Page 49

It’s finally “someday”

Maddie

T here’s nothing better than waking up wrapped in Alan’s arms.

Unfortunately, this morning’s euphoria is tarnished because the voices of my children and their partners are on the other side of the bedroom door. And I have no doubt that some of them heard me getting railed to within an inch of my life last night.

My only hope is that they’ll act like adults about it.

Please hold your laughter.

Time to gather the courage, open the door, and see if Sammy blabbed about it to all the others. If their faces are traumatized, I’ll have my answer.

Then I’ll die in shame. Not the way I wanted my story to end. But what can you do?

Time to embrace the horror of my own making. I swore I would no longer hide from things that scare me. I won’t double back on my vow so quickly.

Exhaling a steadying breath, I hold the door handle and count to three before stepping into the hallway. Smells like someone cooked breakfast. Oops . I should be doing that. Sammy and Sawyer are probably exhausted.

Unfortunately, it took some time to climb out of the Maddie-shaped divot that Alan drilled into the mattress.

I dash across the hallway into the bathroom to get cleaned up. My tender bits are extra tender this morning, thanks to the thorough attention Alan paid them.

When I exit, he’s waiting with his back against the wall. Devastatingly handsome, as always.

He winks at me, making me melt. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Hey, yourself.”

We stand there for a beat, neither of us ready to sever the connection. No words are spoken. We don’t even touch. It’s a stolen moment with each other.

And we linger in it, happy, content, and ridiculously in love.

Sadly, our little bubble will burst when the kids inevitably make it awkward.

They say all good things must come to an end. This serene moment, though, is merely pausing.

My smile slips when I think about everything I need to accomplish today. Reluctantly, I break our smitten-fool staring contest. “I have some errands to run this morning while you work. I’ll need to get my car.”

His easy expression barely changes. “Sure.”

Wait. What?

I was expecting resistance. A safety lecture. Twenty questions. Perhaps he didn’t hear me.

“I won’t be long. Just need to pick up a few things. Two stores. Three tops. And to make you feel better about it?—”

He grins at me. It’s wicked and sexy. “Maddie baby, I already said yes.”

“Yeah, but it was too easy.”

He presses me against the wall and kisses me. Most likely to shut me up.

For the record, kisses like this are the only acceptable way for a man to cut off a woman’s words. And I’ll die on this hill.

When he pulls back, he scoops my hair out of my face. “I’m in no hurry to get to work today, so I’ll go with you. If you’d rather go alone, I’m happy to send someone with you. Or you could go by yourself, assuming you feel secure.”

Huh .

I’m not sure what to make of this.

But it works for me, given my plans for the day.

“I was planning to bring Sammy and Sue with me. Girl stuff.”

Laughter sails from the other room, far louder than Sammy and Sawyer. One of those laughs sounded like my son’s. I guess everyone’s gathered as planned.

He gestures toward the end of the hallway. “After you.”

“Oh no, I insist. You lead.”

“Ladies first.”

He knows why I’m dreading going out there. Cheeky ass.

I hold out my hand, arching my brow in a silent challenge. His beguiling mocha eyes flit between my offered hand and my face. Finally, he slips his fingers between mine.

My pulse increases, but it’s not from the fear of what’s about to greet us when we face the firing squad. It’s from the smolder he’s flinging my way.

The silver fox is foxing.

Raising our joined hands to his mouth, he kisses the back of my knuckles. “Do you know that’s the first time you’ve reached out for me?”

My nose crinkles. “What?”

He tips his chin toward our hands. “When we hold hands, I always offer mine first.”

“That can’t be true,” I insist, mentally searching for proof to refute his assertion.

I shouldn’t be surprised Alan would notice this sort of thing. Because he’s always reaching for me. And I’ve always been slightly out of reach.

Those days are in the past.

I squeeze his hand gingerly. “I’m done hiding from myself and from others. I’m madly in love with you, and I don’t care who knows it.”

The smile he’s fighting would devastate me if he unleashed it on me. He offers a pleased nod, keeping his reaction in check. “Okay, then.”

Hand in hand, we stride into the den of lions.

As we step out of the hallway into the expanse of the living room, it’s full of people.

Sammy and Sawyer, obviously. Plus, Leo and Sue have arrived. Then there’s Tomer, Lettie, Mia, Klein, Shep, Kri, Val, and Junior.

I flick my gaze to the ceiling, silently praying my daughter doesn’t embarrass us in front of this many people.

