Page 103 of Waiting For A Girl Like You (Haven House #4)

One Year Later

R eclining on the pool deck’s sofa, Ben grinned as he watched his grandkids play in the sand. From one year to the next, Christmas weather was never a guarantee, but much like last year, it was pleasantly warm, allowing them to enjoy the beach as the sun bid farewell to the day.

“Look at those colors.” Sitting next to him, Laura Jean rested her head on his shoulder. “I wish I could capture this on canvas.”

“You would do it justice,” he told her, wincing when Theo tackled Xavier, knocking the poor kid straight into the enormous sandcastle the group had constructed. Holden watched from a safe distance, settled in a beach chair and grinning. “Maybe leave that Theo part out, though.”

“Our girls are all fire,” she said proudly. “Theo and Harper know how to hold their own. But I bet Xavier and Albie will be the ones who surprise us.”

“I’m looking forward to Albie giving Samuel hell.”

Theo climbed onto the ruined sandcastle and roared, flexing her muscles like some kind of tiny beast. The move made Laura Jean giggle with pride. “I don’t think Albie is the one he should be worried about.”

While the day was giving them a healthy dose of sunshine, the wind was still pretty fierce, and the absurd urge to offer Laura Jean his coat so she wouldn’t be cold hit.

Which was ridiculous.

“Get out of your head, Ben.”

“I see you in my head, so I think it’s a pretty nice place to be. ”

She snuggled closer, her body pressing solidly against his side. Some days, she was hardly here. A shadow on the edge of his vision, waiting and watching them all. But then other days were like now, where he could almost feel her warmth.

“Well, you think too loudly.”

“Well, you’re too beautiful for your own good.”

She snorted, resting her hand on his chest. “I love that we’re hosting Christmas Eve at our house this year.”

“Hopefully, it becomes a tradition. Simone didn’t even fight me on it when I asked.”

“SiSi is tired,” Laura Jean said on the edge of a sigh. “And it’s time to prepare for the end.”

He frowned. “What are you saying?”

There was no reply, his woman taken by the wind when it rolled off the gulf in their direction. He didn’t need to look up to know someone was approaching. His warped mind at least had the decency to make Laura Jean vanish when others were nearby.

“Are the kids behaving?”

Ben scooted over to give Simone room on the patio sofa. Inside the house, their brood remained busy crafting holiday cheer for the kids. He glanced at the glass wall behind him to check for any new arrivals. “No one’s lost a tooth this time, so I’m calling it a win.”

Simone grunted in agreement. “A win is a win.”

“Is everyone here?”

“Will and Bernie are on their way. I can’t believe they wanted to drive all the way from Virginia.”

Ben could. Like Will, he was learning to slow down. It was hard initially, but it was time, or else he’d find himself in an early grave, and he couldn’t allow that to happen.

He’d made a deal.

Simone settled on the cushions with him, bundling the cardigan she wore around her. “Is it done?”

“Rowan and I signed the paperwork this morning.” He leaned back so their shoulders touched.

“The Fairweathers hold Haven House no more. She’s a McIntyre now.

Rowan is taking full financial responsibility with fifty-fifty ownership listed to Annabeth and Abraham Howard.

We only need the twins to sign off on it. ”

“Rowan said he’s proposing tonight,” Simone said. “I swear if she says no…”

“Annabeth’s been dropping hints about what kind of ring she wants for weeks. She knows it’s coming, Simone.”

“He’s so good to my baby.”

“And he’s good to you. We’re lucky to have him,” Ben huffed. “But damn, I never thought I would say that about a McIntyre.”

Down at the far end of the deck, the double sliding glass door opened, and Ben grinned when Diego popped his head out. “Hey, Diego. Going down there to play?”

Eleven years old and smart as hell, the kid was as adventurous as he was clever.

Diego Martinez had come into Jamison and Liam’s lives not long after they finished the home build in the new Fairweather Georgia development, and already having briefly cared for two others temporarily before him, they had quickly been approved for long-term placement.

On the beach, Theo body slammed Xavier again, and Diego rolled his eyes with a laugh. “I think Xavier could use my help.”

“Theo!” Simone was up and at the railing, snapping her fingers at the children on the beach. “Theodora, look at me.”

Everyone froze. Ben included. Simone was a better disciplinarian than him, but sometimes, she was downright terrifying.

“Was that nice?” Simone didn’t give Theo a chance to answer. “No, it was not. And we’re not going to do it again. Got me?”

The chorus of yes, ma’ams made Ben smile. They were good kids—the best, in his opinion—but he was biased and damn well knew it.

