Chapter 37
Chapter thirty-seven
Kate
Everything was not fine.
It was freaking chaos.
The good kind though.
Music, laughter, and banter between friends that had me smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. I’d been apprehensive when Tristan suggested we use their usual poker night, that hadn’t been a poker game in months, to officially celebrate our marriage with his friends.
I was relieved when they didn’t make any remarks about how unexpected or strange all of this was. They simply pulled me and Millie into their little circle like we’d always belonged there.
“But you have the perfect spot for a poker table right there,” Rafe cried out, pointing at the corner of the room.
“Knock it off.” Tristan playfully smacked his friend’s shoulder. “If you want to play poker, do it at your own damn place.”
“Oh, please,” Rafe fired back. “Weren’t you the one who got his panties all twisted the first time Liam canceled poker night?”
“He’s not wrong,” Liam added with a laugh.
Tristan narrowed his eyes at his friends. “Traitors. Both of you shameless fucking traitors.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Millie popped out from who knew where. Without saying a word, she held up her purple jar. The label on the side read: CONCERT SAVINGS, and I’d bet every dollar I owned, it would be full before the end of the year.
“Okay, I’m officially impressed.” Izzy slipped her arm through mine. “Your husband has seriously hot friends.”
I stared at Tristan as he popped a few bills in Millie’s jar then bopped her nose. The sweetest giggle traveled across the room before she disappeared again. And like every other time I’d seen them together, a thick gooey warmth coated my insides.
“You do realize one of them is married and his wife will be back from the bathroom any moment now?”
Evie, Liam’s wife, had to be the sweetest person I’d ever met. The instant I’d opened the door, she had me in one of the best hugs ever. Her eyes were bright and her smile wide.
We became fast friends. Not even an hour into dinner, and we’d already made plans to meet up at her bookstore over the weekend.
Apparently, these men had a penchant for big gestures since the bookstore Evie owned had been a gift from Liam.
“Phew.” Evie joined us. “This baby is having way too much fun playing bouncy ball on my bladder. Goodness.” Rubbing her hand over her belly, she leaned in a little. “What are we talking about.”
“Tristan’s hot as fuck friends,” Izzy piped up before I could utter a word. “I know the Brit is yours, but that doesn’t make him less attractive.”
“Izzy,” I groaned.
“What?” She threw her hands in the air. “I’m only stating facts. I’m sure Evie here will agree her husband is hot.”
“Oh my gosh.” Shaking my head, I covered my face with my hands. “Would you just…zip it.”
Evie’s laugh had me giving her a curious glance.
“It’s fine,” she said, her perfectly painted red lips stretched into a wide smile. “Liam is all kinds of hot. And he’s also mine so you can ogle all you like, but touch him and you might lose your fingers.”
More laughter bubbled up her throat, but I had a sneaky suspicion she was being serious. I knew because I felt the same when it came to Tristan. Didn’t know exactly when I’d turned into this person, but dammit, if I wouldn’t get physical if some woman tried to put her hands on him.
“All right, ladies.” Cece, Evie’s sister and quite possibly the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen, slid in next to Izzy. “What or who are we laughing at?”
“Your sweet sister threatened to remove my fingers if I touched her man,” Izzy eagerly provided. “Here I was minding my business and innocently commenting on the sexy masculinity in this room, and boom…that.”
We all laughed again.
“Ooh,” my sister cooed. “This one is especially tasty.”
I looked up to see Rafe walking toward us.
“Your home is lovely, Kate,” he said, his accent thick as ever. “And little Millie is quite something.”
Happiness lifting my lips, I splayed my hand over my chest. “Thank you.”
“Welcome.” His gaze traveled from person to person until he reached Cece. The smile that’d been on his lips vanished. “Cecelia.”
She stared and stared until she finally crossed her arms in front of her and jutted her hip. “What do you want, grandpa?”
A curse rolled off Rafe’s tongue before he stalked off, muttering Italian words under his breath.
It’d been the smallest interaction, but there was no mistaking the tension between them. I made a quick mental note to ask Tristan about it later. Especially since Izzy was checking him out. The last thing I wanted was for my sister to end up being the other woman…again.
“Oof.” Evie yawned. “I think it’s time for bed.” Facing me fully, she pulled me into another one of her hugs. “It was so lovely to meet you, Kate. Can’t wait to see you on Saturday.” Releasing me, she hugged my sister next. “And you too, Izzy.”
As soon as Liam and Evie were out the door, the rest of our guests followed suit. All except Izzy. She’d said she’d wanted to help clean up, but I had a suspicion that wasn’t the real reason.
That was why I slipped my arm through hers and went to the porch. Once we were seated and looking out onto the dimly lit yard, I turned to her, “What’s on your mind, Sis?”
“You,” she answered. “Millie. This place. Even Tristan. It’s amazing, and I know you’re happy—”
“But?”