Leo notices us first, tapping Sawyer’s arm with the back of his hand. One by one, the others whip their heads in our direction.

“Well, well, well,” Sammy drawls. Clearly, she’s been waiting for this. “Look who’s finally awake after a long, hard night of getting reacquainted.” She pumps her brows. “In the biblical sense.”

Sue’s cheeks are like pomegranates, both in shade and shape, since she’s puffed them up to hold her breath. For once, I’m grateful for her lack of eye contact.

Alan leads me into the kitchen with extra swagger in his gait. “To what do we owe the displeasure?” When he gets to the kitchen island, he gives Lettie a side hug. “Morning, kiddo.”

“Hiya, Boss Dad.” She smiles from him to me, bright and shiny as can be. “Good morning, Maddie.”

Leo checks his watch, then trains his gaze on Alan. “The guys have an appointment to get fitted for our tuxedos for Tomer and Lettie’s wedding. We figured we’d meet here to make it easier.”

I thought they’d tell him this at the office, but this works better.

Alan’s forehead creases, and he cocks a brow at Lettie. “I didn’t realize you were already this far along in planning.”

Lettie snickers. “Oh, there’s so much you don’t know about me yet.” She clicks her tongue at him twice. “I’ve been planning my wedding since I was five, which says a lot, because my squirrel brain isn’t typically big on details and organization. This is an exception.”

Alan chokes back his laughter and surveys the room. “Are we all going?”

Klein spreads his arms wide. “All the boys.”

Junior clears his throat and scowls at Klein.

Kri offers a correction. “All the boys except one. Junior’s tagging along with the ladies today.”

“Ahem.” Shep’s brows knit tightly over the bridge of his nose. “The men.”

She pats his chest soothingly. “Sure, baby. Sure. You’re a big, strong man.”

Sawyer points at a brown paper bag on the counter and meets my eyes. “I made breakfast for you both. For the road.” He looks around the room. “After we load up the babies, this conga line can roll out.”

Sue’s nose wrinkles. “I don’t think you mean conga line. Caravan makes more sense in this context.” Ironically, she can look at Sawyer despite studiously avoiding Alan and me.

Sammy’s quick to defend her man. “It could be a conga line. It still works.”

Sue extends her pointer finger. “Caravans are comprised of vehicles. Conga lines are people, typically at a party or social event. Unrelated side note—those are all horrifying things.”

“What’s horrifying?” Val asks.

“Parties, social events, and people.”

Grinning, Leo kisses the top of Sue’s head and holds her close.

Sammy’s eyes light up with her familiar shit-disturbing gaze. “Parties, huh?” She does more of that horrid brow waggling. “Last night, there was a party in the guest room. And everybody came.” She thrusts her hips for emphasis.

“Jesus,” Alan mutters, his shoulders shaking with laughter and his gaze falling to the floor.

My cheeks flame. “Samantha,” I scold, struggling to hold back my laughter.

Mortification. Laughter. Same thing.

Everyone doubles over in raucous hysterics, breaking the awkward tension. Even Alan cracks up.

When the hilarity fizzles, Val sighs audibly and pastes an innocent expression on her face. “If only I knew what you were referring to. But alas, I’m an innocent child.” She draws a circle over her head with her index finger like a halo.

Kri nudges her shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Dial it back, kid.”

Alan claps his hands, then rubs them together. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

We break into four vehicles, the men heading in one direction and the ladies in another.

With Junior behind the wheel, I climb into the front seat of his SUV. Val and Sammy sit in the back with the twins. Val’s here to help Sammy look after the babies while we execute our plans. We’ve got a lot to do.

I buckle my seat belt and throw a look at Sammy over my shoulder. “Did you get the stuff?”

Unblinking, she deadpans, “Oh no. I forgot everything we’d need today. Help me. I’m an idiot.”

My lower lip rolls into a pout. “I’m sorry, but I’m a little nervous. Just tell me you have everything so I don’t worry.”

“Yeah, Mom. I got both bags. All the goodies and then some. I had Sawyer put them in the back when he loaded the car seats this morning.”

Val squeezes my shoulders from behind. “You just sit back and relax, Ms. Maddie. We’ve got everything under control. All you need to do is relax and enjoy your special day.”

I reach across my body to tap her hand. “Thank you, darling. I’ll try.” I glance at my daughter. “Are you sure this was the right call? What if he’s upset?”

Sammy pointedly rolls her eyes and huffs. “Mom, there’s nothing to worry about. Trust me. He’s gonna love it. Women have been throwing surprise ceremonies to wed unsuspecting grooms since the Dark Ages. Probably.”

