That scared him more than the thought of forever.
Way more.
Chapter 19
“I still can’t get over the fact that you’re a daddy,” Shep said as he sat on his aunt and uncle’s porch, enjoying a beer.
Austin snorted from his chair beside him. “I’m still not over it yet.”
Shep shook his head then took another sip of his beer. “What do you think, Grandpa, you believe it?”
Harry, who sat on the other side of Austin, took a sip of his water. “I do, only because I can see Austin in every little motion Leif makes. It’s funny that kid is so much like you when he had a full decade without you.”
Shep held back an angry response to that. He’d met Maggie once right when he’d left Denver for good so he could move to New Orleans. She’d been spoiled, selfish, and not at all like what Austin had now. He’d had to hold back a few responses when it came to Leif’s mom. It wasn’t fair to speak ill of the dead, but she’d deprived his cousin and the rest of the Montgomerys memories and experiences they’d never get back. And Leif had been forced to stay in a group home, not knowing what his own future would hold because she kept him a secret. That was a fucking huge sin in Shep’s book, and although she was gone, he wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive her for the look on Austin’s face.
His cousin might say he was over it and moving on, but Shep knew better. Austin had no idea how to act around his son, and that was a shame. Sure, the kid was starting to open up, but he hadn’t been around the whole Montgomery clan all at once yet. That was enough to scare anyone, let alone a kid who’d had only his mother for most of his life.
“Leif doing good in school?” Harry asked, his hands shaking.
Shep held back the stinging at the back of his eyes. The radiation was hard on the man, they could all see that, but Harry was strong. Plus with Marie by his side, he was stronger. The prognosis was good according to Harry, and though they were all worried, Shep knew that if they stayed positive, they could make it though.
It didn’t make it any less hard to watch Harry deal with the pain.
Shep met Austin’s eyes and saw his cousin was dealing with the same thing as Shep. It was awful to feel so helpless for those you loved.
“He’s doing good. He’s got a test today that we studied for last night.”
Shep smiled softly at that. The man sounded like such a dad—even though he knew Austin didn’t feel it.
They talked about Leif some more, and Shep soaked it all up. He wanted to know more about the kid’s life and how he was taking it all in.
“You think he’s ready for the barbecue tomorrow?” Shep asked when Harry fell asleep.
Austin stood, throwing a blanket over his father. “Leif? Yeah. I think he’ll be fine. If not, then we can leave. He’s met most of you guys individually, but never as a group.”
“We’re a bit crazy to people who know us, let alone newcomers.”
Austin snorted. “Sierra is coming too, and it’s her first barbecue with the Montgomerys.”
Shep let out a whistle. “Same for Shea actually. At least they’ll have each other when we throw them to the wolves.”
“True. Speaking of Shea, how is she? It’s been a month, and she still seems, I don’t know, off somehow.”
Shep let out a breath. “I don’t know, man. I’ve noticed it too and commented on it. All she says is that she’s fine. Fine. I hate that fucking word. It doesn’t mean fine. It’s a landmine of doom and tears.”
“Damn. You think it’s her mom?”
Shep sighed. Her mom was a first-class bitch and had tried to take everything from Shea more than once.
“I hope not, but the thought’s crossed my mind.”
“I don’t know what to say, Shep. I’m not much help if we can’t figure it out.”
“You have enough on your plate right now that doesn’t have to do with me. Worry about that, and I’ll figure it out. It’s got to be something because she isn’t fine. We both know that. Hopefully she’ll open up to me because it’s killing me that she doesn’t trust me enough to do so.”
Austin looked over sharply. “Trust? You think that’s it?”
Shep ran a hand over his face. “What else could it be? I thought we were open and honest about everything. I guess not.”
“Shep.”
“Whatever. I’m going to head out and back to Griffin’s. Shea is there working on something, and, well, I want to be there.” He met Austin’s gaze then looked over at a sleeping Harry. “We’ll probably head back to New Orleans soon. We’ve been here for a month, and though Shea can do everything from her computer and I’ve been working at Montgomery Ink, we need to get back.”
