Chapter 27
ROSALIE
It seems like I’m one of the last to arrive as I step into the backyard where my mom’s party is being held.
The smell of grilled meat fills the air as my dad mans the barbecue, flipping burgers with one hand, while holding a bottle of beer in the other.
He’s with my uncle Brian—my mom’s brother—probably arguing over the best angle for perfect grill marks.
My mom is sitting at the patio table gesticulating wildly while talking to my aunt Teresa, while Teresa, who’s Sylvie’s mom, is hugging baby Olivia to her chest. I haven’t spotted Logan yet, but I can feel his presence.
My skin prickles with awareness, knowing he’s somewhere nearby, throwing his sexy pheromones in my direction.
“Pumpkin!” my dad calls. “Get over here.”
“Hey, Dad,” I say as I join him at the grill.
“Excuse me, Rosalie.” Uncle Brian scoots me out of the way. “Nature calls.”
My dad swings an arm around my neck, pulling me closer. He waits until my uncle is inside the house and then says, “I hear you have some news, kiddo.”
My eyes scan the yard, looking for my brother. “We still need to talk to Ry, so it’s not public yet.”
My dad smiles. “Logan mentioned that.”
He lifts his chin, directing my gaze over to the giant palm shading the back corner of the yard. Logan’s standing next to Sylvie’s husband, half-listening as he slowly undresses me with his eyes. My nipples instantly tighten, and I pray the lining in my bra is doing the trick to hide the evidence.
Chill out, you horny bitches. The whole family doesn’t need to know how badly you want Logan’s lips to wrap around you right now.
“Don’t worry,” my dad continues, saving my nipples from further scolding. “Your brother’s not here yet. Sounds like he’s been a slippery little weasel the last two days.”
“I’m sure he’s slipping into something,” I grumble. “Or someone.”
I’m glad my brother got another chance with Penny, especially after our last talk, but I may be a bit salty that Logan left my apartment for nothing last night.
It turns out, Ryan’s date went so well, he stayed the night at Penny’s.
And since she’s off work today, he was continuing their date this morning.
In other words, my brother wanted to get laid again before taking off.
My dad barks in laughter. “Good for him. Nothing wrong with starting your day with a little Morning Glory, if you catch my drift.” He wags his dark, bushy eyebrows.
I gag. “People in Tokyo are catching your drift, Dad.”
My dad is nowhere near as bad as my mom, but the man has a shocking number of euphemisms at the ready.
“Well, mum’s the word, sweetheart, but like I told Logan, I’m happy for you guys. It’s about damn time.”
“Thanks, Da—”
“Daddy, save me!” A loud squeal follows the lilting voice.
A second later, Hudson’s oldest daughter Lily races by, with two of my younger cousins in hot pursuit. Lily’s golden pigtails bounce with each step, her sparkly pink princess dress billowing behind her.
Hudson scoops her up, saving the damsel in distress, but then he takes her to the ground and starts tickling. The other two kids dogpile on Hudson’s back, trying to rescue their princess from the dastardly Tickle Monster—aka Hudson—as they all dissolve into a fit of giggles.
My ovaries swoon, and I finally get what Sylvie’s been saying all these months. She swears watching Hudson be a dad is one of her biggest turn-ons. According to her, anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a great daddy. Hence, why she’s always mauling him after the girls go to bed.
I smile as I take a moment to soak in the pandemonium of a Morales-O’Hare family gathering. It’s oddly comforting, the dependable chaos is reassuring, like a warm hug.
You know, if warm hugs felt like swimming in a washing machine during the spin cycle.
I make my way over to my mom, setting a wrapped gift on the table beside her and kissing her cheek. “Happy birthday, Mom.”
Logan’s deep, rumbly laugh rolls through me from somewhere behind us, and I have to resist the urge to turn around like a lovesick fool as a shiver rakes down my spine.
My mom’s eyes light up as she pats my hand. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Sylvie sidles up to me, tucking her arm into the crook of my elbow. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.”
Olivia stretches a chubby arm toward her mama, so Sylvie bends down to take her from my aunt. “Come here, my little lovebug.” She sighs as she breathes in her daughter’s sweet baby scent, placing a soft kiss on top of her dark mop of curls.
Then she tugs on my elbow with her free hand. “Excuse us, mothers. I need to harass this one for a minute.”
My mom and aunt chuckle as Sylvie drags me away. Once she’s deemed us out of earshot, she asks, “So, today’s the day, huh?”
“Guess so.” I shrug. “When the party dies down, Logan’s going to take him for a drink somewhere close by.”
“And once the overprotective ass knows Logan’s feeding you the D, everyone else can know?”