She sighed. “I’m worried, Katie. What’s going on with the whole poisoning thing? Did you just forget there’s some sick asshole out there who probably wants to hurt you?”
I couldn’t forget, even if I tried, but I also refused to live like a prisoner. I was careful. I didn’t eat or drink anything that Tristan or I hadn’t made ourselves. I didn’t accept deliveries, and the same went for Millie.
She got a packed lunch every day. Her teachers knew not to give her anything, and we’d even set up a code system that changed daily. So yes, on the outside, it might’ve seemed like we’d become complacent, but in reality, we were being as cautious as we could.
“I know,” I answered my sister. “But I can’t stop living. I won’t. Maybe it’s selfish, but I’ve waited too long for this kind of happiness to not experience every single moment of it.”
In a blink, Izzy lunged forward and wrapped her arms around me. “I really am happy for you, Katie. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s you. Just please, please be careful.” Her hold tightened. “I don’t ever want to lose you.”
“Hey.” I cupped her shoulders to push her away slightly. “You okay?”
With a sniffle, she wiped under her eyes. “Yeah. These are happy tears…sprinkled with a smidge of concern. But mostly happy tears.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I love you, Iz.”
We sat there on the porch, chatting and laughing for a few more hours before my sister decided it was time for bed. I waited until her taillights disappeared before I went inside.
The house was shockingly tidy…and quiet.
Flicking my gaze to the wall-mounted clock, I let out a breath. Tristan and Millie were probably asleep already.
With quiet steps, I made my way to Millie’s room to steal a goodnight kiss. But when I opened the door, the scene in front of me completely stole the air from my lungs.
In the corner, perched on the edge of the chair, sat my gorgeous husband with my little girl on a stool between his wide-spread legs.
Millie had her book in her lap while Tristan had his fingers in her hair. Tongue poking out of the corner of his way-too-damn-luscious mouth, his expression was serious as he concentrated on wrapping one strand of her hair over the other.
Wrap, wrap, wrap, he went until he finally tied a hairband around the ends.
“All done, princess.” He sat back, brows dipped low while he admired his work.
Millie’s little fingers flew to the back of her head. She felt her way up and down the braid, then jumped up and inspected it in the mirror. The braid was messy and skewed, but judging by the gigantic smile on her face, she didn’t care one bit.
“It’s not quite as pretty as Kate’s, but with a few more practices, we’ll get there.”
When he’d said it, Millie hurried back to him. Standing between his legs, she took his face in her small, small hands. “It’s perfect,” she whispered. “Thank you, Tristan.”
Then, without preamble, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. And Tristan? Well, he hugged right back. Splaying his big hand across her back, he pulled her to him.
His eyes fell shut, and there written all over his gorgeous face was every ounce of love I felt for this little girl.
My heart doubled in size.
“All right, princess.” He stood, scooping Millie up in the process. “To bed with you.” Tickling her side while he crossed the room, he drew the happiest little laugh out of her.
Those pesky little butterflies were back. Only they weren’t fluttering like the graceful insects they were supposed to be. Whatever they were doing inside my belly rivaled the biggest acrobatic act on the planet.
Needing to be close to them, I stepped farther into the bedroom. “Sounds fun in here.”
“Kate,” Millie squealed as she reached behind her to tug her hair over her shoulder. “Look. Tristan braided my hair.”
Gosh, she sounded so freaking proud.
“Her hair bothered her while she was reading. So...” His words were low and raspy and oh-so-sensual. He might as well have whispered how badly he wanted me out of my clothes.
It had the same damn effect.
I held his dark stare. “I thought you couldn’t braid.”
Millie giggled. Red stained Tristan’s cheekbones.
More color tinged his skin. “I…uh…” He dragged his hand over the nape of his neck. “I might’ve watched a few video tutorials on how to style hair.”
His grumbled words sailed between my ribs and settled in every corner of my heart. This man, this freaking man.
“You’re incredible,” I told him when we headed to our room after saying goodnight to Millie. “I can’t believe you did that. On what did you practice while you watched the videos.”
Instead of answering, he shut the door and reached for me. I went without hesitation, allowing him to wrap me up in his arms and hold me close.
His hands slid down my back and over the curve of my ass while he buried his nose in the crook of my neck. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make my girls happy.”
He’d already done that. Instead of telling him, I rolled onto the balls of my feet and pressed my mouth to his. I kissed him deep and slow and a few moments later when he spun us around and pushed me up against the door, he moved between my legs with the same unhurried pace.
His fingers tangled in my hair while his mouth mapped my skin, whispering words of love and adoration. It wasn’t long before an entire galaxy of stars exploded behind my lids. Throwing my head back, I cried out his name and drew him straight over the edge with me.
And as we slowly floated down to earth together, I thanked the universe for giving me everything I never knew I wanted.