Austin nodded. “I know. I figured. You just let me know when, and I’ll help if you need me.”
He hugged his cousin, ran a hand over his uncle’s head, and then went back into the house so he could leave. Something was up with Shea. She wasn’t happy, and he could only think it was something he’d done.
He swallowed hard. There was no way he could let her get away with not telling him. He loved her more than anything on this earth, and he needed to know how to help.
Even if it broke him.
Chapter 20
“How many Montgomerys are there going to be again?”
Austin didn’t answer her, and Sierra had to turn, narrowing her eyes. Her man grinned, his hands in his pockets.
“You sure look sexy in that dress, Legs.”
She held back her smile at his words. She did look good in her sundress, but he wouldn’t be let off the hook with nice words. Wait. Was she too sexy? She turned on her heel and looked in Austin’s full-length mirror on the back of his closet door.
“Is it too sexy?” Damn it. She wanted to make a good impression and couldn’t do it if she looked like some trollop on the hunt. Yes, she said trollop. It happens.
Strong hands wrapped around her waist as Austin came up from behind her. He tilted her head to the side and ran soft kisses up her neck. Shivers racked her body, and her knees went weak. Damn man and his prowess.
“You look amazing, Legs. Not too sexy,” he added as she narrowed her eyes again. “Your legs look hot, but that’s because they always do. In fact, the only way they could look hotter is if they were wrapped around my waist…or my neck.” He kissed behind her temple. Seriously. Damn man. “In fact, I might have you change into pants or a nun’s habit so my brothers don’t get a look at those legs. Those are mine, baby.”
She rolled her eyes. Territorial much? “They can look all they want, but I’m still coming home to you.” Oh, boy. That sounded more like a wife’s statement than a girlfriend’s. She didn’t meet Austin’s eyes just in case he took it wrong. She didn’t want to ruin their day before it even got started. “Now, you didn’t answer my first question. How many Montgomerys are going to be there?”
Austin moved back and patted her ass. “Just the siblings and their spouses. Oh, and Shep, Shea, and Decker. Some might bring a girlfriend or, in Maya’s case, Jake since he’s always around, but other than that, Mom and Dad didn’t want to overwhelm you, Shea, and Leif with all the extras right out the gate.”
“You do realize that since there are eight of you in that one family it’s always going to be overwhelming? There’s no taking you in small doses.”
He patted her ass again, and she rolled her eyes. “What can we say? We like the noise. It’s comforting. Now finish getting ready since I know you want to make sure you’re perfect—something that’s already done in my eyes by the way—while I go get Leif ready. He’s freaking out a bit.”
She warmed at his compliment even as she worried for the little boy who had come into their lives so unexpectedly. “Do you want my help with Leif?”
Something odd came in his eyes, but he shook it away. Weird. “I’ve got it. I need to get to know him better anyway, right?”
Huh. That reaction was…different. He kissed her on the corner of her mouth then left the ro
om. What had she done? Said? Maybe she was just looking into everything too hard. It had been a rough few weeks.
She finished putting on her mascara and called it good enough for meeting the family. The whole family. All at once. No pressure or anything. Thank God Shea would be there in similar shoes.
Her phone rang from her purse sitting on the bed, and she stepped over to answer it. Her shoe got caught on shirt Austin had left on the floor, so she answered the phone without looking at the screen. “Hello?”
“Sierra, it’s Rodney.”
Her heart sped up, and she sat shakily on the edge of the bed. She’d heard from her lawyer and friend a few times since that horrible phone call from her in-laws, but not often. Thankfully, she hadn’t heard from Todd and Marsha again. Actually, the more she thought about it, the more that worried her. If they had nothing up their sleeves, they’d call and harass her like they used to when they were out of options. Now they’d left her alone. That could mean they’d given up, but Sierra knew better. They were up to something, and she had no idea what it was.
