Butler, Vermont Series: Boxed Set, Books 1-3

by Force, Marie

  “Yes, it does,” Cameron said. “I’m living proof of that.”

  The baby began to fuss, and Hannah reached for her daughter.

  “Hey, Han, did you hear that we saw Fred earlier with a baby moose?” Wade asked.

  Hannah looked so shocked, she nearly dropped her own baby. “What? Fred can’t have babies! He’s a boy moose.”

  “Do we know that for sure?” Wade asked.

  “He had antlers,” Hannah said. “Didn’t he?”

  “I don’t recall ever seeing him—or her—with antlers,” Molly said.

  “Dude would know,” Hannah said.

  “Gertrude ‘Dude’ Danforth is Butler’s version of Snow White,” Wade explained to Mia, “because of her close relationships with animals of all kinds. Many believe she’s the one who domesticated Fred, but she doesn’t talk about it.”

  “She also dates Skeeter, who works for Nolan,” Hannah added. “The ultimate odd couple.”

  Wade groaned. “Dude is about six feet tall and two feet wide, and Skeeter is… well, Skeeter.”

  “They’re madly in love,” Hannah said, giggling.

  “Who’s madly in love?” Nolan asked when he came in with the pack of dogs in hot pursuit. They tore through the kitchen on their way into the dining room.

  “Skeeter and Dude.”

  Nolan held up a hand. “Don’t. I have to hear all about it at work. I don't need to hear about it on a Sunday.”

  “He’s traumatized,” Hannah said, bouncing Callie on her hip. When the baby saw her daddy, she let out a happy squeal.

  Nolan took her from his wife and lit up with delight at the sight of her.

  Mia sighed, wondering what it might be like to see Wade with a child of theirs.

  As if he could sense her thoughts, he tightened his hold on her. “Come see my old room.”

  “Everyone knows that trick,” Hannah said.

  “What trick?” Wade asked, taking Mia’s hand to lead her out of there before Hannah could reply.

  “This house is beautiful,” Mia said as they went through the dining room to the stairs.

  “It was a wreck when they first bought it. They camped on the property for months when they were renovating it. My dad loves to tell everyone that Hunter and Hannah were conceived in a tent and raised in a barn.”

  Mia laughed. “That’s awesome.”

  “Being raised in a barn gets you a pass on a lot of bad behavior, which is necessary when you’re one of ten.” He opened a door on the right side of the hallway and ushered her inside before closing and pressing one of three locks on the door. “This is where the magic happened.”

  The room was so small, she could almost touch both sides if she extended her arms.

  “It was a closet that I turned into a bedroom, so I didn’t have to share with Colton. It wasn’t much, but it was all mine.”

  “And that was important to you.”

  “It wasn’t easy being a solitary creature in this family. Having my own room saved my sanity.”

  “You really needed three locks?”

  “My younger brothers were amazingly accomplished at picking locks. I kept adding them until I found one that worked.” Wade put his arms around her and held on tight. “Has it been days since I could hold you like this, or does it just feel like it?”

  She snuggled into his embrace. “Only a few hours.”

  “Seems like an eternity. What was I thinking, sharing you with my family on the second day of our marriage?”

  “I’m enjoying your family very much.”

  “What did my mom have to say to you?”

  “We had a nice chat.”

  He drew back so he could see her face. “That’s all it was? A nice chat?”

  “Uh-huh.” Mia didn’t think Molly would appreciate her sharing the warning she’d levied. “It’s all good.”

  “If anyone gives you a hard time, or makes you feel uncomfortable, I want you to tell me.”

  Mia rubbed against him. “You’re the only one who has made me uncomfortable so far—in the best possible way.”

  Wade groaned. “Don’t do that to me here.”

  “What did I do?” she asked, looking up at him with an innocent smile.

  He kissed her fiercely, his lips and tongue hungry as he devoured her.

