that masculine slap on the back. “Congratulations, Sean,” he whispered into his brother's ear. “I know you'll make a great father.”
Sean cleared his throat as they pulled back. He took Ryan by the back of the neck and they touched foreheads. Something they had done often while in the navy together. It was a prayer thing they did with each other before going into the field. “We'll both make great fathers, because we love our children,” Sean quietly insisted. “Thank you for everything, Ry.”
He shook his head. “I owe you.”
Sean pulled away, kissed his forehead and whispered, “Love you.”
Ryan swiped under his eyes before he turned to face the room.
“Do you two pansies want to look at my granddaughters or are you gonna cry all over each other?” Mike busted their balls. Of all fucking people to be in the room.
“Daddy,” Beth scolded. “You leave them alone. That's the father of my daughters and their godfather.”
Ryan gaped. “What?”
“Who else would be their godfather, Ryan?” Sean asked curiously. “You're the only one, buddy.”
“But...” He was speechless. What an enormous gesture to show how much they trusted him.
“Don't,” Sean growled. “Don't over-think.”
Their entire lives his brother had held him in the highest regard and constantly honored him with personal, meaningful gestures, in spite of his flaws. And he had too many to list. Ryan forced himself to swallow the emotions stuck in his throat. He turned to the girls. “And who do we have here?”
He stepped up to Mr. Connors, who looked like a man not about to fork over his granddaughters. Leaning over to get a better look at the twins, he had no idea how Sean and Beth would be able to tell them apart. They were born identical and even at birth, looked it.
“Michelle has more hair,” Sean offered.
“Michelle? Michelle Millen? Do you hate her?” Ryan quipped.
“She's named after her grandfather,” Mike bristled.
Ryan glanced over his shoulder and cocked a brow. Sean discretely pointed to his wife, held up his hands, shook his head and mouthed 'all her.' Yeah, his brother was totally whipped.
“And girl number two?”
“If I had a free hand I'd smack you upside the head.” Mike burned holes into his skull.
“What?”
“There is no girl number one and girl number two. They are equals,” Jill explained.
“I didn't mean it like that,” Ryan said defensive.
“What is going on?” Beth asked, sounding annoyed.
“Sorry, honey.” Sean kissed her forehead. “They're arguing.”
“No fighting in front of my babies,” she snipped.
“Sorry,” Mike, Ryan and Sean said in unison.
“This is Morgan,” Jill said, softly stroking newborn baby girl number two's head.
Ryan rolled his eyes and turned to Sean, who gave him that look that said 'don't say a word.' Instead, he asked, “Where's Mom and Dad?”
“You just missed them. They'll be back in a couple hours. Dad had some sort of military commitment.”
Sean went to Jill and scooped Morgan into his arms. Man, he looked good holding his baby girl. Those huge arms of his brothers engulfed her. In a tender moment Ryan never thought he'd witness, Sean kissed his daughter on the forehead and gently rubbed his nose against her soft skin.
“They look like their gorgeous mother,” Sean said, though Ryan got the impression it was more to himself than the room.
It had to be the coal black hair. Both newborns had plenty on their tiny heads. Not quite a head full but close.
Ryan plucked Michelle out of Mike's arms, kissed her soft head, and whispered his greeting to his niece.
“I have to talk to you,” Ryan said casually to his brother.
Sean glanced up and cocked a brow. “About?”
“Me. Lynn. Me.”
“Really?”
“Later.”
“All right.”
A knock on the door interrupted the gleeful chatter. All eyes swung to the doorway and silence descended upon the room. Out of his peripheral vision, he saw Sean straighten.
Stunning in a smart, tan suit, perfectly coifed blonde hair, and designer heels, Courtney stood before them looking as if she was prepared to take on the world. With his brother present, that might be accurate. She held an oversized basket, loaded with pink items in her arms.
Michael mumbled something under his breath Ryan didn’t catch. The Connors weren’t fans of their cousin either. Of course Beth had explained the relationship between her husband and Ryan and Courtney. Hell, she’d run back home to her parents when the fight-of-the-century that involved their cousin occurred and Beth broke up with Sean, back when they’d first been dating.
“Courtney,” Sean growled.
“Sean,” Beth said softly, catching his attention. She slightly shook her head. Clearly Beth had an issue with her daughters not being in the presence of any form of disagreement.