That ball of worry turned into stone in her belly, and she had to take a deep breath before answering. “Yes, Rodney. What is it?”
“Well, I have good news and bad news.”
She swallowed hard. “Okay.”
“The good news is that we haven’t received any court documents about their suit. The bad news is they are still trying to make waves.”
Her body shook. “What does that mean?”
“It means we’re not out of the dark yet and they’re looking for ways to sue you. I’m sorry, Sierra.”
“Thank you for letting me know. I have to go now.”
She hung up before he could say anything back and tried to find her composure. Marsha and Todd wanted to sue her and take Eden. They wouldn’t be able to. There was no way unless they found a way to pay their way into that outcome. The fact they’d almost done that before worried her, but she had to breathe. She had a family barbecue to attend and a little boy who needed her.
A little boy who wasn’t her own, but she was damn sure acting like he was.
She put her phone back in her purse, straightened her dress, and then walked out of the bedroom, putting away her fears and what-ifs. She’d tell Austin about the call and what she was thinking after the barbecue. She didn’t want to ruin the party and Leif’s introduction with her own problems. They had enough on their own without adding hers into the mix.
Austin and Leif sat in the living room, both silent, not looking at each other. Well, they looked, but only when they thought the other wasn’t. She knew Austin was trying to get to know his son, but it was hard. They honestly didn’t know how to go about it and were failing in some respects. Yes, Austin had gone full steam into being a father and hadn’t pushed Leif away, and Leif had come to Austin in the first place, but it wasn’t enough. They were two strangers in an impossible situation.
“Ready to head out?” she said, startling them both.
Austin stood quickly, running his hand over his hair. She held back a smile as Leif did the same thing. The two of them were so cute she just wanted to hold them and never let them go.
“Ready,” Austin said gruffly.
“Ready,” Leif said at the same time.
Too. Cute.
The number of Montgomerys in one place was a little startling—no, overwhelming and “of the oh-my-God variety.
“It’s like they multiply when they’re together,” Shea whispered from her side.
“Exponentially,” Sierra whispered back, grateful for the other woman’s presence, though she did seem a bit pale. “You feeling okay, hon?”
Shea met her gaze, her eyes wide. “I’m fine.”
Huh, Austin was right. Shea kept saying fine, and no one believed it. Poor Shep must be out of his mind.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. I’m going to go find Shep. You okay right here?”
Sierra nodded and watched Shea walk away toward her husband. Whatever was going on with that woman, she hoped she’d be better than fine soon.
A small body leaned into her, and she looked down at Leif, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.
“What’s up, honey?”
“Just looking,” he mumbled, and she rubbed his back.
Poor guy. There were a lot of Montgomerys congregated in Marie and Harry’s backyard. Thankfully, no one had brought any significant others that they weren’t married to, other than Maya who brought Jake. Sierra still didn’t understand that relationship other than the fact that the two were best friends who didn’t sleep with each other. If that worked for them, good; however, Sierra still didn’t understand the odd undercurrents. Not that it was her place to judge in the first place.
Well, that wasn’t quite right, Austin had brought Sierra. Since when had she thought of him as her husband? Must have been a slip of the tongue.
They stood together silently, watching the others talk and joke around. Leif had already made the rounds with Austin at first. She’d held back so she wouldn’t interfere. She’d make her own introductions later. It wasn’t like she hadn’t met them all before—Leif as well. This was just the first full family event for the both of them.
There was that word again.
Family.
She shook it off. Today was about Leif’s future, not hers. Her gaze landed on Harry, who sat in an outdoor chair, a smile on his pale face. God, the man had to be in pain, but he looked like he was just resting. Apparently, he was doing better than what they’d all thought, so that was good. However, she knew prostate cancer didn’t go away overnight. He was fighting, so that was all that mattered then.
