Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,61
for two of the people who had always shown her what love and family should be like. She used to daydream about what it would be like to be Ben’s girlfriend. Now she knew. He’d held her hand throughout dinner, whispered private jokes, and kissed her openly—and also just below her ear, teasing her with a tantalizing slick of his tongue after each whispered secret. She had never felt so close to him. She should have known it would be this beautiful between them. Ben had forever been draping an arm over her shoulder or taking her by the hand, leading her places, or letting her use his chest as a pillow. They may not have shared kisses or tongue action when they were just friends, but they’d always been right there by each other’s side.
“It was incredible,” Bridgette said, bringing Aurelia’s mind back to the conversation about their honeymoon. “The pool at the resort had a waterfall and a view of the ocean.”
“We want to take Louie there one day,” Bodhi said, reaching for Bridgette’s hand.
“I don’t want to never leave a hotel room,” Louie said with a mouthful of pie, making everyone laugh. “I could stay with Zane and Willow again. Or with Uncle Benny and Auntie Aurelia! They have a baby now, and I love Bea!”
Aurelia held her breath, wondering who was going to explain to him that she and Ben didn’t live together, even if it looked that way.
“So, Mom,” Talia said, apparently oblivious to Aurelia’s worries. “How was the Monroe House?”
“Hm?” Roxie looked up, sharing another secretive smile with Dan.
“The inn,” Talia said. “Was it as great as it looked online?”
“Oh yes,” Roxie said with a blush. “The lobby was nice, and room service was really good.”
Ben and his siblings exchanged uncomfortable glances.
“Efficient,” their father added, staring down at his empty plate. His gaze darted to Roxie, and they both tried to stifle laughs.
“Ugh!” Ben threw down his napkin and said, “I can’t unhear that.”
“Or unsee it.” Piper set down her fork and said, “Time to clear the table.”
“It’s just S-E-X,” Roxie said with a roll of her eyes.
“Ew,” Ben and his siblings said in unison as they all pushed to their feet and began clearing the table.
Roxie sat back, laughing softly, and said, “Where do you think y’all came from?”
“I for one do not want to think about that at all,” Willow said as she carried her plate to the kitchen.
“They came from you and Grandpa,” Louie announced. “When two people love each other they make babies, like Mom and Bodhi and Ben and Aurelia.”
Aurelia looked at Ben, who shrugged as if he was at a loss about correcting Louie’s assumption, too. Luckily, Bea whimpered, waking up from her nap in the playpen and giving Aurelia the perfect excuse to escape the other surprised looks.
“I’ll get her!” Louie pushed from his seat and ran toward the playpen.
Bodhi followed him over and said, “I’ll get her, Aurelia. I haven’t had any baby time yet. Louie and I can hold her together.”
Ben headed for Aurelia just as Bridgette sidled up to her and said, “Do you and Ben want us to clear that up for Louie?”
Ben put his arms around Aurelia, looking at her like she held the answer. “Should we let him think she’s ours?”
Oh boy . . . This was big. Her pulse raced at the prospect of what his question implied, but she forced herself to slow down and think rationally. “As good as that feels to my heart,” Aurelia said, “my head tells me it’s not right. One day Bea needs to know the truth, and you don’t want Louie to feel like we lied to him.”
A smile curved Bridgette’s lips. “Oh, big brother, you have no idea how lucky you are.”
As Bridgette walked away, Ben brushed his lips over Aurelia’s and said, “I know exactly how lucky I am.”
“How lucky we both are,” she corrected him.
He kissed her tenderly, and then he went back to helping with the table. Aurelia glanced at Bodhi, crouched beside Louie and holding Bea. She looked even tinier in his massive arms.
Bridgette sidled up to Aurelia again and said, “It’s a nice view, isn’t it?”
“It’s like the Incredible Hulk holding a Cabbage Patch doll.”
Bridgette rubbed her belly and said, “Soon I’ll be able to see that wife porn every day.” She sighed dreamily. “Gosh, Aurelia. I’m so in love with that man.”
Aurelia’s gaze fell on Ben as he picked up a pile of plates, his eyes