Wrapped in Ink

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “Just about everything that’s happened in this house. About how we all learned so much here, did so much. And yet no matter how far we ran, how far we’ve come or gone, we always come back here.”

  He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Weird to think, right?”

  She nodded and played with her fingers as she looked down. “I come from a military family, you know that,” she said.

  Liam nodded. “Grandpa and Grandma, right? Both of them?”

  “Yes, your grandpa was a lieutenant colonel in the military, and your grandmother was in the service for eight years until she didn’t re-up and went on to be a GS12 in the civilian sector. So, she was still able to PCS with my father and me.” She smiled at Liam’s look. He wasn’t military and didn’t know most of the acronyms. “That means she was decently high on the pay grade and moved with us with orders of her own. So no matter where we went, though, we never actually had a family. No…I said that wrong. We had a family, we just didn’t have roots. Didn’t have a home. We moved from place to place, never being able to find a home that was truly ours. Yes, my parents have their own place down in Florida that they love, but it’s something they made with just the two of them in mind. I never had a room there.”

  Liam nodded, understanding a little. “So, you made sure we each had our own rooms here.”

  “It wasn’t easy. At first, the property we purchased here only had three bedrooms. Your father and I didn’t have a lot of money, but we had finished school and were working on savings. Somehow, we ended up with four beautiful children and were able to build onto the house. And though you guys shared rooms occasionally when you were younger, we ended up with five bedrooms. Though I think Bristol will always say that hers was little more than a closet.”

  “Bristol always complained, but she never had to share with anyone. It’s just because she was a girl.” Liam smiled as he said it, but the expression was fleeting.

  “We did everything for our kids, and for ourselves, too. I love our family. I love the fact that there are roots. That I have lived in this house for longer than I’ve lived anywhere in my life. Even if you add all those places together, it doesn’t equal the time here. This is my home. This is where I want to be for the rest of my life. I want to one day see grandbabies here, and I want to grow old with your father and watch you guys all make your own families when the time’s right.”

  She paused and smiled.

  “What’s that smile for?” Liam asked, cautious.

  “Oh, just thinking about all of you finding the loves of your lives and the fact that Bristol has been telling me about a certain someone in yours.”

  “I’m really not going to talk about Arden right now, okay? Maybe later.”

  His mother looked as if he had hit her, and he wanted to curse himself.

  “This just isn’t the time for that. I’m going to tell you all about her. Later. I promise. For right now? We have other things to talk about. And I think you know that.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m not going to hide her from you.” And then he cursed for real, and his mom didn’t admonish him, so he figured that this was a turning point. “You hid so much from me. Even if it was a single name on one line of a piece of paper, you hid that from me.”

  “And I know that I said I did it for a reason, but that was never to hurt you. I didn’t want to break what we had. Your father and I love each other. We loved each other then, too. We just couldn’t figure out how to be together because we had such strong personalities. And when those clashed, we also had big tempers. But we figured it out. Only after something had already happened. And my parents were so adamant about the mistakes I was making, even if they tried to be supportive, that I wasn’t sure I trusted my love. No, I trusted it. I just wasn’t sure I trusted love at all at that point. I wasn’t sure that your father wouldn’t just leave me once I held you in my arms. I was so afraid that he wouldn’t love you the way I did. I was so afraid I couldn’t love you the way I should. I needed you to be in my arms before I figured out the next step. And I know that was probably the wrong thing to think, but I did it anyway.”

  “But you were honest.” Liam sighed. “And I get that. You were scared. Afraid that Dad was going to leave you because you had another man’s child. I get why you didn’t get married right away. I even get the fact that you and Dad were separated and weren’t actually a couple when you got with that guy, Steve.”

  “I hate the name Steve now, and I think it’s because of all the secrets. But that’s neither here nor there. I just…it was a little emotional at that point. I should have married your father right away, but I was a chicken.”

  “You have never been a chicken in your life, Mom.”

  “Thank you for that.” She smiled then, and Liam reached out to grip her hand. “I love you, Liam.”

  “I love you, too, Mom. I just…I wish I knew more about that time. Will you tell me?”

  “Do you want to know about him? Steve? I don’t remember a lot. I didn’t know a lot, to be honest. And I don’t know what kind of person that makes me.”

  “No. Do not shame yourself. Do you hear me? Let me tell you, I can remember the faces and names of every woman I’ve ever slept with, but I don’t know their hopes or fears or where they are now or what they’re doing. I don’t know every intricate detail about every single person. I didn’t love them. Just like you didn’t love that man. So, don’t you dare shame yourself for that.”

  “I should probably get mad at you for mentioning the fact that you’ve slept with women and discarded them.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Liam growled.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She squeezed his hand.

  “It’s just, back then, I was ashamed. Shamed by myself. Your dad never made me feel that way. He loved you, Liam. From the first time he felt you kick against his hand, he loved you. He would have married me right then, but I had to wait. Because I was scared. And because I was scared, I messed things up.”