Diego trudged past him with his hands shoved in his pockets and a grin on his face as he made his way to the steps leading to the sand.

“Good luck,” Ben whispered before he left. “It’s wild down there.”

The poor kid’s entire family had passed away in a fire, leaving him alone in the world.

Jamison said she and Diego often had long discussions about his parents, but with Liam, he really opened up and always wanted to talk about his siblings.

He had been the eldest of five children and missed his brothers and sisters horribly.

Diego gave him a serious nod. “I can handle Theo.”

“Famous last words.”

Evie emerged next, already narrowing her gaze on the children. “Is Samuel’s daughter misbehaving again? ”

“Oh, I love how she’s my daughter when she’s being bad and yours when she’s an angel,” Samuel said as he joined her, smacking Evie’s butt before moving around her to stand with Simone, and yell down at his middle child. “Theo, no more. If you want to wrestle, come inside and wrestle me.”

Theo put her hands on her hips like she had something to say—but caught Simone’s look and promptly changed course. “Okay, Daddy.”

Evie leaned into Samuel’s side. Pregnant again, she swore this would be the last one. “Harper, you’re supposed to watch her.”

“Watching Theo is an incredibly large request,” Harper said, pushing her new glasses up her nose. “She doesn’t listen.”

“What’s going on out here?” Selah boomed as he came out of the back door, eating a sandwich with an annoyed look on his face. “Xavier, are you trying to convince everyone to jump off the roof again?”

“Nah, it’s ours this time,” Evie said, grinning. “Theo thinks she’s twice her size and keeps plowing into Xavier—who, by the way, is letting her do it.”

“I was just showing my moves!” Theo argued. “See, watch me.”

Theo went for Diego, and the kid relaxed in time, taking the hit like a champ. With an oof , he landed on his back, laughing along with Theo as she shouted a victory cry.

Carrying Albie on her hip, Josie came out just in time to see the whole thing. “Theo!”

“He’s okay, Nana!” Theo scrambled to her feet, her brand-new Christmas dress now covered in sand. “Promise!”

Flat on his back, Diego waved a hand in the air. “I’m good. Honest.”

The kids resumed their game of Conquer the Castle, and Diego joined in as the designated referee.

“Annabeth and I have the food ready,” Izzy called from inside. She and Annabeth had been in the kitchen all day and were eager for everyone to try the food. “Adults come eat first while the kids are still distracted. We’ll bring the crazies in after.”

Ben stayed seated, content to watch the mayhem a little longer. Soon, they’d all scatter back to their own corners of the world, and he wanted to soak up every second of this.

“Here.” Josie passed Albie into his arms. “Take a kid so I can eat. ”

Gray eyes blinked in his direction, and Ben grinned. Albie looked so much like his namesake that the emotions never failed to hit. “Hey there, big guy.”

As everyone except Simone took off to eat, Liam and Jamison slipped outside to watch the kids play. Jamison had a worried look on her face, but before Ben could ask what was wrong, Simone beat him to it.

“What is with you two?” Simone demanded, returning to her spot on the sofa. She reached for Albie, but Ben shifted away, not yet ready to let go. “Y’all have been whispering to each other all day.”

Jamison exchanged a glance with Liam. “You tell them.”

“We’re planning to talk to Diego tomorrow,” Liam said, coming closer. “We’re asking him how he would feel about staying with us permanently. Not adoption—not yet. We think he needs more time to heal before we even bring that up.”

“I’ve been practicing my speech,” Jamison rushed out. “Simone, can I go over it with you later, and you can tell me if I’m being too pushy? I don’t want to be pushy. He can choose us or…not. But I know you’ll tell me the truth.”

Simone nodded, eyes softer than usual. “Of course, baby.”

“You’re going to do just fine,” Ben assured her, hating how nervous she looked. “And Diego is a great kid.”

Jamison positively bloomed with happiness. “He really is.”

Albie giggled at a row of pelicans flying low over the water, and Jamison crouched next to him. “Quick, count them, Albie.” She counted them down as Albie released grunts and oohs in time with the numbers. “Eight! That was eight.”

“Boo!” Albie squealed his nickname for Jamison and held out his arms for her. Ben let him go without hesitation, knowing Albie adored his aunt. “Boooo!”

“Yep, boo!” Jamison nuzzled his nose, making him laugh even harder. “I’m taking him in while Liam switches out with Holden so he can eat.”

“Simone and I can watch the kids,” Ben insisted. “All of you go in and get some food.”

He spoke too loudly.

“Food?” Xavier shouted from the beach. “The food’s ready!”