Page 142 of Romancing His Heart

Preston: Are you guys on your way?

Sloane: We had a little setback, but I’ll load everyone up now.

Preston has yet another surprise for Emory, and this time, I’m the only one in on it. It’s my job to get her to Westbrook Bay on time, and so far, I’m failing.

“Hey, guys. We have to get going. Everyone’s waiting on us.”

“I’m so glad they are doing this for Sylvie. That poor woman has had a miserable time raising all these boys.” Emory states, utterly oblivious to the real reason we’re gathering today.

“Yeah, umm, okay, so everyone ready? Preston sent a car to pick us up. It’s downstairs.”

“Rich people,” Eli mutters.

I’m with her. I’m still not used to everything that comes with being a part of this family.

Twenty minutes later, we pull into Sylvie’s house, and everyone bolts from the car, leaving me sitting there wondering what the fuck just happened. A second later, Sylvie pops her head in.

“You ready, dear?”

“Me? For what? This is a surprise for Emory. What the hell?” Peering through all the car’s windows, I see everyone has scattered.

“I know, come on,” she encourages. Stepping out of the car, she leads me along the side of her house to a path I know leads to the beach. I only make it a step or two before realizing the trail is lined with bouquets of condoms.

“What the hell?” I turn around, but Sylvie stands at the end of the path, encouraging me onward. My heart rate spikes, and my breathing becomes shallow. Walking farther into the path, I come to some signs that hold my favorite quotes from the books I’ve written.

My heart is trying desperately to leap into my throat, but I press on. I know the trail isn’t long, and just as I start to see a break in the trees, something catches my eye. Off to the left, Ashton sits. Little Sadie is climbing his back like a jungle gym, and I pause to watch.

I clutch my chest at the sight. Ashton isn’t the same man he once was, but seeing him with Sadie gives me hope for the future. As if he senses someone watching him, he lifts his head. When we make eye contact, he nods, mouthing, ‘Thank you.’ It’s the longest conversation I’ve had with him since everything happened.

Tears fill my eyes, and he gestures for me to continue. Stealing a breath, I take the final steps, utterly unprepared for what I find in the clearing.

Standing at the water’s edge in a line are Dexter, Trevor, Preston, Easton, Halton, Colton, and finally, Luca … all in grey sweatpants, no less. It’s a scene straight out of a calendar—hottest billionaire version. I take a step forward when Loki’s voice filters over the ocean air.

“Blue balls are a condition caused by excess blood trapped in the penis and/or testicles for an extended period of time without sexual release. Blue balls are not dangerous, so says Google, and generally easily remedied. But, my dear Red, I don’t believe that is what your voracious mind has been asking all this time, now is it?”

Glancing around, I notice everyone I love standing off to the side, smirking.

“You, sweetheart, want to know what blue balls feel like, in detail, if I remember correctly.”

Preston and Trevor separate in the line, and Loki steps out from behind them. In slow motion, he walks to me with a smirk I don’t recognize. Standing before me, he takes my hand in his.

“You wanted to know what blue balls felt like, right? And I needed a grand gesture.”

Unable to control my laughter, I jump and wrap him in a hug.

“What are you doing, Loki? This is crazy.”

He holds me tightly. “I love you, Sloane, but let me finish,” he whispers. “This is going to make Dexter and Trevor so uncomfortable. It’ll be fun, watch.”

He releases me, and I turn to see the guys once more.

“I conducted a survey to come up with the best description of blue balls.”

“What?” I screech. “You did not,” I say, swatting his chest.

“Okay, kids. Come with Nanna Sylvie. This next part is just for the big kids.” She smiles and blows us all a kiss.

As if on cue, all the kids jump up and run toward the house. As soon as they are out of sight, each one of the guys holds up a piece of posterboard. Taking a step forward, I realize what’s written on them—descriptions of blue balls.