Page 45 of The Temptation (Executive Suite Secrets #4)

SIMON MILLER

Pierce turned the car into Declan’s driveway, and the butterflies in my stomach broke free of their cocoons. They fluttered about despite my attempts to pack them away again.

“I’m nervous,” I admitted, twisting my fingers together in my lap.

Pierce’s laughter filled the car, and the butterflies finally took a sedative. “What do you mean you’re nervous? The only new people who are going to be at the party are Parker’s family, and if they’re anything like Parker, you know you’re going to get along with them just fine.”

“I know, but this time is different. We’re arriving together , as a couple . How aren’t you nervous?”

As Pierce slowed the car and stopped it in a free spot near the house, he lifted his chin a bit and smirked. “Because I can’t wait to step out as your official, real boyfriend. No more of this fake nonsense.”

“Even if I was the best fake boyfriend in existence.”

“It’s true. You were very convincing. I’m sure my parents thought I was going to pop the question at any minute.”

I fell into my door, laughing at his idiocy. Not a fucking chance.

I was excited to step out as Pierce’s official boyfriend, but it came with a strange side of nerves that I couldn’t quite understand. Probably because part of me was still expecting to wake up from this wonderful dream and find that Pierce still despised me.

Pierce had proclaimed that February twentieth was the first day of our dating relationship and it would be the day to mark our anniversary.

However, I’d had a performance last night, so there hadn’t really been time to do anything special, and today we were attending Parker and Joy’s joint birthday party before I had to leave for another performance this evening.

Pierce and I wouldn’t have a day to ourselves until tomorrow.

Then, I was prepared to make the argument that we should spend the day in bed.

Not that I minded hanging out with our friends or celebrating Parker’s and Joy’s birthdays.

After turning off the car, Pierce leaned across the center console and kissed me sweetly. “Everything is going to be perfect. I promise.”

“Don’t promise silly things. Fate and the gods will make a fool of you.”

Pierce placed another kiss on the tip of my nose, and we climbed out of our seats to grab the presents from the back seat.

Because of all the recent chaos in our lives, we’d been forced to get up early this morning for some frantic last-minute shopping.

Pierce had located an elegant and eclectic vase made by a local artist that looked like it was right up Parker’s alley.

I had gotten Joy’s size from Parker and loaded the little girl up with cute dresses and a fluffy tiger doll.

As soon as Franks answered the door, we were greeted with an explosion of raucous laughter and conversation. Pierce sighed and shook his head. “Thank you, Franks,” he murmured. “I don’t think I will ever get accustomed to all this noise coming from Declan’s home after years of tomblike silence.”

“It helps to think of it as Master Parker and Master Declan’s home,” Franks said with a small smile.

“Yes, you’re correct. That does help.”

“Shall I take your bags and your coats, sirs?”

“How about coats?” I suggested, slipping out of mine. “We’ll handle the gifts for the birthday boy and girl.”

As Franks slipped away with our coats, Pierce wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me toward the source of all the noise.

“You know, you still haven’t answered me about what you want for your birthday.

It’s only a few short weeks away on March fourth.

” He grinned as if I should have been impressed that he’d remembered by birthday.

That devil probably had my birth date inscribed on his brain.

Especially since I’d traumatized him on my thirteenth birthday.

“You mean other than getting that concerto done?”

“It’ll be done soon. I know it. After you’re done, we’ll take a trip to celebrate. But for your birthday? How about a party? It’s your first birthday in town. We can share it with everyone.”

I was quick to shut down that suggestion. “No, this one I’m fine spending only with you.”

The words were barely out of my mouth when we stepped into the main family room, which was crowded with a mix of familiar and unfamiliar people. We would have to return to this conversation later.

“Simon! Pierce! My favorite new couple!” Parker exclaimed as soon as he spotted us. He hurried to us and pulled me into a fierce hug. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to come over after suffering through my sleepover.”

“I enjoyed it. We need to schedule another, or maybe a dinner,” I suggested. It would be nice to hang out with Parker, Liam, and Byron without being worried about my fate with Pierce. It would be much more relaxing that way.

Parker released me and gave Pierce a hug, which he stiffly returned. This made me love Parker more. He was outwardly affectionate and a big hugger, something Pierce didn’t know how to handle.

“You didn’t have to bring gifts,” Parker continued as he released Pierce.

“It’s a little something for you and Joy to celebrate your special day,” Pierce murmured.

Parker rolled his eyes. “I’ve started hiding Declan’s phone and wallet to keep him from buying anything else for Joy. The child has too much, and her other daddy has no impulse control.”

