13. Aubrey #2
He chuckles and takes a step toward me, cradling the back of my head as he kisses my forehead. “I’m kidding, Angel. My sister called to say they would be half an hour late. I’ll be ready by then, I promise.”
“You… Wha…” I blink a few times. “You knew they would be late and let me rush for no reason!?” I smack his arm. “I can’t believe you sometimes.” I frown at him, but it’s pretty much forced. I’m incapable of feeling anything but love and happiness toward Shane.
His arm wraps around my waist, bringing me into his sweaty body. “I like this new little feisty side of you.” He nips at my lip before kissing me deeply.
“Shane, you’re sweaty. You’re going to get me all dirty, and then your family will think I smell bad.” I giggle against his lips.
He smiles as he lets go of me, kissing my cheek, then heads into the shower for the second time today. And I already know it won’t be his last, or mine either.
Half an hour later, Shane is dressed in a white dress shirt that hugs his fabulous body marvelously, the sleeves rolled up and the first two buttons undone.
A pair of perfectly tailored navy-blue dress pants wrap around his waist and legs, showcasing his muscular thighs and that pronounced hockey butt he still has.
I love how he doesn’t have to wear a belt, that all his pants just hug his hips perfectly.
It’s probably the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
And on his feet, he wears a pair of cognac-colored Oxfords.
We don’t normally wear shoes in the house when it’s just us two, but with guests it’s easier to just let them keep theirs on.
There are already two rugs set in place outside and inside the front door for people to wipe their shoes down given the snowy and wet pavement.
And there’s even spare white slippers for those who would prefer to remove their footwear.
Marianne really thought of everything. It’s not entirely a full house today, but I know Antoine has his assistant, Jean-Louis, with him today helping in the kitchen, and Marianne has three helpers with her as well.
We stand by the front door as Shane receives an alert on his phone telling him someone is at the front gate. He lets them through and I let out a shaky breath. “Do I…” I look down at myself with a frown. “Do I look okay? I don’t look too… young?”
Shane turns to me with a frown. “Where is this coming from?”
“I just… I don’t want them to think I’m too young for you…” I admit in a low voice as my blush appears over my cheeks.
“Sweetheart, your age has never been an issue. Not with me, and not with my family. Yes, at first, I was afraid that us being together would hold you back from living your life given my age. But that’s in the past. And I know that if you had that thought, you wouldn’t be standing here with me.
” He cups my cheeks and presses his lips to mine.
“You’re perfect, Angel. You have nothing to worry about, I promise. ”
I let out a breath, feeling some of the tension leaving my body. “I needed that, thank you, Shane. And your age has never been an issue for me either.”
“Good.” He smiles as he pulls away and looks out the side window as four town cars pull up in the circular driveway.
“How come your phone didn’t notify you when Julian came this morning?” I frown, just realizing that little bit of information.
Shane chuckles as he pulls the door open. “That’s Julian for you. He knows his way around his own system.” Well, that makes sense. He reaches a hand out toward me. “Ready?”
I place mine in his, loving the warmth that vibrates through my body. “Ready.”
We step out onto the front porch just as they all begin to descend from the cars. A woman with dark curls for days screeches as she comes running toward us, her hair bouncing away with every step.
“Oh, you beautiful creature!” She opens her arms wide and swallows my body against hers.
“You have no idea how long we’ve been dying to meet you.
” She pulls back, holding onto my arm with one hand while her other goes to my stomach.
My eyes widen at the touch and my face heats quickly.
“And now you’re carrying my niece or nephew! ”
“Eden,” Shane warns. “Give her a moment to wrap her head around everyone, please.”
“Right, right. I’m sorry, Shane said you were shy.” She smiles sweetly as she takes a step back and that makes me blush even harder.
“It’s okay.” I smile and giggle nervously despite my heated state.
She heads inside as a man with short copper hair carrying two suitcases comes strutting up the stairs, followed by a little boy with curly orange hair around the age of five a few steps behind him. He greets Shane then kisses both my cheeks as he introduces himself as Marcus and his son Joshua.
Next comes a woman who seems older than Eden, but not old enough to be Shane’s mother.
Her chocolate hair is pulled back in a tight ballerina bun, and she wears a businesslike knee-length black dress under her open white coat.
She smiles warmly as she comes up the steps with a twinkle in her eyes.
She has this grace and maturity to her that instantly makes me feel at ease.
When she reaches us, she hugs her brother first. “Hi, little brother.” Then she turns to me with extended arms. “It’s lovely to meet you, Aubrey. I’m Phoebe,” she says with a soft voice.
“It’s lovely to meet you, too,” I tell her genuinely.
When she takes a small step back, she turns to Shane once more.
“Why don’t you go help Mom and Dad with their bags?
We’ll do introductions once everyone is inside and settled.
We don’t want to overwhelm her with all that out here.
” She comes to my side and loops her arm through mine, pulling me into the house.
I’m instantly grateful to her for how quickly she picked up on my discomfort, without me having to voice it, and took me out of the situation. I think she and I will get along fine, and from what Shane has told me, she’s the sister he’s closest to.
“How are you feeling, Aubrey? The pregnancy isn’t too hard on you? I know first trimesters can be tough; I went through it four times.” She laughs melodically as she removes her coat and Josephine, one of Marianne’s helpers, takes it.
“Actually, it’s going pretty well. I don’t really have any of the normal symptoms yet.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Wow, you really are lucky. Pray they never come.”
We head into one of the sitting rooms where Eden and Marcus, her husband, are sitting with drinks in hand. Marianne comes over the moment we sit down, asking for our drinks of choice. Phoebe asks for a glass of wine while I take an iced tea.
“We set up Joshua in the theater room with his tablet, I hope that’s all right?” Eden asks me once I take my seat beside Phoebe, leaving room for Shane.
“Of course. I don’t think Shane would mind in the least,” I say and smile to Marianne when she hands me my glass.
“Oh, I don’t care what my brother thinks.” She laughs with the flap of a hand. “But this is your home as well, you have a say in these things too.”
“Oh…” I flush a bright pink. “Well, then, yes, it’s okay.”
“You should probably think about setting up a game room or something for the number of kids that will start coming around here.” Shane’s other sister comes into the room with a light brown-haired man. “Shane said your friends all have kids as well?”