Page 17 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Chapter Four

“JANE”

My phone buzzed and I groaned, rolling from the man’s arm that was wound tightly around me.

He grumbled something under his breath, and I smiled softly before reaching for my phone.

Aaron

I figured you should get a text for checkout time. You have two hours. Enjoy your morning.

I looked at the clock, and my eyes widened. Not only had I slept in my contacts and my makeup, even though it was probably running down my face after the shower sex that we had had, I still could not quite believe it was already nearly eleven.

My fingers quickly went to my phone.

Me

Thank you! We’re still in bed.

I flushed and could not believe I was texting my brother-in-law about being in bed.

I can practically hear Aaron’s laugh from here.

Aaron

Have fun. Glad you guys had a good night. But I don’t need any details. Madison says she does. I don’t want to know.

I laughed, said my goodbyes and thank yous, after checking on his charges, and set my phone down.

“Was that my annoying brother?” the man in my bed asked, his voice low and a little grumpy.

I smile. “Yes, just making sure we didn’t overstay our welcome.”

“Well, what time is it?”

“Nearly eleven.”

Liam Montgomery sat up, his eyes wide. “What?”

I laughed at my husband and leaned forward and kissed him hard on the mouth. “I think midnight has struck, or maybe it was three in the morning when we finally went to sleep. Jack and Jane are gone, but I’m here.”

Liam tucked my hair behind my ear and kissed me again. “I love you, Arden. Arden Montgomery.”

I sighed at the name, loving the fact that my husband was so sweet, and all mine. All hardness and inked flesh that I could get my hands on. Mine, mine, mine, mine.

“You sound like a seagull from that movie with the fish,” Liam said, laughing.

My eyes widened. “Did I say that out loud?” I asked, laughing.

“Pretty much. But, I kind of like it.”

I leaned forward and kissed him again, and he groaned. He reached out and cupped my breasts, and I pulled away. “Hey, I wasn’t done,” he grumbled.

I shook my head. “We should get ready for the day. I can’t show up to your brother’s house looking like this.” I pointed to my bedhead and whatever makeup I still had on my face, and Liam just shrugged. “They know what we were doing last night.”

I blushed and shook my head vigorously. “They better not know everything, Liam Montgomery.”

“You know, as much as I enjoyed being Jack last night, there’s nothing better than hearing you call me by my given name, first and last.”

I licked my lips. “I was thinking that I love being called Arden Montgomery. Look at us, no longer in fantasy.”

“It was fun while it lasted, but I still got to say, this penthouse? You and that fucking hot dress and those fuck-me heels? Amazing night. But I also love cuddling with you on the couch while we watch movies and read books.”

“Sometimes you just make my heartache,” I whispered, tears falling down my cheeks.

Liam frowned and wiped the wetness from my skin. “No crying. Tonight’s a good night. Last night was a good night. And this morning is even better.”

“I know. I love you so much.”

“And I love you, too. And, I want to go home,” I whispered.

Liam’s gaze met mine, and he nodded. “I’ll go use the guest bathroom to get ready, because I know if I go in with you, we’re going to take a little time.”

I blushed. “Probably. There were three benches in there, and we only got to use two.”

He growled, kissed me hard on the mouth, and hopped out of bed. I couldn’t help but watch his ass as he moved away. After all, my husband had a great ass.

And I couldn’t help it. He was naked. What could I say?

I rolled out of bed, stretching. I knew I’d be sore, but that was fine.

It was a great night off, but we had responsibilities at home, and I just needed to be there.

I showered, ignored the fact that I looked like Beetlejuice.

I quickly blew dry my hair. Mostly because if I didn’t, it would be a complete rat’s nest, and I didn’t have all of my curly hair products with me.

I had wanted to travel light, although I wasn’t completely Jane.

Jane would have a single toothbrush and call it an evening. Arden had an entire suitcase.

I couldn’t help it. I needed to be prepared.

I met Liam in the living room of the penthouse and looked around. “This is ridiculous,” I said.

He shrugged, his cheeks going red slightly.

“I made a shit-ton of money as a model, and I make decent money in my current job. I’m allowed to every once in a while spoil you.”

“Maybe,” I said with a laugh. “But this is a little ridiculous.”

He shrugged. “Very much so.”

I looked around again. “Though we could maybe fit the entirety of the Montgomerys in here,” I said, teasing.

“There’s far too many of us for that, and I’m not footing the bill for that,” he said and laughed. He kissed me hard again and then took my suitcase. “Come on, my wife, let’s head home.” He put both suitcases in one hand, squeezed my hand, and led me out of the penthouse.

Once in the sunlight that peeked through the car window, we were no longer any remnants of Jane and Jack. Just Liam and Arden.

A married couple—the first of Liam’s siblings, and mine—and happy.

I had met Liam when I had been at one of my lowest points.

Where I had thought that death would be welcome because the pain of living had been almost too much.

I was still sick. I still had flare-ups.

I still was in the hospital more than I’d like to admit.

But I wasn’t alone. Not that I had ever really been alone, because my brothers had always been there.

But now they could focus on their wives and their children because Liam would always be there. Along with his family.

We had all grown leaps and bounds over the past few years, and I still couldn’t quite believe that I had landed Liam Montgomery. The love of my life.

He looked over at me then, his aviators showing my reflection, and I knew he could see my heart in my eyes.

I couldn’t help it. I didn’t hide it from him.

He brought our clasped hands to his lips and kissed the back of my hand.

We pulled into Aaron Montgomery’s driveway as the front door opened.

Jasper, my white Siberian Husky, practically leaped out of the doorway, barked happily, and sat patiently, even though he was shaking, on the grass waiting for us. Liam parked, and I jumped out of the car, all thoughts of pain from my lupus gone from my memory.

I knelt, hugged Jasper tight, and kissed the top of his head. “There’s my baby boy.”

I looked up as Lake came toward us, her hair piled on the top of her head, and her chin lowered just a bit.

“Mom?” Lake asked, and my heartbeat sped and felt like it grew five sizes.

“Hey there, baby. Did you have a good night with your Uncle Aaron and Aunt Madison?” I asked and opened up my arms.

My daughter, of only a few months, ran into my arms. I hugged her tight, inhaled that sweet scent that was all Lake, and held back tears.

“Hey, Dad,” she said as she pulled away and held Liam close.

I heard Liam’s breath catch, and I knew he was ready to sob right along with me. She had only started calling us Mom and Dad two weeks ago. We had been Liam and Arden during the foster process. And as the adoption had become final, we were still getting our bearings.

But our ten-year-old daughter, Lake, was the light of our lives.

I knew that while the rest of the Montgomerys were slowly breeding an entire generation that would rival the originals, Lake might be our only child. And that would mean the world to me.

I had fallen in love with this little girl from the moment I had seen her, and I had nearly cried myself to sleep in tension and stress every night until the adoption papers had finally been signed. But now we were a family, the four of us with Jasper, and I couldn’t believe that this was my life.

Aaron and Madison stood in the doorway, giving us a piece of privacy, even if we were in the middle of their yard. Madison was crying, leaning against Aaron. My brother-in-law was also crying.

We were a bunch of softies, and I loved it.

I looked up at Liam, my Jack for the evening, but my husband forever, and I smiled.

Last night had been a night to be wrapped up in fantasy and bliss. But fiction could tangle with real life.

And as I held my daughter close, my best boy puppy leaning hard into my side, and Liam holding us all, I knew that my reality was far richer than any fiction I could ever imagine.