  “I love you,” Liam repeated. “Yes, it’s going to take me a while to really get over the lying. And there will always be a part of me that wonders what was separate and what makes me different. I can’t help that. But I’m not going to be angry anymore. I don’t think I can.”

  “I hope you’re not angry. I don’t want you to be. Because you’re a Montgomery, son. You’ve always been. And you always will be.”

  “I,”—he let out a shuddering breath—“maybe. Maybe.” And then he held her close. She snuggled into his chest and told him about their first apartment, and how he looked as a baby. And then she told him about his first steps and the fact that he had tried to be a big brother to Ethan, even though he’d only been two.

  She told him how she’d felt when she held him for the first time, and how she’d felt with Ethan. And that, no matter what, it had felt the same. She had been a mom.

  And Liam believed her.

  Yeah, he was probably going to have that anger about the lying for a bit. And, yeah, everyone kept telling him that he was a Montgomery.

  But, sometimes, it was hard to truly grasp that.

  But he would be fine.

  Because he had to be.

  And even if he occasionally ran from them, he still had his family.

  Because Montgomerys were forever.

  He just had to remember that he was, in fact, a Montgomery. Maybe not by blood, but by the pure strength and grit that was their family.

  And that’s all that mattered.

  Chapter 18

  “Why am I nervous?” Arden asked herself as she set out her charcuterie board. Yes, cheese was going to save her. Not that she could eat a lot of it today because she couldn’t eat much at all. Her stomach hurt, though not from a flareup, thank God. Because she was nervous. Anxious because she was going to take the next step with Liam.

  Yes, the two of them had already slept together.

  However, she was taking the next step into them be
ing something…more.

  She was going to have dinner with her brothers and Liam. At her house. With no other supervision. Just a lot of testosterone, and plenty of prayers.

  Dear God. Maybe she needed more cheese. And wine. And tequila.

  Strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she let out a sigh.

  “Maybe we should cancel.”

  “You do realize I’ve met your brothers, right? All of them. One at a time. We’ve all been in the hospital together.” Liam kissed her neck, slowly sliding her hair to the other side of her shoulders. She shuddered out a breath.

  He placed another gentle kiss on her skin, and she licked her lips.

  “None of that, mister. I cannot be all flushed and turned on when my brothers show up. There are rules, Liam Montgomery.”

  “Oh, I know there are.”

  “And I think you’re just trying to fuck with my brothers. Right?”

  “No,” he said, laughing as he turned her in his arms. He pressed her back into the counter and then lowered his head, gently brushing his lips along hers. She sank into him, wanting more, and knowing she couldn’t have it. At least not right then. Because the Brady brothers would be there at any moment, and then her life would get a little more complicated. As always.

  Not that it wasn’t already complicated. But having all four of her brothers and Liam in the same room where her family could interrogate him for long stretches of time over a meal? No, she wasn’t really looking forward to that.

  Even if a small part of her was because, hello, it meant that they were taking the next step in their relationship. What was only supposed to be a date, was only supposed to be her giving her number to a man whom she thought hadn’t wanted to call her at all, was now turning into something more.

  They were trying to take things slow, but ever since her jaundiced hospital visit, it felt like everything was going a little faster, a bit out of her control.

  Maybe that was what she needed, though. Perhaps she needed to throw caution to the wind.

  “What is going on in that head of yours?” Liam asked, tapping his finger between her brows.

  She scowled at him and slid her fingers through his belt loops at his back.

  She loved that they casually touched so often. As if it were their right and they could do it whenever they pleased. It made her feel like this was something more.

  And maybe it was.

  And that was good.

  “You’re still thinking.”

  “I’m just thinking about the fact that I really don’t want to have to clean up body parts later.”

  “That’s not what you were thinking. But maybe I’ll let you get away with that. We’re not going to murder each other. I can handle your brothers.”

  “You say that now, but they’ve been warned about what’s coming. They’re going to start slow, pestering you until you’re this sad little gazelle surrounded by lions. And then, suddenly, you’re in pieces and bloody, and there’s nothing left of you.”

  “That’s a wonderful image right before dinner,” Liam said with a laugh. “And, I’m Liam Montgomery. There’s no way I’m ever going to be a fucking gazelle.”

  “Oh, I don’t know, they made my last boyfriend a gazelle.”

  “My hands are currently on your ass right now, pressing you into my cock. Let’s not discuss your past boyfriends, shall we?” He growled out the words, but she saw the laughter in his eyes.

  “Liam.”

  “Don’t Liam me. We will not discuss him. He doesn’t matter.”

  There was a finality to his tone that sort of worried her, but she had a feeling it wasn’t jealousy. More indignancy at the way her ex had hurt her. After all, she knew that Liam knew why the relationship had ended.

  Because she had been sick.

  But Liam had stayed.

  And so she was going to put that in the plus column.

  The whole meeting with her brothers? That was in the neutral column for now.

  “And you’re going to tell me that you were pure like driven snow before you met me?” she asked, her brows raised. She hadn’t actually meant to ask that. She didn’t really want to know the answer. After all, Liam was probably the hottest man she’d ever met in her life. He wasn’t a young kid, had been a model, and was now a bestselling author. She was pretty sure that he’d had his fair share of women.

