Chapter 20 #3
“We’re not talking about me, Mr. Dunn.” I pressed another kiss to the corner of his mouth. Then one to the other side.
“I’m done talking about me.”
I wouldn’t push him. His world was changing again. I just hoped he didn’t close himself away again.
He didn’t move for a moment as I nibbled along his lips, then finally he reciprocated.
I hummed, glad to have his touch on me after having to look at his sinful pecs and wide shoulders in that shirt for hours. “You know,” I said between kisses, “there’s no security camera in my office and I’ve never done it there before.”
“Then I have the perfect way to end this tour.”
My buzzing phone woke me. Jonah’s arm was draped over my waist. He twitched when my phone didn’t stop. I groaned and rolled to grab it.
When I saw it was Wynter, I gasped and sat up. “Hi!”
A tired laugh met me on the other end of the line. “Hey, big sis. Want to come meet your niece later today?”
I let out a squeal and pumped my fist. “Mom and baby are okay?”
“Tired. Both Mom and baby,” she answered.
“Is Dad okay?”
“He’s over-the-moon-and-stars giddy,” she said with a fatigued smile in her voice. “But also terrified. And in awe.”
I clutched the sheet to my chest and shot a grin at a sleepy Jonah.
His eyes were slits as he watched my reaction to hearing my baby sister had had a baby.
The hair that was so nicely brushed last night was all over—from sleep, and from my hands buried in the strands throughout the evening and night.
“You sure you’re doing well? Are you here in Bozeman?”
“Yes.” There was a yawn. “To both questions. I was in labor most of the night, so we’ll get to go home in the morning.”
“I want to ask you so many questions, but I’m going to be bossy and tell you to rest. When do you want me to visit?”
“Mama’s going to bring some lunch around noon. Any time after. The room isn’t that big.”
I didn’t want to overwhelm her. I was bursting with excitement, but I also knew from Scarlett and various coworkers over the years how exhausting birth and the whirlwind of visits afterward were.
“I’ll make a quick stop to imprint myself as the favorite aunt, then I’ll back off until you and Myles are rested. I can bring some dinner.”
Her soft chuckle came through the line. “Myles has arranged three months of meals already.”
I grinned. “He’s my favorite brother-in-law for a reason.”
“I’ll tell him that,” Wynter said.
He was my only brother-in-law. I wished Autumn could find this kind of happiness. Junie wanted success, but the last time I’d seen her truly comfortable with herself was with her high school boyfriend. I just wanted them happy and surrounded by good people. Like I was.
I glanced at Jonah. His eyes were closed, his breathing even, but he wasn’t asleep. His fingers were absentmindedly rubbing my thigh.
“I’m going to let you rest. See you this afternoon. Love you, Wynter.” I hung up and sighed, a delighted gust of air.
“You like being a big sister and an aunt,” Jonah commented. His eyes were still closed.
“I do.” I wanted to make my sisters aunts.
They already were, but I wanted to see them with my kids.
I wanted to watch our kids run and play, bicker and argue, play pranks with each other, and be their cousins’ biggest support.
“I was so excited when Chance was born, but Tate and his first wife were so busy it was hard to get together—and he even lived in Bozeman. Then they got divorced, and he moved home and it’s been great.
Scarlett makes sure to tell us when Chance has a musical or a play.
Tate’s shit about passing along that kind of information. ”
“How many kids does Tate have now?”
“Three. Brinley’s almost the perfect age for tea parties, but she’s kind of shy when we all get together and there’s a ton of adults. Darin’s not even a year old and he’s fun, but he’s not all about getting squooshed by Aunt Summer. He’d rather be eating pebbles off the ground.”
“You have a big family.”
“Yeah.” I lay back down and he curled me into him, my back to his front. “It’s pretty great.”
He didn’t respond. I ran my fingers between his. Questions piled up on my tongue. The one I wanted to ask most was—did he want kids? Did he think a big family was great like I did?
I’d almost lost my entire family, and I had lost my parents. Then I’d gained a new set of parents who’d helped me deal with the pain of losing my birth parents. My siblings had doubled. I loved my big, opinionated crew.
Jonah and Eli hadn’t been as close as my brothers were, and then Eli had been gone. Did a family like mine intimidate Jonah when he’d been on the fringes until the accident?
I didn’t know the answers and something kept me from asking. Jonah had reclaimed a part of himself by coming here and taking me out, but he was just starting his journey. I’d been stuck waiting in the same spot since I’d finished college and started working at the distillery.
This thing between us was new. I’d wait before we delved into discussions about the future. And maybe when I brought up the topic, I wouldn’t be so worried about the answers.