“No lie. She just figured out today how much her mom did to prop him up. Not only for his job, but for the kids, too. And the bastard never reciprocated. She built him up; he, pretty subtly, ran her down.”
“She dimmed her brightness to let her husband shine.” Ghost turned to study his woman.
Since she’d generously helped him out with the Shadowlands paperwork, he’d treated her to a spa day yesterday. She’d returned with fingernails and toenails a glowing blue that matched her eyes. Her skin was silky and perfumed…and far past his ability to resist.
He’d tumbled her right into bed and kept her there for hours.
Today, her lips were still slightly swollen. Beard-burn had pinkened her neck. Her tawny hair was pulled back into a tail, but escaped tendrils danced over her sunburned cheeks. When her daughter said something, her husky laughter bubbled out.
Maybe Valerie had dimmed her light for a while. Today, she was shining brighter than a midday sun.
After talking for a while, Rom checked his phone. “We need get going. If Luca doesn’t get to bed on time, he’ll be cranky tomorrow.”
After giving Valerie a kiss on the cheek, Rom collected Hailey, then Luca who called, “bye-bye” to everyone in the area.
Ghost sat down beside Valerie on the swing and put his arm around her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m good, really.” With no hesitation, she leaned against him, her gaze on the groups of people talking on the lanai. “I’d thought we’d have three or four couples, at most. This is crazy—but it’s fun, isn’t it?”
“It is.” He indulged in stealing a kiss because sitting with her was like entering a bubble of peace—something to be cherished by an old soldier.
Trotting over, Grant grinned at Ghost. “Luca’s a cool kid. As fun as Sophia.”
“You should call us when he comes here,” Connor stated. “We can keep him busy so you can talk with the grownups.”
“That’s a very nice offer,” Ghost said gravely. “His father said you guys are very good with Luca.”
“We’re practicing,” Connor said.
“I see.” Ghost considered the two boys. “And for what are you practicing?”
Grant’s grin was wide enough to show his missing two front teeth. Could a kid get any cuter? “We’re practicing for our new sister.”
Under Ghost’s arm, Valerie’s shoulders were shaking as she tried not to laugh.
Sitting at a nearby table, Nolan had heard them. “We’ve met a young lady—all of four years old—who will stay with us next week, and, if we’re good together, she’ll join the family.”
“We’ll be good,” Connor assured his adopted father, then grinned at Valerie. “Mama wanted to talk to you. Did you talk?”
“You know, we haven’t had a chance. Do you know where she is?” Valerie asked.
“Back there.” Grant waved at the gardens.
“I’ll show you.” Connor held his hand out.
Chuckling, Valerie gave Ghost a quick kiss, then took the small hand. “Lead on, my man.”
Ghost was totally unsurprised when Grant took her other hand. She could lure children in faster than a candy store.
As they left, Nolan told Ghost, “You have a hell of a woman.”
“Agreed. And you have great kids. It’ll be interesting to see them with a sister.”
“Oh yeah.” With a rueful expression, Nolan rubbed his neck. “We wanted to wait another year—gave them a dog instead—then Kari and Dan’s girl came along, and they remembered they wanted a sister.”
Kari and Dan’s two children were both adorable.
It’d be interesting in another fifteen years when all these girls reached dating age. It’d take a brave kid to ask out the hardass cop’s daughter. Or Z’s girls, for that matter.
Or…Nolan with a daughter? God help them all. “I look forward to meeting your new addition.”
“We won’t be the only ones adding on. I hear Sally and Andrea are pregnant.”
“So I hear.” Ghost’s smile faded as he considered the ramifications to the Shadowlands. “Hell. Scheduling is going to be a nightmare.”
“A nightmare is being optimistic.” With a tired grunt, Saxon dropped into a chair beside Nolan. “You’re screwed, dude.”
“I do not need bad news,” Ghost growled.
“Sorry, not sorry.” Unfazed, Saxon laughed. “Most of our Shadowkittens are in the thirties range. Means when their buddies have babies, they’re gonna get the urge.” He opened his fingers to mimic an explosion. “And then…baby boom.”
“Not helping.” Ghost gave the vet a dour stare.
Smirking, Saxon held up his hands. “Hey, I’m innocent. I’m not getting anyone pregnant—I’m single.”
“You are, aren’t you.” The question was why. The Dom had skills and charm, made a good living, and the submissives called