37. Chapter Thirty-Seven | Theo
Chapter thirty-seven
“Daddy, she really does look like a queen!” Gigi declares in the loudest whisper possible.
Savannah hears her and looks over to smile at my girl.
She’s not wrong. Savannah is standing under an arch of flowers in a blush strapless bridesmaid dress.
I’m sure the fabric has a name, but the sheer overlay has a subtle but sexy vibe that makes me want to get my hands on her as soon as possible.
Her hair is in some fancy updo with a few strands loose in the slight breeze on the hilltop.
She is absolutely stunning. Clearing my throat, I focus on the fact that I’m surrounded by her family, and as though she’s reading my thoughts, she grins and slightly shakes her head at me.
The last two and a half months have felt almost too good to be true.
Since I first met Savannah, everything has been better in my life and has only amplified since our first date.
I wasn’t looking for a partner and had settled into a routine as a single dad, but dating someone that not only gets what it’s like being a parent but supports it at every turn has been even better than I could’ve imagined.
Both of us put our kids first and neither of us begrudge the other for doing so.
When I agreed to accompany her to Vivian’s wedding in Texas, it was initially to save face in front of her asshole ex, but now I’m glad things worked out the way they did.
Pippa is on a trip of her own so Gigi needed to come with me, but when I told Savannah, she simply said that she was always included in the plan and hoped she would come anyway.
Over the last month or so, Gigi and I have joined a few Callahan weekly family dinners, and every single person in that family has been incredibly welcoming, which makes Shane’s claims of being an outsider even more preposterous.
“So, is my Auntie your girlfriend now?” Savannah’s five-year-old niece asks as we gather around the large outdoor dining set on Murphy’s covered back porch.
“Honey, he might not want to answer that question in front of everyone,” Vivian tries to cover for her daughter.
“I think he should answer, unless he is … hesitating,” Walker chimes in and raises an eyebrow over his drink in a slight cheers. I think he’s giving me an opening here and I’d be a fool not to take it. Her entire family is watching me—including our daughters and Savannah’s father.
I lean toward Eloise and wonder if maybe one of her uncles actually put her up to this. “Yeah, your Auntie Sav is my girlfriend. Is that okay with you?”
“Yep. You have to do that part before you can get to the marrying part.” Eloise nods and picks up her cheeseburger like she didn’t just throw the word marriage around like it was no big deal.
“Good to know, sweetheart,” I say to Eloise but with my eyes locked on Savannah who had paused in the doorway to the kitchen, watching the scene unfold.
I give her a wink and a pretty blush rises in her cheeks.
The nods from her brothers and dad only confirmed that I handled Eloise’s question correctly, as do the firm handshakes I get from each of them at the end of the night.
When we left Tennessee on her brother’s jet, Vivian and Savannah had activity packs for the girls to do while we traveled, and anything they brought for their own daughters, they made sure to have one for Gigi too.
Walker’s family has been gregarious, warm, and welcoming to all of us as we invaded their ranch. His brothers and Savannah’s brothers have ensured there hasn’t been a quiet moment since we arrived—until right now.
As I look at the view from the top of the hill where the wedding is happening, I can see why this is Walker’s favorite spot.
He mentioned that he has an aerial shot of this section of land that’s been in every office since he left Texas.
We all stand and turn to watch Murphy escort Vivian down the short aisle.
I glance at Savannah and see her wipe away a few tears.
Vivian and Walker have been through so much in a relatively short time, but when you see how they look at each other, it’s obvious how deeply they love one another. It’s almost tangible in their presence.
I’m not sure I ever believed in a love like that, a great partnership sure, but a love that amplifies every other emotion in your life and radiates into every corner of your world?
I didn’t know that was possible, not until I met Savannah.
The entire trip has felt like a breath of fresh air as I interacted with the dynamics of a large—and functioning—family.
Pippa, Van, and I don’t have any close relations with our extended family as most of them are spoiled snobs, so I never thought a large family was something I would be interested in, but maybe that was just because I hadn’t met the Callahan family.
Savannah and I have discussed how both of us are content with the number of kids we’ve had prior to meeting, and while she could get pregnant again if she wanted to with some medical assistance after having her tubes removed, I don’t think we need to pursue that route, but if she wanted to, I would in a heartbeat.
I’m finding there isn’t a limit to what I would do to make her happy.
Seeing our girls together feels like they were kind of meant to all be together somehow.
Savannah’s oldest Olivia is eleven going on thirty-five and as the typical first child, she took to looking after Gigi like a duck to water.
With Emily being nine years old and Lucy being six years old, they bookend my eight-year-old daughter perfectly.
Gigi thinks the Williams girls are the coolest thing since sliced bread, and I never thought about her being lonely without any siblings, but I’m glad that won’t be an issue.