  Mia clung to him, trying to get as close as she could. Then she was falling as he lowered them to the bed and came down on top of her. “Wade,” she gasped. “We can’t.”

  “We can be quick.”

  “No, not here. They’ll know.”

  Groaning again, he dropped his head to her chest and took a series of deep breaths while she ran her fingers through his hair. “We’re going to eat and run, you got me?”

  “We’re not going to be rude,” she said, loving the slide of his silky hair through her fingers.

  “Screw that. It’s my family. We can be rude if we want to.”

  “You can be rude, but I won’t be. I’m the new girl. I want them to like me.”

  “They do like you.”

  “Not yet. Even though they’ve been very nice and welcoming, they’re probably still wary, which is understandable under the circumstances.”

  “It’s not understandable, and who’s wary?”

  “How would you feel if one of your younger brothers came home with a woman none of you had ever met and said he was going to marry her—right away—to help her out of a jam?”

  To his credit, Wade pretended to give that some thought. “I wouldn’t love it, but I’d respect his choice.”

  “Would you? Or would you be leery until his choice proved she’s worthy of your respect?”

  Sighing, he rested his forehead against hers. “I guess I’d be suspicious at first.”

  “They want what’s best for you. I understand that.”

  “You are what’s best for me, and we’re going to show them this is the real deal.”

  “That’s not going to happen overnight.”

  “That’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. Are you?”

  “No, but—”

  He kissed the words off her lips. “No buts. We’re in this for keeps, and in a couple of months, when you’re firmly entrenched in the Abbott family, no one will remember they hadn’t met you before we got married.”

  “If you say so.”

  Someone pounded on the door. “Mom says if you’re having sex in her house, she’ll cut your balls off.”

  Landon.

  “Mom did not say that, so fuck off.”

  Landon laughed at his own joke, but he went away.

  “Sorry about that,” Wade said. “Do not laugh. It’s not funny.”

  “It really is.”

  “Not if you’ve been putting up with their crap for twenty-six years. There’s nothing funny about it.”

  “I’m new, so it’s still funny.”

  Wade scowled at her. “You’re not allowed to think they’re funny.”

  “Got it,” she said, affecting a solemn expression. “Younger brothers not funny. Any other rules I need to be aware of?”

  “Charley’s not funny either.”

  “Okay…”

  He took her hand, helped her up and unlocked the door. “Let’s go eat so we can get out of this madhouse.”

  “But it’s just getting interesting.”

  Chapter 15

  “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”

  —George Burns

  Even with his brothers busting his balls, nothing could put a damper on Wade’s good mood. For so long, he’d wished Mia could be with him on days like this, regular days in which nothing out of the ordinary took place. Skating with his siblings, dinner with the family… This was his life, and she was now part of it and seeming to enjoy her first exposure to the crazy Abbotts. And after dinner, he got to go home with her, sleep with her, make love with her.

  This had been the best weekend of his life, and it wasn’t over yet.

&
nbsp; At dinner, Wade sat between Mia and Max, who held baby Caden while he tried to eat with one hand.

  “Let me take him,” Wade offered.

  “I won’t say no to that,” Max said, handing over the baby.

  “What a cutie,” Mia said.

  Caden grasped the finger she offered and tried to put it into his mouth.

  “He’s teething,” Max said. “Everything goes in his mouth.”

  “Hey, buddy,” Wade said, bouncing Caden on his lap. The baby’s hair and eyebrows were so blond, they were nearly white. He had big light brown eyes like Max’s and a gummy smile that made Wade melt every time he looked at his nephew. Caden had been a revelation to him. He’d never given much thought to having kids of his own until Caden arrived and made him wonder what it might be like.

  “Can I hold him?” Mia asked.

  “Sure, go ahead,” Max said.

  Wade handed him over.

  “Hey, pal, I’m your new aunt Mia.”

  Caden grasped a handful of her hair.

