Chapter 41 Aurora
Aurora
“They’re here,” Sadie singsongs from her seat across from me. “Look at them. A bunch of damn heathens.”
My guys enter the restaurant dressed impeccably, sporting fresh haircuts. Ethan is in his classic black suit and white button-down, a flashback to the night we met. Jax is wearing the tailored charcoal-gray suit he wore to his last game, since that’s what he had packed.
Then, there’s Reece in all black—jeans and combat boots, his usual tight-fitting T-shirt under his leather jacket. He’s straight off the cover of an MC romance novel and so damn hot.
Still… “Did you want him in a tux tomorrow?” I ask his sister.
“No. Have you seen my fiancé? I don’t care what my brother wears, just as long as he’s here.”
Her fiancé, who drove us to the restaurant while the guys were getting ready, is also covered in tattoos, with messy jet-black hair and a beard trimmed along his jaw line.
When they stand together—her delicate features against his rugged ones, her pale skin against his deep olive complexion—they make a gorgeous couple, drawing every eye in the room.
I sigh dreamily, satisfied to leave Reece exactly the way he is. “Okay.”
“I haven’t got a clue how you like three guys.” Harper adjusts Danny on her lap. He’s being shy with all the people here, his face tucked into her neck. “I can’t even stand one.”
“Don’t say that.” Sadie gives her a scowl. “You will, Harp. You just have to meet the right man.”
These two are night and day. Similar in appearance, opposites in personality.
Jax’s gaze sweeps across the dimly lit room, scanning faces until he finds mine. I rise from my seat and smooth down the silk dress that hugs my curves and accentuates my baby bump.
His expression transforms instantly—eyes widening, lips parting, as if the sight of me short-circuited his brain. That hungry, adoring gaze, the one he’s had since the day we met, never fails to make my heart flutter.
He breaks from his trance and strides toward me with purpose, weaving between tables and people. When he reaches me, he pulls me close and whispers, “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.” He presses a kiss to my neck. “Trying to make me bawl my eyes out in front of Reece’s family?”
Before I can formulate an answer, Ethan appears behind him, grabbing his collar and playfully yanking him aside. “Move.”
“Fuck it. Go ahead. I’m booking us a suite tonight,” Jackson mumbles, already on his phone. “This is some romantic wet dream shit right here.”
Ethan shakes his head in amusement then draws me in, his hand cradling my belly possessively. “You’re stunning. How are you feeling?”
“You clean up well yourself.” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “My feet hurt in these heels, but otherwise, I’m okay.”
He brings my knuckles to his lips. “Sit and take them off.”
I notice the clear wrapping on his ring finger, and my jaw drops. “You got a wedding ring tattoo?”
A flush creeps up his neck. “Later.” He steps back and shoves his hands in his pockets.
“Fine,” I relent. “I won’t embarrass you, but I love it. Where’s—” My words fade when my gaze connects with Reece.
He freezes mid-conversation with Cal on the other side of the table.
His dark gaze travels from my face to the curve of my belly then up again.
His jaw clenches, the muscles bulging, and my cheeks catch fire.
He approaches, his expression intense, almost predatory, and I bite my lip.
Maybe I should get out of leggings and sweatpants more often.
He towers over me, cups my chin, and tilts my face to his. “Princess.”
“Viking.” My gaze drops to his lips, and I gasp. “You got your lip pierced again.”
Silver metal glints at the corner of his mouth, the skin around it red and angry. Drawn to him like a magnet, I rise to my toes and press my lips to the small hoop. A surge of excitement races through me. I want to bite and tug it.
He inhales sharply and deepens the kiss. His tongue brushes mine, and the restaurant chatter becomes distant background noise. Rarely is he unrestrained, and never in public. I like it—a lot.
“Excuse me.” A deep voice cuts through the haze. “I believe you’re in front of our seats.”
Reece jerks away, as if electrocuted. His entire body stiffens, and his stoic mask snaps into place. The transformation is immediate and jarring, from loving to rigid in the blink of an eye.
An older couple stands behind him—the man with silver hair, wearing a decorated military uniform, and the woman in a long floral dress, her blonde hair in a perfect chignon. It’s clear who they are, not only from Reece’s reaction, but from his father’s broad shoulders and tall stature.
They stare at our group with mild annoyance, his mother with a tight smile, not yet noticing their son among us. Jackson shuffles closer to Ethan, creating space for them to sit, and casts me a knowing glance.
