Page 122 of Spy With Me
“Seriously?” TJ walked up with a tiny toddler asleep on hisshoulder. Ella Taggart was three and the youngest of TJ and Lou’s brood. Theirmiddle kid, Jonah, was likely running around with Cooper and Kala’s small army.He still wasn’t sure how those kids would go. They would either protect theworld or become amazing supervillains. Theo was deeply interested in eitheroutcome. “He always tries to mess with the perfection that is a hot dog. Likeit doesn’t need to be elevated. I swear he’s gotten to be even more of a foodsnob, and given who he married I thought he would soften up.”
The fact that Lucas had gotten married at all was a miracle,but then it all seemed like a miracle to him.
“Come on. Let’s go and get my boys their dinner.” Erinwinked back at Theo, taking Mitchell’s hand.
Devi’s head shook. “You are choosing the kid’s buffet overyour father’s birthday dinner? You know it’s Wagyuribeyeswith potato puree and grilled asparagus, right?”
Her brother was already walking away, his hand on hisdaughter’s back. “I was going to eat both, sis. Happy birthday, Dad, and you,Uncle Case.”
“Thanks, kiddo. Erin, you are looking gorgeous.” CaseTaggart was his twin, though they were fraternal. They looked a lot alike, butthey had never been able to fool anyone like their nieces had.
Erin gave him a wave. “You and Mia better be at my house fordinner on Sunday.”
“Will do,” his brother promised.
“We’re having dinner on Sunday?” Zach walked up, his bigchest covered with a baby carrier and Theo’s latest grandbaby, who watchedeverything with wide eyes. Erika Reed was almost one and seemed to think theworld was one big ball of fun.
“We are.” Erin stopped and kissed the top of Erika’s head.“Theo’s going to make a brisket.”
News to him, but he was happy to do so. “It’ll be a bigone.”
His kids could eat. He watched as his wife walked away.Damn, that woman was gorgeous. The years rolled by but his wife simply got morebeautiful.
“Awesome. It’s been a week. Devi’s got a massive order andwe’ve been living on takeout,” Zach explained.
Devi’s company, Tag, was considered one of the world’spremiere luxury lingerie andfetwear lines. ZachReed had learned how to run the business end so Devi could spend her daysdesigning. It turned out to be an excellent partnership. All of his fearsdissolved when he’d realized how much Zach loved his daughter.
“Well, there’s only good stuff tonight,” Devi promised witha grin. She slid her hand against her husband’s, tangling their fingerstogether. “Let’s find a place close to your mom. I can’t believe she got on aplane.”
“Well, Big Tag sent a private jet for her and managed to getHenry and Nell on it, too. Let me tell you the carbon offset he had to buy tomake that happen was a lot of fun to get by the new CEO,” Zach said with achuckle. “Your cousin says you owe her some seriousfetwear.”
It was great to see the kids were keeping up all the familytraditions, including ribbing each other at all times.
“Watching Kala and Coop take over McKay-Taggart gives mehope that one day my brother-in-law will be able to retire,” Case said as theywatched Zach and Devi walk away to find his mom.
Shannon Reed. He’d spent a lot of time with the brilliant,troubled woman. They had a lot in common, though it might not look like it onthe surface. Trauma had molded so much of their lives, but he’d had the rightpartner and that had made all the difference. He was so glad she’d been able tospend these later years in the peace of Bliss, living in a cabin with hersister and enjoying the love of her new family. She taught science at theschool and had found a real home.
Like he had.
Home, Theo Taggart had found, wasn’t really a place. It waspeople. It was family, no matter how that family formed.
“Drew is never going to retire. He’s going to drive theyounger generation crazy.” Case’s in-laws ran a huge tech company that nowemployed one Louisa Ward-Taggart. He would forever be in Drew Lawless’s debtfor building an office in Dallas for his research and development branch. Atfirst the job had been a cover for Lou’s Agency work, and then it was a refugeand blessing for her whole family.
“I don’t know.” Case smiled and put a hand on his brother’sshoulder. “He gets jealous of Big Tag and Charlotte’s adventures. I think bigbrother has the right idea. Let the kids take over and we’ll spend the rest ofour lives traipsing around the world with our wives and friends.”
It sounded perfect, and what his wife didn’t know was thatit might be his birthday, but she was getting the present. “Does Mia know?”
“Does my wife know that we’re spending the next month on ayacht in the Mediterranean?” Case grinned. “No. It’s going to be a surprise.She finished her latest book last week, and she could use a break. She asked ifwe could spend some time here in Dallas so she could hang out with Erin.”
They would spend plenty of time together. Just in adifferent place. “And Ian promises he’ll fly Sean out when we’re anchored inGreece. He and Charlotte are touring the islands for the next couple of weeks.I see a fishing trip in our future.”
Case looked over the restaurant and let out a deep breaththat let his twin know he was getting a little emotional. “How the hell did weget here, brother? We grew up in a trailer park.”
Theo shrugged. “Dude, you’re asking the guy who got hismemory wiped.”
Case laughed, the sound booming through the room andbringing their older brothers to join them.
“Hey, are we making fun of Theo?” Ian asked.
“We should be making fun of Luke for those hot dogs,” Seansaid with a shake of his head. “They’re Wagyu. I cannot convince that kid thata hot dog can just be a hot dog. Also, one of the kids got into the mustard.Luke made it himself and put it in a bowl. So now the buffet is an artproject.”
Ian put a hand to his still taut belly. Big brother stillhad a hell of a metabolism. “Wagyu hot dogs sound kind of good.”
Case nodded. “They do. What do you say we join the kids?”
“I’m pretty sure yesterday I was a kid,” Sean complained.
Theo followed his brothers.
The world was a beautiful place when surrounded by friendsand family.