Her acceptance of his compliment floored him. No belittling herself, no disparaging humor. She finally wasn’t discounting how he felt about her. He smiled and took a few steps forward.
“Thank you.”
“Joining me?” she asked, stepping into the glass-enclosed shower built for ten. Not really, but it was large.
He nodded.
And because he knew the time constraints that they were now under, he stayed strong and did not touch his wife’s luscious body. Well, maybe a few caresses, but that was all. And that was only after she did the same to him.
They quickly got dressed—Mia wearing a short white summer dress that showcased her tanned skin. He had to tame the beast when he saw that she put no bra on beneath it. He put on an aqua blue polo shirt and a pair of tan shorts. His summer uniform.
They were ready to make their appearance down at the party. While they were getting dressed, Ethan had heard the first guests arrive. Time to get their lazy butts downstairs indeed.
Heading down the back stairs, they ended up in the kitchen and Mia veered off to talk to the caterers while Ethan went out back to see his boys. He heard their joyous cackles as soon as he opened the door to the side yard. The boys were running about in their swim trunks, their excitement unleashed. They saw Ethan and bolted to him.
“Daddy! Can we go play now?” Pierce asked, pointing at the very large and very colorful inflatable water slide-slash-splash pool. Ethan wondered if it would support his weight because, damn, he wouldn’t mind a time or two on the slide.
“Where’s Bridgette?”
“Right here,” she said, coming out with towels and sun shirts for the twins.
“Are you set to watch them?” he asked her. She nodded just a little too excitedly and Ethan felt a stab of jealousy.
“You’re going on it, aren’t you?” he accused playfully.
“Just doing my job,” she said with a wink.
“Okay, boys! Off you go!”
And with that, Daddy was forgotten.
He returned to the house where his wife was still talking things over with the caterers. He knew how much she loved to cook and giving up the cooking reins to others was hard for her. Entering the kitchen, he offered his apologies and directed Mia to the living room. Luke and Allie were in there with Marty, his wife, Bekah, and his four-year-old step-daughter, Sydney.
Luke noticed them first and walked towards them, a wicked grin on his face. Ass.
“Happy birthday, Mia!” he announced jovially. “Don’t you look good and fucked.”
Allie burst out laughing, slapping her husband on the forearm. Mia turned a shade of red he’d never seen before. He liked it on her.
“Oh, sweets,” Luke said, noticing her embarrassment. “You know I mean that in the best of ways.”
He pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head and whispered something that only she heard and then her beautiful laughter filled the room. She left his embrace and continued to her bandmate who raised his eyebrows at her before a knowing grin covered his face.
Fuck. Of course, she would have told Marty about what happened. Ethan wondered if everyone coming knew about what he had done. He blew out a deep breath. Time to face the music.
“Happy birthday, brat!” Marty gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. Bekah wished her a happy birthday as well. Ethan stepped forward and greeted the couple and then bent down to address Sydney.
“I hope you brought your bathing suit because I happen to know that there’s an awesome water slide out back. Rory and Pierce are probably already playing.”
Her eyes went wide in excitement and then she looked up at her mother. “Please, Mommy?”
“Of course. Let’s get you changed.”
A few moments later, the doorbell rang again. Mia went to open the door and was greeted by a chorus of “Happy birthday.” She moved aside and in walked Marc and Lizzie with their two kids, plus Clark and Todd.
Damn it! He forgot that Todd would be here, forgot that he and Mia shared a birthday. Todd was easy with his affection for Mia, pulling her to him and hugging her. She looked up at her drummer and smiled brightly at him, her affection for him plain on her face. She wished him a happy birthday and rose up to kiss his cheek.
Ethan felt like he had just been kicked in the nuts. All his insecurities, the reasons why he’d cheated on