Hers To Belong To, page 13
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“Thank you, Cassidy.” It’s late, and though we are emotionally spent, neither are ready for bed.
“For what?” I ask.
“Thank you for my children. For coming into my life and giving me what I needed when I didn’t know what I wanted. Thank you for giving my family those two gremlins to love. Thank you for forgiving me and letting me love all of you with my whole heart. Thank you for bringing me back to life. Just…thank you.” His head is in my lap, where I’ve been unconsciously running my fingers through his hair.
“Um, you had some participation of the child-making, you know.”
He chuckles. “I wish I remembered it. I’m sure those nights were one of the highlights of my life.” I pinch his nose as he snickers.
“I’m ready to tell you what I need to be one-hundred percent again.” He worms around until he is looking at me from a perched elbow. “Are you ready to hear it?” He reaches out with his free hand and tucks a strand of hair back out of my face. My stomach twists into a knot.
“Sure,” I shrug, though I’m sure he sees through my ruse.
“I need you, Cassidy. All of you. Not just as the mother of my children, but you. I may not remember how we met or much of anything, but I swear my soul recognizes you. It always has. I fought against it, tried to deny it, but I know how I feel. I can’t get you out of my head; I don’t want to. I want to try with you. Let me prove that I can be what you want, again.” His eyes are glittering in the low light.
“I’m scared, Ayden. What if it doesn’t work out? It will affect the kids, don’t you think?” I chew my lip, and he tugs it free.
“What if it does? Isn’t that the risk in any relationship? Are you trying to tell me that before the accident, you were not willing to take a risk on me?” I squirm under his scrutiny. “I know you were, and so was I. I’m willing again, are you?”
Soooooo…this might be a good time to tell him that we are actually married. I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. I try again.
Nope. Nothing.
“Whatever you’re struggling with, you can tell me.” I take a breath.
“Can we take our time with this? Go slow?”
More like, let me come up with some way to tell you that I’m your wife. Ugh.
“Whatever you want. Can I keep kissing you and touching you?” He rubs his thumb over my lips. ‘We don’t have to take it any further. I can wait.”
“Ummm, Ayden?”
“Yes, love?”
“Has there um, been anyone?” I bite the inside of my cheek.
“No one.”
“Wait, really?”
“Hard to believe, yes? No one.”
“No one at all? Like not even a date?”
“Cassidy, there’s been no one.”
“But don’t you need to, you know?” I gesture to his area, which is suspiciously growing under my gaze. My eyes fly up, and he gives me that lazy glamorous smile. “I didn’t say that I didn’t. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Though I’m almost positive it’s nothing compared to the heaven of being inside of you.”
My face explodes in heat, and I cover my face with my hands. “Ayden!”
“That right there. The way you said my name. It’s giving me that feeling again. As if I know it or I’ve heard it before. My heart knows you, Cassidy. Let me prove it to you.”
I stare at him, remembering our wedding in Greece and the vows we made. Kian doesn’t remember, but he was there too, as we wanted both of our children to be present when we committed to each other.
“Okay.”
“Really?” He sits up with a giant grin on his perfect face.
“Yeah.” I kiss him lightly and smile back before groaning.
“What is it?”
“Gemma. She’s never going to let me live this down.”
Thirty
Family
Thirty One
Ayden
“How far out are they?”
Cassidy’s hair has already come out of its elegant updo. Mum had her hairdresser come out this morning, coaxing Cass into a more refined style. It suits her high cheekbones and fantastic skin, but I prefer my wife as wild as she wants to be.
“Clayton texted about thirty minutes ago, so maybe another thirty?” She nods absently, eyes raking over every surface. “Mrs. Manning, all of the rooms are ready? The children’s rooms are child-proofed?”
“Yes, Miss Cassidy. Mrs. Grant requested that her youngest two sons be roomed together, and I thought Master Kian would enjoy having their eldest with him. But, of course, Phyl has triple-checked everything for safety.”
“And the adults?” She fiddles with her glasses, and I grab her hand into mine.
“They are in the Blue Room. Best in the house, with a beautiful view and custom claw foot tub. It’s on the same wing as yours, just further away.” Mrs. Manning checks off with her fingers and winks at me.
I called Nick about two weeks ago and asked if he wanted to come and celebrate Kian’s fifth birthday since his boys were close in age. He agreed right away, and Cassidy has been in a dither ever since. First, she was horrified that they were flying with their children, and Nicholas and his wife made sure to call and reassure her. She was slightly mollified but then the secondary panic set in.
“What if they don’t like me?”