I peered past Parker to see Declan holding Joy balanced on one arm.

She was dressed in a pretty yellow dress.

One small hand was resting on Declan’s shoulder, and the other hand was out in front of her as she talked.

It was as if she were telling Declan a long, involved story, and her every word held him completely enthralled.

Declan’s gaze shifted to Parker, and he smiled softly.

Yes, Parker and Joy were his entire world.

Parker took the gifts and placed them on a table covered in pretty crepe paper and balloons. The gifts were piling up, and people were still arriving. He took us around the room to introduce us to the rest of his family, who had flown in from Arizona to celebrate both birthdays.

We were there only a few minutes before Sebastian, Byron, Liam, and Rome arrived. Naturally, Rome walked in carrying what were clearly wrapped books. About thirty of them. He took his role as librarian and supplier of books seriously.

Unlike at past parties, Pierce remained locked at my side.

We were no longer playing the game of changing rooms as soon as we saw each other.

Every once in a while, Pierce would reach up to press his hand against my lower back or take my hand as if he needed to be connected physically to me.

And I grinned like a fucking idiot every time it happened.

After a couple of hours, he finally stepped away to look at a mural Parker had been working on. Byron and Liam hurried over with nonalcoholic beverages in hand. Following that sleepover, we were all hesitant to trust Parker with the cocktail shaker. He made his drinks deceptively strong.

“Seems like things are going well,” Byron opened, his goofy grin matching my own.

“Yes, things are going wonderfully.”

“And the groveling?” Liam prodded.

I snorted. “Utterly unnecessary. He knows I would have taken him after a mumbled sorry. However”—I paused, holding up one finger—“it was totally worth it.”

“We can only imagine. Pierce has fiercely refused all requests for pictures of your sanctuary,” Byron grumbled.

My heart soared a little more knowing that Pierce was still protecting my privacy, even from nosy friends.

“It means that you’ll have to come to our house to check it out.

I was telling Parker that we needed to plan a boyfriends’ dinner.

We could have it at our place, and I’ll show you the sanctuary he created for me. ”

“Good plan. It sounds like your grovel was sadly lacking in inflatable dinosaurs,” Liam observed with a smirk.

I released a very fake sigh. “It was. But I’m sure one of us will eventually fuck up and will need to apologize. That’s an opportunity to get a dinosaur suit, then.”

Liam winked. “If you need help, give me a shout.”

We settled into an easy conversation for several minutes until I noticed Byron staring over my shoulder. I assumed Sebastian had returned with Declan and Pierce from checking out the mural. I turned to gaze in the same direction, and my heart stopped in my chest.

Pierce stood next to Sebastian, chatting about something, but he was holding Joy.

No, not simply holding her. She was cuddled against his chest, her head on his shoulder while one fist gripped the collar of his shirt as she comfortably dozed.

He looked like an utter natural at it, as if he’d held her a thousand times before.

I knew he had twin nephews, and logic stated that he had to have held them.

But there was a world of difference between intellectually knowing something and seeing it in action.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, still unable to get my brain fully functioning.

“Adorable, isn’t it?” Byron murmured as he lifted his phone to snap a picture.

I wanted to do the same, but I couldn’t get my hands to work. The best I could manage was a mumbled “Send that to me, please.”

“Done,” Byron agreed as he tapped on his phone. “She loves playing with Sebastian and Rome because they can match her high energy, but when she’s tired, she’ll go to Declan, Parker, or Pierce to be held.”

“My heart,” I whispered. My arms started working again, only to slap my right hand to my chest. “Have you ever seen something that made you want to change all your plans for life?”

“Every time Sebastian smiles at me. But then, he thinks the same thing about me.”

In all my big plans and goals for life, I’d never once considered kids. For me, it had been about traveling the world and playing for bigger and bigger audiences in all the great cities. It was composing symphonies that would rival the works of Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky.

On a personal level, my dreams had begun and ended with Pierce loving me. There had been no step two.

But seeing him holding Joy had kicked open a new door, leading to an entirely different world.

The traveling and playing in front of immense crowds paled in comparison to seeing Pierce playing on the floor with our baby son.

Or holding our daughter in his arms while he swayed to a soft love song.

Instead of concertos, I wanted to write lullabies.

I wanted to build a family; an entire messy, complicated life with him. I would still compose my concertos and sonatas, but it would come in between raising our kids. This was the life I wanted.

Pierce’s eyes lifted and met mine across the room. As if he could read my mind, the wonderful man smiled at me and nodded. The next adventure in life, we would embark on together.