“Yep.” I smack my lips together, popping the P. “Minus the pornographic phrasing.”
She shifts Olivia in her arms, the baby babbling against her ginormous chest. “Well, good luck with that.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I run a finger over Liv’s tiny, soft hand. “How is it possible she’s grown so much in just a week?”
Sylvie snorts. “Because she never gets off the teat.” Olivia just happens to grab a handful of boob at that exact moment, proving her point.
I laugh. “Like father, like daughter.”
Sylvie grins, looking across the yard for Hudson. He catches her eye instantly, and they exchange a smoldering look so intense it should probably come with a warning label.
“Save it for when you get home, you hussy,” I tease.
She grins wickedly. “Or I’ll ask Grandma to watch her for a bit while Mommy and Daddy play hide the sausage in one of the spare bedrooms. Think Dr. Tate will give us a special box too?”
I groan, shaking my head. “You’re an asshole.”
“I try.” Sylvie pats Liv’s back, still grinning. “I can’t wait until everything’s out in the open. I think you two make a stupidly hot couple, and the world needs to see it. Oh, wait…they already have!”
“If you didn’t have a baby in your arms right now…” I bare my teeth and shake my fist in the air.
“You’d what?” Sylvie challenges, knowing damn well I’d never lay a finger on her. “Give me a purple nurple?”
I laugh. “Uh, no. I’m not going anywhere near your nurples. That’s your husband’s job.”
“What job is this, exactly?” a deep voice rumbles behind me.
I glare at Sylvie as Hudson materializes out of thin air, smoothly scooping the baby into his arms.
I arch a brow. “You knew he was right behind me, didn’t you?”
“To be fair, he just got here.” Sylvie winds her arm behind Hudson’s back, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure she’s copping a feel.
“How’ve you been, Rosalie?” he asks, pale green eyes dancing with amusement.
Yep, she’s definitely touching his ass.
He coughs into his fist—which was fake as hell—and honestly, I don’t even want to know what she just grabbed. “Sylv’s not giving you too much trouble is she?”
“No more so than usual.” I shrug.
His lips curve into a smirk. “Do you mind if I steal my wife for a bit? I could use her help with something.”
Sylvie pushes her tongue into her cheek, simulating a blow job. When Hudson looks down on her, she’s the picture of innocence, but I’m pretty sure he caught it in his peripheral vision.
She kisses Olivia’s forehead. “Wanna go see Grandma again? C’mon, sweet pea, let’s go do that.”
“Have fun.” I give them a little finger wave as they disappear to do unholy things in my childhood home.
Please don’t pick my old bedroom. My boy band posters have been through enough. Let’s just say they had to witness a certain quarterback’s infamous three-pump performance.
I shudder.
God, what the hell was I thinking back then?
I navigate through the commotion, greeting aunts, uncles, and cousins while sidestepping a group of kids more interested in playing tag than saying hello to a boring grownup. My aunts Camila and Tahlia, wave me over, practically vibrating with the need to spill the latest family gossip.
Oh, if only they knew.
A little while later, I toss my head back, laughing at my cousin Sofia’s latest online dating disaster, when a familiar buzzing sensation sparks beneath my skin. I can feel someone watching me, and I’d bet my delicious sangria those eyes are the prettiest pair of hazels I’ve ever seen.
My suspicions are confirmed when my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I pull it out, angling it away from any nosy eyeballs.
Logan: You look so fucking hot in that dress. Do you know how HARD it’s been keeping my distance from you? Spoiler alert:
I stifle a laugh. “I’m sorry, Sofia. I need to take this. I’ll find you in a bit, and we’ll finish catching up.”
“Okay,” she says.
I smile as I type my reply.
Me: Logan, we agreed it has to be like this until you talk to Ry after the party. We can’t risk it.
My core clenches when I read his next message.
Logan: I’m aware. But just know, every time I see that little sundress swishing across your legs as you walk, I’m imagining ducking my head under it and eating your pretty pussy until you’re soaking my face and screaming my name.
Jesus. This man and his filthy mouth.
Me: Save those thoughts for later. AFTER you talk to my brother.
“Rosalie, could you please grab some ketchup out of the pantry?” I look up to find the source of the voice. “We could use some more barbecue-flavored chips, too.”
I give my aunt Teresa a thumbs-up. “On it.”
Inside the house, the terracotta tiles beneath my feet glow from the afternoon sun. There’s a walk-in pantry between the large kitchen and formal dining room, so I head over there to grab what Aunt Teresa asked for.
Just as I twist the doorknob, a low voice behind me asks, “Need some help?”