Mr. Abercrombie pulls out a chair for his wife, and, on her way to her seat, Maryanne’s gaze flickers between Reece and me.
Her hand flies to her mouth. “Reece?” Her expression shifts from disbelief to shock to utter confusion. “I didn’t even recognize you. What happened?”
What happened? Huh?
He acknowledges his parents with a curt nod. “Mom, Dad.” His voice is clipped, formal, devoid of warmth.
My hand finds his, our fingers intertwining, his grip on me almost painful.
His mother steps closer, her eyes widening. “I saw pictures, but… Is that—” She squints. “Is that a name on your head?” She clutches her pearls—literally.
Reece turns to me. I lean over, and sure enough, he has my name tattooed on his scalp, blending with the intricate designs that climb up his neck. I don’t know how I missed it. Apparently, I was too preoccupied with kissing him.
I can’t help but grin. “Te amo,” I mouth.
His eyes soften, and he mouths it back. “Te amo.”
The pastor stands ramrod straight, his hand gripping the chair, his military background evident in every inch of his posture. “That’s…quite a statement, defacing your body.”
Anxiety and awkwardness swirl in my gut. Reece’s jaw tightens, but he remains silent.
There’s no affection between any of them, and although his father frightens me and I’m nauseated, I extend my hand. “Hi. I’m Aurora. It’s lovely to meet you.”
His father doesn’t so much as glance at me.
His mother clasps my hand between both of hers, her touch warm and gentle. “It’s nice to meet you, dear. You look nothing like your pictures online.”
I don’t even know what to say. Thank you?
***
Jackson
Sadie claps her hands. “Everyone, sit! The first course is about to be served.”
Ethan insists on sitting next to Aurora, who’s beside the Viking. That leaves me on the other side of Ethan, the farthest from Reece’s parents.
Which is good, because I’m spiraling a bit, my mind drifting. Reece having a mother is stirring up something inside me. She’s alive and has no relationship with him. It’s gut-wrenching.
His father is intentionally intimidating.
He didn’t shake Aurora’s hand, refused to even acknowledge her.
He wore that uniform knowing what Reece has been through.
It’s a slap in the face. He’s screaming, “Hey, look at me! I made it to retirement and you didn’t.
” I bet he wasn’t whatever Reece was—a medic or special forces or some shit.
I understand now why it was natural for Reece to care for Aurora—he cares for his sisters.
They parent each other. Harper chastises him, and he gives the girls the affection they don’t receive from their mother and father.
Sadie is accepting, accommodating, and cheerful, probably the one who kept the peace in the family.
Maryanne seems clueless, but I think it’s an act to avoid her husband’s wrath.
I’m assuming this based on a few minutes of interaction, but I hate them—well, maybe hate is too strong a word, but I dislike them very much. They should be hugging their son, fawning all over him. Reece may have tattoos and piercings, but he’s a hero, for fuck’s sake. He’s one of the good ones.
I lean into Ethan. “Do I have to be polite?”
“Yes.” He keeps his gaze forward. “For now.”
He smells delicious, and I want to lick him all over. I lay my hand on his thigh. He gives me a sidelong glance but doesn’t push me away. I move higher, and he snatches my wrist.
His lips twitch with amusement. “Stop it.”
Danny fusses, wanting food, but he refuses to eat the appetizers brought out.
Aurora isn’t eating the crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms either.
She dislikes slimy fungus and won’t risk eating seafood while pregnant.
I end up devouring her portion, forgetting to wait for Mr. Abercrombie to say grace.
I’m starving. I’m an athlete and a husband of two; I require a high-calorie intake.
Reece grabs a basket of rolls and places one on Aurora’s plate, another on his. He reaches out to his sister. “Harp, let me hold him so you can eat.”
“Where is Daniel?” his father asks Harper, his voice laced with exasperation. “Where is your husband?”
Mr. Abercrombie reminds me of those preachers you find on television at three a.m., red-faced and screaming about the Holy Ghost, spittle flying from his mouth. I had a coach like that once, and I couldn’t stop laughing whenever he became enraged.
Harper doesn’t answer. Instead, she glances at her brother across the table.
“Don’t look at him. Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Tack on the word ‘boy,’ and Reece’s father sounds exactly like Kyle. I’m sure I’ve said something similar to Aurora. Sometimes, the bastard comes through my mouth. No wonder Reece hated me.