We were getting ready to tuck the kids in when I turned to the doorway. “Darling, why wouldn’t they like you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they are mad at me for taking the children?” She shifts her weight from side to side in anxiety.
“My love, they know everything that happened—trust me. They are not blaming you at all. They’ve been through something similar, remember? Everyone who meets you loves you. So relax, ok?”
Of course, she didn’t and has spent the entire week worrying over nothing. Thomas recommended that I say nothing; listen and reassure her. I’m planning a surprise for her, and now I’m wondering if she will be angry or not. I don’t think she has gotten any sleep, and she’s driving the kids crazy trying to keep them clean. At one point, Kian whispered that his mother was “weird,” and Bash overheard, laughing loudly.
“The house looks wonderful, my love. You and Mum have done an amazing job. This is supposed to be fun, remember? So try to enjoy yourself?” I kiss her softly on the lips as Kian and Bash make disgusted noises. “Hush it, you two.”
There’s a horn from outside, and I peek out the window. A caravan of cars comes up the driveway, about six from what I can see. “What the hell? How many of them are there?” Cassidy whispers from behind me. I stifle a chuckle. “Let’s go outside and see, shall we?” I take her hand and lead her out the front door. Mina and Kian and already on the top step, and we stand behind them.
One family.
The Bentley stops smartly in front of us, and the back door opens before Clayton can jump out.
“Your Worshipfullness!”
Christ, he has started already.
“You’ve been here thirty seconds, and you’re already getting on my nerves.” Nicholas laughs heartily before helping his tiny wife out of the car. He leans in for a kiss which she provides willingly.
“Nick, will you leave him alone. Go help get the boys out of the van.” He salutes her with a slap on the rear before sauntering off the van behind us. She rolls her eyes and marches over to us, a broad smile on her pretty face.
“Hello, I’m MacKenna, but you can call me Kenna.” Her small hand is reached out in a shake, and I can see that she is nervous. I remember that Nick said that his wife and I had been particularly close and follow my instincts. “A hug, please. None of that shake nonsense.” I pull her in and give her a long but gentle squeeze. “I am happy to see you again.” A warm feeling settles over my chest, and I smile. Yes, I know this woman.
“And this is Cassidy,” I lay my hand at the small of Cass’s back in reassurance. It’s unnecessary as Kenna grabs her and gives her a long dancing hug. “I am SO happy to meet you. You have no idea how much these two try to gang up on me. I need a partner in crime.” She laughs loudly and pokes me in the chest. “This one loves to rile my husband up. I hope you have places we can hide.” She looks up at the house with a grimace. “On second thought, I’m positive you do.”
A wide, gorgeous smile crosses my wife’s face. “Don’t worry. I’m an excellent accomplice.”
“And who are these two?” MacKenna bends down until she is the children’s height. Because she is even smaller than Cassidy, it’s not very far.
“I Mina,” Little Miss tells her, reaching out and touching Kenna’s freckles. “Dis Kian, Mama, and Daddy.” She points a suspiciously dirty finger at each of us, out of order, but still ever the hostess.
“Well, hello, munchkin. I’m happy to meet you. Kian, I have three rowdy boys who will need you to keep them in line. Do you think you can do that for me?” She smiles at my son, who immediately blushes. “Yes, Miss Kenna.”
“Awww, you can call me just Kenna. We’re going to be besties, right?” She runs a hand over his hair, and our prickly boy melts and nods. Then, she stands to her full height and winks.
“Mom?” A tall boy with his father’s exact face and green eyes comes up behind her. He takes her hand and inspects us all with suspicion.
“Zay, this is Daddy’s friend Ayden and his family. Miss Cassidy, Little Mina, and this is Kian. You’re going to be bunking together.” He nods at Kian, who gives him a brief wave. He takes a long look at Mina, who has decided to meet everyone on her terms, has left the steps, and is headed toward Nicholas.
“Hiiiii!” Nicholas turns around with his last son in his arms and looks down. His whole face changes, a soft loving expression on it.
“Hello, sweetheart.” She lifts her arms, and he immediately picks her up, holding her tightly. He herds the other two boys with one hand.
“This is Erik, but we call him Rix,” she places a hand on a dark-headed boy, and it’s clear that this is her child. He is her down to the freckles on his nose. “Nick, where is Remy going?”
“I’ll get him, Mom.” Zay takes off in a sprint chasing after his brother, and Kian follows behind. Rix stays where he is, at his mother’s side.