It may seem fast to outsiders, but at forty-seven years old, I’m too old for bullshit or to waste our time.
I know what I want—or in this case who—and it’s Savannah.
It’s Savannah and our girls, and a million joyful memories like this trip to Texas held .
Vivian and Walker’s wedding is a beautiful statement of their commitment to each other, their growing family, and the families they brought together on that gorgeous hilltop in Texas.
After a wonderful celebration of their love, and the incredible hospitality of the entire Bennett family, I find my thoughts very family focused on the flight back.
Savannah sits in the leather club chair next to me and instantly reaches for my hand, bringing a big smile to my face.
We like to touch each other—a lot—and we do just that every chance we can get.
“All five girls are out like a light in the bedroom.” Savannah grins at me.
The girls might have had the most fun out of any of us this week, and Eloise will be staying with Savannah while Vivian and Walker are on their honeymoon.
Walker’s nieces and nephews only amplified the joy and noise while in Texas.
“This was such a great trip. I’m so glad you and Gigi joined us. ”
“I agree, and it felt right, didn’t it? Having all of us together like that?” Full court press. No bullshit.
She leans her head back and turns to face me. “Mmm. Yeah, like it all just … I don’t know, somehow fit, right?” I hum in agreement, but before I can respond, Jack sits in one of the chairs facing us and sets his tablet on the table between us.
“I had my assistant send you those contracts that we talked about,” Jack tells me.
In addition to enjoying my time with the Callahans, I’ve also found myself in a bromance with her brothers, and I’m not mad about it.
I find myself looking forward to the weekly poker games that have now become a standing appointment in my schedule.
I also loved hearing Finn’s firsthand account of when he gifted Shane a parting gift from The Cavalry one week after their divorced was finalized—no one deserved a punch in the face more than that guy.
“Sounds good. I should be able to get those updates drafted and back to you within a few days.” Jack nods as Savannah looks back and forth between us.
“Excuse me, did you hire my boyfriend?” She narrows her eyes at her brother .
“Sure did. I trust the guy and you know how I feel about that.” Jack’s statement softens his sister’s glare. “And I suspect he is going to be around for a while, so I figured why not add someone else to my team that I trust?”
“It’s not exclusive. I’m just consulting on a few things, baby,” I tell Savannah. “The only exclusive relationship in my life is you.”
“And I approached him about it, not the other way around,” Jack clarifies. Savannah has mentioned before how people have tried to use her to get closer to her brothers, Jack specifically. But coming from the family that I do, I understood that better than most.
“Besides, he can’t have him work for him or it would ruin our poker game,” Finn adds as he sits in the chair next to Jack.
Savannah laughs. “Oh, heaven forbid that something ruins your poker game! Poor babies!” I lean over and kiss her on the top of head as she leans to rest it on my shoulder.
“Speaking of actual babies, do y’all think those babies are going to give Viv a break on her honeymoon?
I hope she isn’t sick the entire time.” Walker is taking his bride to Saint John for their honeymoon, but Vivian has been dealing with serious morning sickness that lasts all day.
Ironically, she seems to feel the best very first thing in the morning.
“Probably not, but I get it after meeting Walker’s brothers,” Finn jokes.
Walker is pretty serious most of the time, which makes sense as an FBI Agent, but his brothers brought out a playful side that I didn’t know the guy had in him.
He calms down a little at poker nights, but he told me the Texas air allows him to relax unlike anywhere else.
I get why Vivian mentioned them wanting to build a house on his family’s land for whenever they visit.
“We have to make sure we plan accordingly when Sam and Charlie come to deliver those horses after Walker and Viv’s house is built,” Jack tells his brother. It took about two seconds before the Bennett boys and Callahan brothers were pranking each other.
Finn nods. “Plenty of time to plan, but we need to do it right.” I shake my head laughing. Jack sounds more like a nineteen-year-old kid than a forty-one-year-old man. Jack and Finn are quickly spouting ideas back and forth, while Savannah and I watch them like a tennis match.
“Thank you,” Savannah whispers.
“For what, baby?” I quietly respond.
“Coming with. Being here. Being you.”
“It’s my pleasure, Kitten.” She playfully jabs me at the nickname that she doesn’t fully love yet, but it fits her so well.
I hold back before I say more, but I know I’ll be saying those three words to her soon enough.
I’m just not going to tell her I love her for the first time in front of two of her brothers.
I’ll announce it to the world, but only after I tell her privately first. The hard part is waiting for the right moment to tell her.
It wasn’t hard to fall in love with Savannah Callahan-Williams, she’s easy to love—claws and all.
And I’m so incredibly lucky that she’s mine to love.