  Wade carefully extracted her hair before Caden could yank on it. Seeing her holding the baby filled him with yearning for things he hadn’t wanted before he had her. What might it be like to have a family with her? He’d spent so much time wishing to have her in his life, and now that she was here, he wanted everything with her—and he wanted it right now.

  “Do you like kids, Mia?” Charley asked.

  Wade glared at his sister.

  “What?” Charley asked. “I’m just trying to get to know my new sister-in-law.”

  “I love them,” Mia said, smiling at Caden as she entertained him.

  “Charley says she doesn’t want kids,” Ella said. “Can you imagine growing up in this house and not wanting kids?”

  Charley rolled her eyes at her sister. “One madhouse per lifetime. That’s my rule.”

  “Children aren’t for everyone,” Molly said. “Good thing for all of you that your dad and I had no such reservations.”

  “Evidence indicates you had no reservation,” Colton muttered, setting off a wave of laughter.

  “What can I say?” Molly flashed a wicked grin. “Your dad is irresistible.”

  “Ugh,” Wade said as the others groaned loudly. “For God’s sake, can we please not show Mia how bad we can get on her first day with us?”

  “She may as well know what she’s getting into from the get-go,” Hunter said. “This is us on best behavior.”

  “Don’t behave on my account,” Mia said. “I’m finding you all very entertaining.”

  “I like her so much,” Hannah said.

  “The thing I don’t understand,” Lucas said, “is what the hell a nice girl like you sees in Wade. He’s a vegan and he climbs rocks without ropes and he likes yoga.” Lucas made a face. “He’s so weird.”

  Mia smiled at Wade. “I’m just as weird as he is. I’m a vegan who loves yoga. I like to climb, but I need ropes.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Wade said, winking at her. “I’m happy to share my ropes with you.”

  “Ewww,” Landon said. “Don’t be gross in front of Mom.”

  “Why not?” Wade asked. “She was just gross in front of us.”

  “Nothing gross about it,” Molly said, smirking.

  “I can’t deal with this family,” Will said, while Cameron lost it laughing.

  “Let’s change the subject, shall we?” Lincoln said.

  “Do we hafta?” Molly asked her husband. “They’re so adorable when we talk about how we came to have ten kids.”

  “We’ll talk about our favorite subject later,” Linc said, winking at his wife.

  “Oh goodie,” Molly said. “We’ve been trying for number eleven for years now.”

  “Jesus,” Wade said. “I’m so sorry.”

  Mia wiped laughter tears from her eyes.

  “What have I told you two about talking about such things in front of the children?” Elmer asked as he came into the dining room, his cheeks red from the cold.

  “Sorry, Dad,” Molly said.

  “She’s not sorry, is she?” Elmer asked, taking a seat between Colton and Charley and accepting the bowl of chili Molly handed him.

  “She’s definitely not sorry, Gramps,” Colton said.

  “Sorry not sorry,” Molly said in a taunting tone.

  “Mia, honey,” Lincoln said, “I apologize for my inappropriate wife and children.”

  “No apology needed. I haven’t laughed this hard in years.”

  It was good for her, Wade realized, to have some levity in her life, and if his family gave that to her, he’d forgive them for being obnoxious during her first family dinner as an Abbott.

  “Hunter tells me you might be interested in a job within the company,” Linc said.

  “I would love that. I like to be busy.”

  “Do you have any thoughts about what might interest you?”

  “The warehouse sounds like fun,” she said. “I love to organize things. I don’t have any relevant experience, but I’m a fast learner, and I’d love to help if I can.”

  “We need all the help we can get coordinating the warehouse and catalog effort,” Lincoln said. “We’d be happy to add you to the team. Come into the office tomorrow, and we’ll get the paperwork taken care of.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “Ours is a family business, and you’re family now.”

  She smiled at Wade, clearly thrilled with his father’s warm welcome.

  Caden started to fuss, so Mia pushed back her chair and stood to walk around with him so Max could finish eating.