“I hope that you don’t mind that we brought so much with us. We have our nannies with us and Carla, Nick’s assistant. And with all of our luggage, we must look like a circus has come to town. We are still missing one car, aren’t we, Nick?” She turns toward her husband, who is staring at my wife.
“Hello, Cassidy,” he greets as he leans forward and kisses her cheek. He’s got a death grip on Mina, who is perfectly content to let him hold her. “Ayden, she is entirely too beautiful for you.” Cassidy blushes, and I smile.
“I know. “ I kiss her on the temple and take a deep breath.
“Dude, did you just sniff your wife?”
I scowl. “ I did. She smells amazing. Don’t tell me that you don’t do the same thing.”
Kenna pipes up. “ He sleeps with one of my shirts sometimes. Total teenage love affair stuff.” Cassidy bursts out laughing at Nick’s expression.
“Baby, didn’t we talk about keeping our bedroom stuff private,” his voice is pained, but his wife looks serene.
“Whatever. It’s family. Oh, look. The last van is here.” A dark-tinted van pulls up to the side of Clayton and idles.
“ Cassidy, I think this one is for you,” Kenna winks. Cassidy frowns, but before she can take a step, the door slides open, and a curly redhead pops out. “Gem?”
“I’m here! Where are my babies??”
“Don’t try to hog them, Gemma. I will fight you.”
“Brin?”
“Who else would it be? Are you going to stand there or come and hug me?”
And wouldn’t you know it? My wife bursts into tears.
Thirty Two
Cassidy
“Will you just look at them?”
I look up from the pictures I’ve been snapping on my phone. The whole gang is gathered in the massive Great Room of Del Barrow House. I’m sitting on a long couch with Gem while Brin and Kenna are chatting on a pair of chaise lounges. The children are scattered all over the room, running and playing, dodging in and out of doorways, and laughing. All except Mina, who is still wrapped up in her new boyfriend, Nick.
All of my worries about the Grants went out of the window within the first minute. MacKenna is nothing like what I expected. She’s short like me, with great hair and a wicked sense of humor. Even with three boys, she curses like a sailor though, she curtails it around the kids. She’s a movie fiend, loves sports, collects sneakers, and is totally one hundred percent in love with her gorgeous husband. She’s got a thick New York accent and talks with her hands a lot. A complete badass.
It was actually her idea to bring my sisters along for the trip. She knew that this was an important day for the family, but that my anxieties were preventing them from flying out. Ayden arranged for a jet to fly them from the Bay to Chicago, where they hitched a ride with the Grants. Brin told me about all of the extra safety measures that he’d taken and I teared up. Even without my knowledge, he took care of my fears. A long-standing icy wall of fright has started to melt.
“Who are we looking at?” I ask my sister who sighs in love
“Who? Them!” She points across the room in wonder and I crack up.
Nick, Bash, and Ayden are sprawled in front of the fireplace chatting. Bash is elegant as ever in custom trousers and a cashmere sweater while Ayden is more casual in trim jeans (that do wonders for his ass) and a thick fisherman-type pullover. Nicholas is also in jeans but paired with a simple black t-shirt. His long legs are stretched out in front of him, wild curly hair pulled into a half-bun. They are quite a trio.
“I mean, I could make serious money off of a calendar of just Nicholas’ arms as he sips that whiskey.” MacKenna overhears and snorts in laughter. “And the way he is playing with Mina’s hair? Ovary explosion.” She makes a blowing-up pantomime with her fingers. “You can’t tell me there is room on earth right now with sexier men.” She takes a long sip of her hot chocolate, lusting from a distance.
“Gemma has always been boy crazy,” Brin states rolling her eyes. “She’ll flirt with anyone.”
“I just appreciate the male form. And you can’t tell me that those three aren’t prime specimens. Why do think there are so many kids running around here? The stork didn’t drop them off.” She snaps her fingers and rolls her neck at our sister.
“Gemma!” Kenna is howling like a coyote and I’m holding my sides in laughter. “Do you have to be so horny all the time?” Brin is frowning up a storm.
“Yes, I do. I’m going to get my eyeful this week, and I’m not ashamed of it either. Speaking of kids, when are you and Ayden going to have another one?” I spit out my tea and cough hard. Gemma reaches over and pounds my back.
“Darling, are you alright?” Ayden calls from across the room. I give him a thumbs up.
“Mama arms up!” Mina says holding her little arms in the air. I put my arms up to make her happy and get myself under control.
“That accent is a baby maker by itself.” Kenna smiles over her cup.
“Stop it. We aren’t at that point in our relationship yet,” I hiss out. Kenna’s eyebrows shoot up.
