Chapter 13
Spike smiled as he watched Millie bustling around. She’d worked so hard to make today happen. She’d worried about whether it was silly to do it four weeks after Easter and he’d told her that it didn’t matter when it happened. As long as it was something she wanted.
She looked so happy. So excited.
Fuck. She was his everything.
He’d do anything to keep that smile on her face.
Although he was putting his foot down when it came to wearing the damn bunny suit.
Not happening. No way.
“She looks so happy.”
He glanced down as Reverent Pat joined him. The older man was still fit and active, but Spike was worried about when the day came that Millie would have to say goodbye to her friends.
However, today wasn’t that day.
Spike grunted. A couple of dogs raced past, tugging at a rope toy. Hatter and Bandit. Luna followed them, barking.
Spike looked around for Mr. Fluffy only to find him sitting in the shade of one of the tables.
A sigh escaped him. Mr. Fluffy was the problem child of the group. Anti-social, he never joined in with any of the other dogs and Spike had given up trying to make him.
“I hope she is,” he finally replied, realizing that Reverent Pat was waiting for a reply.
“Well, if she wasn’t, boy, you’d have to answer to me.”
Spike bit back a smile at the older man’s threat. It was ridiculous, but he respected him more for it.
“How does this hunting the eggs work?” Andrey asked in his loud voice as he came up beside him. “Do we shoot them? Where are the guns?”
Reverend Pat gave the other man a look of disgust. “Don’t pretend that you don’t know how an Easter egg hunt works.”
“Me? How would I know?”
“Because you’re not an idiot,” Mrs. Larsen said as she wandered up, using her walking stick. Andrey immediately held out his hand for her to take to help keep her steady.
Spike needed to get some more chairs down here for them all. He glanced over as Millie burst into laughter. She was standing with Sunny, Betsy, and Jewel. By the table that held the baskets stood Emme, Dahlia, and Tabby. They were trying on the headbands that Millie had made them.
Mr. and Mrs. Spain were in a conversation with Livvy, Sav, Greer, and Livvy’s nephews who were also doing the Easter egg hunt. Thankfully, Buster had left his rabbit, Cinnabun, at home.
Baron and Royal came up to the boys. Baron put Buster up on his shoulders, while Royal took hold of Wyatt. Ethan followed along behind them.
Most of the men were standing on the edges, watching over their families. He knew that Millie had invited Brody, Autumn, and the Fox. Well, she’d sent an invitation to Brody through Ink. However, he didn’t expect them to turn up. The only people they were waiting for were Effie, Damon, and Grady. Plus Brooks, Effie’s nephew, who had become good friends with Royal and Baron.
“And how do you know I’m not?” Andrey asked. “Wait. Are you saying I am an idiot or am not an idiot? I’m confused.”
Mrs. Larsen snorted. “I think that answers your question. Spike, dear, could you get an old lady a glass of that fairy juice?”
“Of course.” He walked away to grab a glass as his phone pinged, letting him know someone was waiting at the gate. Odd. Damon had the code. All of his friends did. Surprise filled him as he spotted the driver of the vehicle.
Brody.
Fuck. Was the Fox coming? Autumn was sitting in the passenger seat and he couldn’t see anyone else. He doubted the Fox would let Brody drive if he was with him. But who knew how that man’s brain worked?
Spike let them in, watching as Steele’s car pulled in behind them.
Well, this was going to be interesting.
Grabbing a glass of pink fairy juice, he took it back to Mrs. Larsen. “Here. I’ll get you a seat.”
“Yes, I might need a seat after I add a bit of my own special juice to this.” She drew a flask out of her one-of-a-kind Spain bag. Spike thought the bags that Mrs. Spain created were kind of . . . interesting.
But what did he know about fashion?
“Mrs. Larsen!” Reverend Pat said in a shocked voice. “What do you think you are doing?”
“What?” Mrs. Larsen said. “It’s for medicinal purposes.”
“What is?” Mr. Spain asked loudly as he and Mrs. Spain joined them. “Oh, is that your special flask? Can I have some?”
“No, you can’t have any,” Mrs. Spain replied.
“Why not?”
“Because last time you had some of that special juice, you ended up line-dancing!”
And that was bad?
Spike gave Mrs. Spain a confused look.
“Naked!” she added.
Spike grimaced. Hmm. Yeah. That wouldn’t be good. For anyone.