  “I’m not going to answer that question, other than to say that you’re special. How’s that?”

  She looked in his eyes, her breath catching, and wondered what he saw there. Special? He hadn’t said that before. It was new. It was…she wasn’t sure.

  Maybe she could get used to that.

  But before she could ask him what he’d meant, or even figure out what she wanted him to mean, the doorbell rang. And then there was the sound of a key in the door. Suddenly, her brothers were inside the house.

  She quickly untangled herself from Liam and stomped towards her family.

  “What did I say about just walking in? Is this an emergency? No. You can’t just use your key. What’s the point of ringing the doorbell?”

  Prior handed her a bouquet of sunflowers and kissed her on the cheek. She blinked and set them down on the table beside her, wanting her hands free so she could hug her siblings. “It was to warn you that we were walking in.”

  “Yeah, a warning,” Macon said, kissing her on the other cheek as he walked past her with two bottles of wine in his hands.

  “You guys brought things?” she asked, a little behind.

  Nate hugged her close, kissed the top of her head, and then walked past her with two loaves of French bread in his arms.

  “We never come to your house emptyhanded,” Cross said, kissing her on the forehead. “We always bring food or something for you.”

  His hands were filled with a covered cake dish of some sort, and she just shook her head.

  “I know, and I love that you bring me groceries and things. But I told you not to bring anything tonight.”

  “Yes, and then they called me to make sure that I knew that they were bringing bread, wine, and dessert.”

  She turned and narrowed her eyes at Liam. “And you didn’t tell me?”

  “I tried to, but then we got distracted.” He winked, a far too pleased grin on his face. Oh, she remembered that distraction.

  She blushed and then risked a glance at all four of her brothers, who were now just laughing and shaking their heads. They didn’t glare. They didn’t tear Liam limb from limb. That was a good sign. Right? They were on the right track.

  Before she could think too hard on that, though, Jasper came prancing in, getting love and belly rubs from every single male in the house.

  “I swear your dog is getting bigger,” Cross said, narrowing his eyes.

  “He is not. Be kind.”

  “I’m not saying fat,” Cross mumbled. “I’m just saying that I feel like he’s gotten taller. Can they do that?”

  “No,” Arden growled out. “Stop teasing my boy.”

  “He’s just a big dog,” Prior said, on his knees as he cooed at her very large white Siberian Husky. Jasper was in love, leaning into Prior’s hands. “Yes, you are. You’re such a big, good dog. Yes, you are.”

  “I swear to God, you guys are insane,” she said. “But Jasper is a good dog. Yes, he is.”

  That made everybody laugh, and Jasper continued to get pets and love, and even a dog treat or two before he made his way to his bed. “Okay, so, Italian for dinner?” Macon asked, peeking into the oven.

  “Yes, I’m making regular lasagna, and zucchini lasagna.”

  Macon winced. “Really?”

  “You’ve had it before. You liked it. I could do without all the gluten sometimes,” she said, raising her chin. “Plus, I know you like it.”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have to eat it every time.”

  She shook her head, smiling. “Are you afraid you’re going to lose your man card by liking zucchini?” she asked, laugh
ing.

  Liam wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bringing her to his chest.

  “Not quite sure vegetables are what do that,” Liam said, laughing with her.

  “I’m not afraid of that. Hell, I was just being the annoying brother. You don’t have to talk about my man card.” Macon raised his brows, and the rest of the guys in the room laughed when she put her face in her hands, trying not to think they were funny.

  “I really can’t with any of you guys.”

  “You know you love us,” Prior said, his hand on Jasper’s head.

  “Maybe. But I could do without the lot of you sometimes.”

  “No, I think we’re going to stick around for a while, be a part of your life a little bit more. Maybe ask about intentions and all of that,” Cross said, glaring at Liam. She froze but then saw the laughter in Cross’s gaze. She felt the rumble of Liam’s chuckle against her back.

  “So, are the five of you just egging each other on?” she asked, pulling away from Liam. He put his arm around her waist and tugged her back to his chest.

  “We’re just messing with you,” Liam said as he kissed the top of her head.

  She didn’t miss the fact that all four of her brothers followed the movement, but they didn’t say anything. Apparently, Liam was in the good column. For now. She had a feeling if he messed up, they would probably want to kick his ass.

  But, somehow, they’d all bonded over the overprotective crap of being a big brother, and now she was going to have to deal with it.

  Great.

  “Do you act like this with Bristol?” she asked, looking up at Liam.

  “Of course. And Aaron.” Liam looked up and spoke to Arden’s brothers. “Aaron’s the baby of the family. Bristol is too, but Aaron’s just a little bit younger. So, Ethan and I like to make sure we get really overprotective with them. Very growly big brother.”

  “As is your right,” Cross said, and Arden flipped him off.

  “Hey, that’s not very nice, little sister.”

  “Yeah, I’m hurt,” Prior said, putting his hand on his chest over his heart.