Heavily sighing, Sean handed Morgan back to Mr. Connors and Ryan handed Michelle to Jill. Sean then took a protective position next to his wife. Ryan slinked over to a wall, out of the way, but within arms reach of his brother. You know, just in case Sean decided to wring their cousin’s neck. Who knew what kind of drama she might stir up today?
“Come in, Courtney,” Sean ground out. Yeah, it obviously killed him to go back on his word and allow her even a few minutes in their lives. A condition he'd set after their conflict in order to protect his wife from his overdramatic cousin.
Courtney set the basket on a chair then stepped up to Beth, leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Congratulations.”
Beth, being a complete angel, grinned. “Thank you.”
“May I?” Courtney motioned to the girls. At least she was asking permission to approach the babies.
Noticeably, Courtney’s security entourage was missing. Huh? Ryan knew Sean would absolutely go bat-shit crazy if her husband’s mob cartel security dared to enter his wife’s maternity room. But Ryan found it hard to believe Derrick Murphy would allow his wife to travel to a hospital without protection.
“Yes.” Beth smiled vibrantly.
Courtney approached Jill, a wise tactic, and looked down upon the newborn girl.
“This is Michelle,” Jill said, rocking the baby. “And Michael is holding Morgan.”
“Michelle?” Courtney asked. She turned to Mr. Connors. “Named after her grandfather. You must be ecstatic.”
How utterly brilliant and well played by his cousin. She’d grown not only tough throughout the years, married to a crime boss, but cunning as well. Ryan slid a glance to Sean, whose laser glare followed Courtney's every movement. He’d seen that same look on many missions. Sean zeroing in on the enemy combatant.
Of course, Michael Connors, retired career military didn’t buy into the act. He sat tall and rigid. “Yes, we are.”
Recognizing she wasn’t going to win over Beth’s father, Courtney refocused on Jill. “May I hold her?”
Without a second thought, Jill passed the newborn to Courtney. Ryan had to admit, she looked natural holding the baby. Always had.
They all watched her lean down and kiss Michelle softly on the cheek and whisper how beautiful she looked in her pink Onesie that matched her sister.
Courtney made her physical contact with the newborn brief. Again, another wise decision. She handed Michelle back to Jill, reached into her purse, pulled out two envelopes, and approached Beth. “I have college funds set up for the girls.”
“Thank‒”
Sean was around the bed and yanking Courtney out of the room in the blink of an eye. Ryan was quick on their heels as his brother dragged her to the waiting area. When they burst through the doors, the entire
room jumped.
Ah, there was her security. Ten men spread throughout the waiting area, creating a menacing presence. They were probably given strict orders to stay put by their boss, who sat casually in a sticky hospital room chair. Even seated in that out-of-style piece of furniture, the man turned it into his personal throne. Derrick never flinched. His black suit, minus the tie, made him look as dangerous as he was perceived. Sean didn’t seem to care or take notice.
He stopped in middle of the potentially hostile room and grabbed Courtney’s shoulders. “You will not give my daughters blood money and pawn it off for their education.”
“Sean,” Courtney said, her tone calm and collected. Her eyes danced from her cousin to her husband and back again. “It’s not, trust me.”
Sean released his grasp on her. “I told you I don’t want you to have anything to do with my family, Courtney. Fuck. Why can’t you just stay away?”
Her fingers still grasping the envelope, she looked down to the floor. “I can’t,” she whispered.
“Because you’re too damn stubborn. Because you refuse to be told no.”
Ryan watched Sean visibly losing control of his temper. He took a step closer to his brother, in case he needed to intervene.
“Ryan allows me to see Brady,” she countered.
“Ryan’s judgment hasn’t been the best.”
“Hey,” Ryan protested. “Right here. Can hear you.”
They ignored him.
“You might as well close those accounts and get your money back. I won’t have anything to do with that money. Your husband knows I’ve been paying off my business loan as fast as I can so I don’t owe him a fucking dime,” Sean lashed out.
Ryan glanced at Derrick, whose features gave away nothing. He sat silently watching. Man, Ryan had dealt with many different types of terrorists in his service time. They were easy to predict. They wanted to kill Americans, kill soldiers, create havoc throughout the world, and so on. Derrick, who knew what ran through his mind at any given moment? Well, except don’t fuck with his wife. So Sean was walking a thin line.
Courtney closed her eyes and took a deep breath, purposely avoiding looking at her husband. Interesting.
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