“Excuse me, I have to go greet some guests. I’ll get some chairs for you all.” He stopped to speak to Razor and Ink, asking them to bring some more seats down.
Then he grabbed Millie. “Baby, more guests have arrived.”
“Effie?” Millie asked.
Effie and Millie had become good friends. But then, everyone who met Millie fell in love with her.
“Yeah. But also Brody and Autumn.”
Millie’s eyes widened before a large smile came over her face. “They came? That’s awesome!”
Spike grunted.
“Daddy, don’t be rude to them.”
“Not going to be rude to them.”
“It’s good that they came,” she said. “It can’t be easy for them, being attached to our furry friend.”
“Furry friend?” he asked.
“Yes, well, I don’t like to say his name out loud.”
“Wise,” he grunted. “Pretty sure he’s like Rumpelstiltskin.”
“Exactly what I thought, Daddy!” she cried, clapping her hands. “Great minds think alike.”
Spike sent her a look.Millie knew he was just worried, and he didn’t mean to look as though he’d been sucking on a lemon. She didn’t know Brody and Autumn well, but Brody was good friends with a lot of them. And Autumn was fast becoming one of Sunny’s closest friends.
Leaving them out just because they were with the Fox wasn’t nice.
And frankly, she thought leaving the Fox out was mean too. After everything he’d done for all of them . . . well, he deserved an Easter egg hunt, too.
Spike was just being a worrywart. He did that sometimes.
But nothing bad was going to happen. It was Easter! Well, a month after Easter but in her mind it was Easter. It was impossible for bad things to happen at this time of year.
Millie followed Spike through the house to the front door. Brody and Autumn were already out of the car, looking around. Brody saw them and waved.
Steele, Grady, Effie, and Brooks pulled up behind them. She waved at them before she headed down to Brody and Autumn, who looked like they were contemplating climbing back into their car.
“Hi, guys! I’m so glad you made it!” She wrapped her arms around Brody first, since she knew him better. Then Autumn. Millie wanted them to feel welcomed here.
Spike was so close behind her that she could feel the heat of him. Protective, as always.
“Sorry we’re late,” Autumn said with a shy smile.
“My fault,” Brody added. “Apparently, I drive like a myopic grandpa.”
“I didn’t say that!” Autumn protested.
He just grinned at her.
“Well, I’m so glad you’re here for Millie’s Super-Duper Easter Egg hunt!”
Brody blushed. “Um, us too.”
“Did you, um, come alone?” Millie asked.
“Millie,” Spike warned.
“What?” She glanced over her shoulder, giving him an innocent look.
He gave her a knowing look back. Drat.
“It’s okay,” Autumn said quickly. “It’s just the two of us. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is!” Millie said, clapping her hands. “Just like it’s okay if all of you had wanted to come. Everyone is welcome. My house is your house. Go out back. Everyone is here. There are baskets and headbands and yummy snacks. Try the cupcakes! I ate two.” She patted her tummy.
“Two?” Spike asked. “I thought I told you one.”
“Maybe that’s what you thought you told me, Daddy. But that’s not what I heard.”
He leaned into her to whisper. “Baby doll, you’re close to having your bottom warmed. No more cupcakes.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Yikes.
Autumn and Brody quickly headed off.
“I hope you didn’t scare them, Daddy,” she said worriedly, turning to look at him.
“Baby doll, they’re in love with the Fox. I doubt anything I could do could scare them.”
Well, she guessed that was true.
“Was that who I think it was?” Steele demanded as he walked up to them.
“Damon!” Millie cried, throwing her arms around Spike’s brother-in-law.
“Hey, Millie,” Damon said in a softer voice as he wrapped his arms around her. “Thanks for inviting us.”
“Of course! You’re family.” She drew back to smile up at him.
Then Spike cleared his throat and tugged at her. “Want to let my girl go?”
“Not really.” Damon grinned at Spike.
She sighed. Silly men.
“Well, you have to, because I want a cuddle,” Grady said, stealing her from Damon to wrap her in a tight hug.
She was so glad they’d both found Effie. They seemed so much lighter. They smiled. And even though there was still darkness in their eyes, it seemed to lighten around the blonde bombshell.
Millie turned to give Effie, then Brooks, a hug.
“Come on! It’s time for the hunt to begin. Oh, first we need the Easter Bunny to hide the eggs.” She gave Spike a look.
He just shook his head at her. “No way.”
“Please, Daddy,” she pleaded. “Someone has to do it.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not going to be me. Not. Happening.”