Chapter 37 Vincent
Damn, Nathan.
Damn him and his stupid idea to give me a job, and damn him and his stupid family that kept me here. First Des and Oli, and then Addy.
Now Kat.
Fuck, Kat.
I’d never wanted to settle down; I enjoyed my freedom after years in the military. I was free to work with who I wanted, be who I wanted and with who I wanted.
Nathan was the one set on and settling down with a family, even if he didn’t require a wife, and while I was glad it wasn’t Natasha’s hateful ass, I never thought their little crazy arrangement would actually work.
How could it? Yeah, Alex and Desmond have been known to share. Hell, Alex and Nathan were known to as well, but they have way too much possessive alpha male shit to do it long-term.
One woman, four men.
Oliver never would have stood a chance; he would have been pushed aside for them.
None of it should have worked…
But it did.
It is.
And not just with those four, but maybe with me too.
Fuckkkkk.
How did this happen? How did that adorable, fiery, stubborn little woman change everything I thought I knew about myself?
More importantly, do I even really give a damn?
No.
It’s the easiest question I’ve ever asked myself because it doesn’t matter how it happened or why or even who’s to blame, even though it’s definitely Nathan, because I want Kat forever.
If I take a second and let myself admit it, only to myself, I’ve wanted her for a while.
That night when Des almost fucked her at the tree last year, fuck, I’d wanted her then.
I’d never shared a woman with them, but I’d been tempted to ask that night.
After she disappeared, I considered looking for her myself to have a taste, but I never went through with it.
I was so sure that her getting away from them that night was a blessing in disguise.
I’d never seen those two so hung up over what was supposed to be a one-night stand. The last person to catch both of their attention like that was Natasha, and she had almost blown everything to fucking pieces.
But I was wrong, and I’m not too proud to admit that now.
I glance up at the rearview mirror to see Kat and Addy in the back seat, playing eye spy from the sounds of it.
She must feel my gaze on her because she looks up, her eyes meeting mine, and the smile that pulls at her lips and the slight hint of color that stains her cheeks makes my cock jerk to life.
Damn.
Ever since Des fucked her at the table that night, she can’t look me in the eye without blushing the most beautiful pink color.
I’d tried to deny my pull to her. Yes, she’s attractive, obviously, but I told myself that was all it was.
Pretty girls are a dime a dozen, though.
She wasn’t special.
But every day she proved me wrong, over and fucking over.
Kat is special, so fucking special.
She’s thoughtful, nurturing, and gentle, yet stern with Addy, always doing only what’s best for her and looking out for her even above herself. But she’s also somehow the perfect balance for each of the guys as well.
She allows Nathan to spoil her but still pushes back a healthy amount. She’s sassy and playful with Des, gentle and nerdy with Oli, and a good center for Alex. She makes him happy and chases away his demons, something even Natasha hadn’t been able to manage.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t think it was possible before Kat.
Nathan and Alex had worked hard to build the life they have now, and while they have everything they ever wanted, it wasn’t always like this.
Alex bears the weight of that trauma, something that still pains Nathan even all these years later.
I pull up to a stop outside the building, switch the car off, and move around to open Kat’s door.
I’m not sure when it happened, but she lets me open her door now, but only if I don’t take too long.
Somewhere along the line, it’s become a game. One I don’t actually know the rules to, though that doesn’t make my need to win any less.
“Why can’t I come?” Addy asks as I pull the door open, and I don’t even need to look to know Kat’s about to fold.
She’s fantastic with Addy and does a much better job than the rest of them with discipline and boundaries. And all that important stuff that ensures she doesn’t grow up to be a spoiled brat who expects the world to be handed to her, like the Willy Wonka girl.
But she’s far from perfect, and this isn’t something that has to be done alone, meaning she could give in.
It’s just the doctors. I’m sure plenty of women take their kids with them, but she doesn’t have to. I’m more than happy to spend the day with Addy.
I crouch down so that I can see her, and I’m not surprised to find her giving Kat the full-on pouty lip and puppy-dog eyes.
She’s got it down to a science now.
“Oh man, and here I thought we could go get some ice cream while Mommy was busy.”
Addison’s eyes go wide, and she looks at me before looking back to Kat, clearly torn now.
“I guess I’ll just have to go by myself.” I shrug and begin to stand, moving as if to let them out.
“Wait!” I pause. Having risen a few inches, I’m still able to see her and the way she’s fidgeting, and I know I’ve got her.
“I want ice cream,” she says with a little pout.
Kat gives a soft laugh and scoops Addy up onto her lap.
“Will you eat a scoop for me, too?” She asks her, making it sound super serious, and just like that, Addy’s sold.
“Say goodbye to Mommy, Princess. We’ll be back for her as soon as the appointment is over,” I tell her with a smile, and damn if they aren’t so cute together.
Nathan couldn’t have picked a better mother figure for Addison. It’s amazing she doesn’t have kids of her own with how natural a parent she is.
A few seconds later, Kat moves across the backseat. I offer her my hand to help her out, and she doesn’t hesitate to take it.
Another new development. Just a few weeks ago, not only would she have hesitated, she would have come out the color of a tomato.
Not that I mind that; in fact, I rather enjoy getting under her skin, but I can’t deny that her feeling comfortable with me is almost intoxicating.
“Thanks,” she says, offering me a small smile. “But if you're busy, it’s okay. I can take her. It's just a check-up to make sure I’m not coming down with anything contagious. I’d hate to get anyone else sick.”
She might be too damn sweet, honestly. She’s the only person I know who could be sick and be more worried about the people around her than herself.
“Stop that. First of all, this is literally part of the job,” I tell her, pulling her away from the door so that I can close it. “Second, she’s my goddaughter. I don’t mind spending time with her, ever.”
Her cheeks get impossibly redder, and damn my cock and these dress slacks.
“I know. I wasn’t trying to imply you didn’t. I just didn’t want you to think you had…”
She trails off as I press my lips to the back of her hand. Her mouth hangs open when I glance at her through my lashes, dragging my lower lip up her hand just an inch to see how she’ll react.
Her fingers squeeze my own, and I hear her suck in a breath through her teeth.
Good to know.
“Go. Worry about yourself for once, and let me entertain the munchkin. We’ll be here when you’re done,” I tell her as I pull away, almost daring her to argue with me some more.
She doesn’t; instead, she turns toward the building and heads inside.
“Good girl.”
Her steps falter, but she doesn’t turn to look back at me. She doesn’t need to, though; that was answer enough.
I move back to the front of the car and slip into the driver's seat with a smile on my face that’s big enough it's making my cheeks ache.
It’s strange but not unwelcome. It’s not as if I’ve been miserable all these years, but something about this just feels different, life-altering if you will.
“Do you love Mommy too, Uncle Vinny?” Addy all but sings as she claps her hands and bounces in her seat.
Love.
Fuck, that’s a hell of a word.
I’m not sure I’ve ever told anyone I love them other than my parents when I was a boy and Addy.
No, I don’t think I love Kat yet, but I think I could if I let myself, if she lets me. But kids don’t get all that shit. Hell, I hope she doesn’t even when she's an adult.
All I want is for Addy to have a better life than we did.
“Yeah, kiddo, I think I might,” I tell her, and instantly regret it when she squeals loud enough that I’m pretty sure my ears are going to bleed.