My brain trips, imagining what it might’ve been like to have a sister growing up with Kyle. I quickly push the thought away—nothing could’ve been worse.
I know Reece’s father isn’t Kyle, because the Viking would’ve killed him—burned him alive, that’s what I would’ve done if anyone touched my sister.
The pastor continues to badger Harper, just loud enough for our group to hear. “Don’t expect your brother to take care of you the way he did Sadie. He won’t have a job much longer with that metal in his face and that name on his head. Return home.”
Aurora lowers her gaze, her hand on her stomach, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Ethan places his arm around the back of her chair, and she peers over at him appreciatively, eyes glassy.
Reece bites the piercing in his lip and tugs the hoop. “I’ll make sure Harper has everything she needs. Leave her alone.”
“You’ve done enough,” his father mutters out of the corner of his mouth. He unfolds his napkin with a sharp snap and places it on his lap. “We drove several hours to be here. Your mother was so excited, and you show up with…”
Danny cries, drowning out his words, and my knee bounces. I clench my teeth to keep from saying something. Instead, I reach for my water and take a long swig.
“Daddy,” Sadie pleads. “Not tonight. Can we have dinner together for once?”
Daddy? Is that a Southern thing? Gross. I once heard Emily call Killian ‘Daddy,’ and I threw up a bit in my mouth.
Maryanne leans over the table, shielding Harper from her husband. “Harper had the most beautiful wedding at our church,” she tells Aurora. “I can’t wait for you to visit. We just started decorating the nursery. You’d love it.”
What is happening right now? Is she legit crazy? Aurora will not be visiting. She’s about to have a panic attack.
Ethan grips my leg to ease my agitation. “Go get Danny, please.”
Thank fuck. I push back my chair, the legs scraping the floor with how fast I move. “Hey, Danny the Dinosaur,” I call out to get his attention. “Wanna color?”
He reaches for me, and I lift him into my arms.
“Do you have his markers?” I ask Harper.
“That’s unnecessary,” Reece’s father interjects. “If she wants to be a single mother, she should learn to take care of him on her own.”
He has thick, gray caterpillar eyebrows that wiggle when he talks. I picture my fist slamming into one when I punch him. Creepy and prickly.
Harper’s cheeks flush. “I do! I always have.”
He leans in, crowding Maryanne. “Then he needs a father’s discipline. He’s already behind other children his age.”
I lose my temper. I hold Danny tighter and press his head to my chest to block out the noise. “He’s four,” I snap. “He’s hungry and tired. Leave them alone.” I echo the Viking, though I’d much rather tell his father to fuck off.
Face contorted in fury, Mr. Abercrombie tosses his napkin on his plate and rises.
Reece bolts from his chair. “Dad—”
Ethan’s hand slams onto the table, the sharp crack of his palm rattling silverware and glasses. “Sit down,” he snarls.
Everyone freezes. Even Danny stops crying, his pupils wide as I bounce him gently. Reece drops to his seat. Aurora gawks at our boyfriend, stunned.
Ethan’s stormy eyes fixate on Reece’s father, his expression thunderous. “We’re here to celebrate Sadie and Cal’s wedding. If you can’t show basic human decency, then perhaps you should leave.”
Maryanne’s hand flies to her throat. The waiter pauses with our meals, tray on his shoulder.
The pastor’s face turns crimson. “Excuse me? Who do you think—”
“I don’t think. I know,” Ethan cuts him off, tone deadly.
“I know a man doesn’t berate his children.
Reece is family. He protects those I love; there’s no greater honor.
I won’t tolerate you belittling him, and I definitely won’t tolerate whatever you thought you were doing when you stood from that chair. ” His steely gaze is unwavering.
Something swells in my chest at him standing up for me—and Reece, but mostly me—and I can’t help the smug smile that tugs at my lips. He loves me, and it’s so damn hot.
“Dad. Sit,” Reece says, quiet but firm, “or leave.”
“Daddy, please,” Sadie begs.
With a scowl, he sinks into his chair, nostrils flaring with each heavy breath.
Ethan faces forward and straightens his suit. “Sadie. Cal,” he gives a polite nod, “my apologies. Everyone, let’s eat.” He gestures to the waiter. “I’m starving.” Those intense eyes find mine. “Come here.” He juts his chin.
Is it wrong that I hope I’m in trouble?