Austin prowled toward her then, his gaze on hers, his shoulders wide, his stride strong. God, she loved him. If only she could actually buck up the nerve and say that. She didn’t know what was holding her back, but it was something.
His gaze left hers to Leif at her side, and a cold glint washed over his eyes before he blinked it away.
Yes. That. That was part of why she held back from telling him she loved him. Leif went to her first. Always. He trusted her and leaned into her hold more than he did with Austin…if he ever leaned at all.
God. Was Austin jealous of her? No, that couldn’t be it. She must just be imagining things.
“Hey you,” she said softly, shrugging off her feelings. She was blowing things out of proportion. That had to be it.
“Hey.” He leaned down, brushing his lips over hers. He pulled away, reaching out for Leif, then put his hand down as Leif burrowed into her side more.
The shattered look on Austin’s face broke her heart.
“Having fun?” Austin asked after an odd moment of silence.
Leif shrugged.
A clatter of feet on the deck and Cliff ran up to them, Sasha right on his heels, even at such a young age. That little girl wasn’t about to be left out of whatever her big brother got into. Sierra couldn’t help but smile.
“Hey, Leif. Want to go play?” Cliff held a rubber ball like the one she’d used in gym for dodge ball or even kick ball.
“Play!” Sasha said as she clapped her hands.
Sierra’s ovaries—the ones she’d thought long dead—perked up.
Well, that complicated things.
“Can I?” Leif asked. Her. Not Austin.
She met Austin’s gaze, helpless. Leif wasn’t hers, no matter how hard she tried. She was only Austin’s girlfriend, not a replacement for Maggie.
Austin gave her a slight nod, his mouth drawn tight.
“Sure, honey. Have fun and make sure you let Sasha play without hurting her.”
Leif rolled his eyes and hugged her hard before running off with Cliff, Sasha trailing behind. There went those damn ovaries again.
“Be careful with Sasha, Cliff! And let her play,” Meghan called out as she and her husband, Richard, walked toward Austin and Sierra.
Austin turned, holding out his arm so Sierra nestled under it, restin
g against his side. Honestly, there were only a few other places better than where she was right then.
“Hey, little sister,” Austin said as the other couple came closer.
Meghan smiled and leaned into her brother, kissing his chin before coming over to hug Sierra too. This family sure loved hugging.
Well, most of them. Richard hadn’t even looked her way or bothered to say hello. She hadn’t liked him the first time she’d seen him, and that attitude hadn’t changed.
Nor did she think it would any time soon.
“Richard,” Austin said, his tone cooler.
The other man raised a brow. “I believe we already did introductions when you brought over that child about twenty minutes ago. Is there a reason we are doing this again?”
“Richard,” Meghan whispered.
Yep. He was an asshole.
“We like to say hello to people when we walk up to them,” Austin said casually, his body strung tight against Sierra. “You know, being polite and all that crap.”
“Whatever you say,” Richard said dully then turned to Meghan. “This is the second one we’ve come to in a row. I think we can call it a day.”
Meghan’s eyes pleaded for Austin to not say anything, and Sierra felt for the woman. There was clearly something going on here that Sierra wasn’t privy to, and Austin didn’t like it one bit.
“I see Griffin and Alex over there. Let’s go talk to them since I really haven’t seen them today,” Sierra said, blinking up at Austin.
Austin growled softly then sighed. “I need to go ask Mom a question, so you head on over. I’ll be there in a bit.” He glared at Richard. “Let me know if you need anything, Meghan. Anything.”
“I believe my wife is just fine,” Richard bit out.
“I’m fine, Austin,” Meghan said, her voice tired. “I just need to say goodbye to Richard and then I’ll mingle. Promise.”
“Excuse me?” Richard asked, his cheeks going red.
“You’re right, honey. If you’re busy, then head on home. I’ll take care of the kids, and since we came in separate cars, we’re fine.”
Steam and Ink: Two Novels of Ink Plus Two BONUS Short Stories Page 19