“Wait. What?” Junior ping-pongs his gaze between me and the road no less than twelve times in three seconds. “Did you say unsuspecting groom? As in, you’re springing a wedding on Boss?”

I lower my chin to look at him from under my furrowed brow. “No one told you?”

He shakes his head, eyes in full-blown panic mode.

If this is how Junior reacts, how will Alan take the news? Hopefully better.

Sammy snort-laughs. “What did you think was happening then, Junior?”

“No clue. Shep told me I’d be driving some of the ladies around because he and the other guys had shit to do.”

Sammy’s laughter spikes. In my periphery, I catch her slapping her knee. “And you didn’t ask any follow-up questions? Are you related to Tomer or something?”

Val quips, “Junior doesn’t have the balls to question my papasan .”

“Mouth, young lady,” Junior chides her.

“Sorry, sir . Allow me to rephrase to avoid offending your delicate sensibilities.” Val pauses, then adjusts her tone to something more proper. “Trevor Donoghue, my bodyguard slash penance for unknown past transgressions, doesn’t have the testicular fortitude required to make inquiries of a real man like my adoptive male parental unit. Additionally, his loins quiver in fear when he’s forced to interact with my female parental unit for the same reason.”

“Very funny,” Junior mutters, white-knuckle gripping the steering wheel. He looks at me out of the side of his eye.

I try to quash my amusement at this young man’s expense. “Do you know where you’re driving us?”

He flings his straight palm toward the windshield. “I’m following Kri.”

“Good boy,” Sammy chimes in, sarcasm layering her tone. “That’s all you need to know. If more men let women handle things, the world would be a better place.”

Several hours later, Alan’s face lights up when he sees me peek into his office. He waves me over.

“Hi,” I whisper, not wanting to interrupt his phone call.

“Hold on a second, Bigsby.” He puts the phone receiver to his chest. “I didn’t know you were coming by. All done with your errands? Your hair looks nice.”

Oh , he noticed my hair. I love him so much.

“Yes. You’re talking to the chief, huh? Is he okay?”

He nods, the corner of his mouth pinching into the beginning of a smile.

“How are Katia and the baby?”

“They’re all good. He moved them into his house. And Savin and Tasha are flying back tonight.”

“They’re gonna be a family again.”

His smile splays across his face, and my knees buckle.

“I’ll be out of your hair in a second.” I set the gift box on the corner of his desk. “Did the fitting go okay?”

“Yeah. Oddly, when we got there, the guys talked Tomer into something more casual instead of tuxedos. I hope Lettie doesn’t flip out, but we all left with matching dress shirts and tan pants. Shoes too. The works.”

He points at the bookcase along the wall, where his new clothes hang neatly.

Playing along, I fib, “They texted her to make sure she was good with it. And she said she only wanted Tomer to be happy.”

“Aw, that’s sweet.”

Sucker.

He lifts his chin and puckers his lips for me in a silent invitation. I give him a quick peck, lingering an inch from his face to savor the moment.

When I pull away, he darts his gaze to the white box on the corner of his desk. “What’s that?”

“I got it for you while we were out today. Open it when you’re done with your call. It’s self-explanatory.”

His brows knit tightly. “Okay. After this, I’m done for the day. Want to get some dinner?”

“Mystic Fish?”

Alan’s features sag slightly, revealing his opinion.

My lips and cheeks wiggle as I attempt to conceal my laughter, ultimately failing. “I’m kidding. You should see your face.”

He massages his nape. “If you wanted to go there again, I’d take you. But secretly, I’m hoping it’s off the menu for a long time.”

Some of my mirth fades, earnestness taking its place. “Bad memories. I get it.”

“That’s not quite it.” Looking chagrined, he quirks his head to the side. “Truth?”

“Always.”

“I never liked that place. But I knew how much you loved it.”

I exhale a soft laugh, and his eyes dance in amusement. Unable to resist, I grasp his cheeks and lay a lip lock on him. “You are precious, my love.”

As I stand, I boop his nose, which is a bit crazy. Alan’s not a nose-boop kind of man.

He’s the type you throw your panties at, according to my daughter.

“Finish up your call. I’ll see you in the conference room.”

“Why?”

I wink. “Open the box after your call.”

Turning on my heel, I slink out of his office, giving him no chance to ask questions.

As soon as I close the door behind me, Lettie whisks me down the hall to help me get ready.

Ready for our happily ever after.