  Lincoln caught Wade’s eye and gave him a thumbs-up.

  Having his father’s approval meant the world to him.

  It was already getting dark when they left his parents’ home a short while later to head home.

  “What a fun day,” Mia said.

  “Glad you thought so. They can be a bit much.”

  “Nah, they’re fine. It’s all in good fun.”

  “They like you.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so. They wouldn’t have been so… themselves… if they hadn’t. They would’ve been quieter, more reserved.”

  “I can’t imagine them quiet or reserved.”

  “You won’t see them that way, because they like you.”

  “I’m glad they do, but the most important thing is that you like me.”

  “I like you very, very much.”

  She reached for his hand and curled her fingers around his. “This was the nicest day I’ve had in a really long time. Thank you.”

  “Please don’t thank me. Having you here with me is the best thing ever.”

  They pulled up to the house, and the headlights illuminated a stack of boxes sitting on the front porch.

  “Looks like your things have been delivered. That was fast.”

  “It seems like a lot.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll make it all fit.”

  “I know how much you like having your own space. If having a roommate gets to be too much for you, you have to tell me.”

  “Mia… You’re not my roommate. You’re my wife, and I’ll happily find space in my house for you and your stuff. Come on, let’s get you moved in.”

  Working together, they brought in the boxes and got busy unpacking them. Wade cleared out two drawers in the dresser for her to use and moved half of his stuff from the bedroom closet into the one in the hall so she would have room for her things.

  Mia was in their bedroom unloading a box when she let out a cry of distress.

  Wade went in to see what was wrong.

  She held a piece of paper with bold red ink that said: You won’t get away with this. If you think you’ve seen the last of me, bitch, think again.

  “Call Larry,” Wade said. “Right now.”

  Nodding, Mia picked up the bedside phone and dialed Larry’s number. She put the phone on speaker so Wade could hear, too.

  Wade kept his hands on his hips
as he listened to her relay the contents of the note to the prosecutor and how it was hidden in her things so she was sure to find it but no one else would see it.

  “This is grounds for further charges,” Larry said. “Put the note in a plastic bag and seal it. I’ll send someone by to pick it up in the morning.”

  “Okay. Is he… Is he in jail?”

  “He’s in custody. I personally broke the news to him that you’d gotten married, and to say he didn’t take it well is putting it mildly.”

  Mia sat on the bed. “What about his friends? Will they find out?”

  “They may, but they know we’re watching them very closely. They’d be foolish to go anywhere near you, and besides, we didn’t give him any info about who you married or where you are.”

  “Okay,” she said, her shoulders sagging in a way that had Wade walking around the bed to sit next to her.

  He hated to see her dragged back into the Brody drama when she’d been having such a good day.

  “I’ll be in touch soon,” Larry said before they ended the call.

  Wade took the note from her and put it facedown on the bedside table and then wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t let him ruin this day for you. He’s not worth it.”

  “I know.”

  “He’s in jail where he belongs, and tonight he gets to stew over the fact that you’ve married someone else.”

  “He must be so mad.” She shuddered.

  “That’s no longer your problem. You’re safe now, Mia. He can’t touch you.”

  Nodding, she said, “I know that, but old habits die hard. I hear he’s angry, and I’m fearful.”

  “Someday you’ll get to a place where the sound of his name won’t have any impact whatsoever.”

  “That’ll be nice. The sooner the better.”

  “Let’s finish the unpacking tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek. “I want to snuggle with my wife.”

  “Your wife would like that very much.”

  “I’ll even give you first dibs on the bathroom.”

  “You’re the best husband I ever had.”

  “I plan to be the only husband you have for the rest of your life.”

  She offered a small smile and got up to get ready for bed.

  He hated to see her undone by Brody. Even when the guy was in jail, he was still like a third person in their marriage and would be for quite some time while the legal proceedings unfolded. Wade got a plastic bag from the kitchen, put the note in it and moved it to the table by the front door.