Queen of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #4) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,269

Saint’s cake, tossing me a mischievous wink as he headed into the kitchen.

Saint sat in a deck chair beside me, smiling as he watched the kids play with Cooper and Blake. Beau was still sleeping serenely in the cot between us and Saint had his hand hanging down into it, his fingers brushing over our youngest’s hair absentmindedly.

When Mila and Danny went off to play with the kids, I reached under my chair to where I’d stashed one of Saint’s presents, holding it out to him in the glitzy silver wrapping paper. “I got you this.”

He arched a brow, taking it and picking gently at the cellotape instead of tearing into it. “Is this something I can open in front of the kids?” he murmured.

I laughed, nodding. “They’ll probably try and steal it from you though.”

“Well that doesn’t mean it is suitable for them. Do you remember last Christmas when MJ found that new dildo I bought you and used it like a chew toy?”

“Saint,” I hissed, glancing at the in laws as laughter burst from me.

He smirked like the devil then opened the present and took out the Action Man figure inside which was just like the one he’d told me he had as a kid. One that Troy had taken from him. It had a car and a gun and I’d written the name Clive on the box with a kiss.

His eyes widened and his lips parted. “You bought me Clive?” He looked to me in adoration as I smiled.

“Yep. Do you like him?”

He nodded, his throat working as he stared at it. “Yes, siren, it’s perfect. Thank you.”

A shriek came from Hope as MJ dumped a bucket of sand over her head and Rowan dove on him like a little beast. Before he could land the first punch, Blake whipped him into the air and gave him a stern look while Mila laughed, working to get the sand out of her baby’s hair.

MJ ran away from the scene of the crime, the sun glinting off of his golden hair. He ran to Saint who scooped him into his lap, not seeming to care at all about how sandy he was as he placed a kiss on his forehead.

“You’re such a softy,” I teased, reaching over to squeeze Michael Junior’s pudgy arm. He was so damn squishy.

“Happy birthday to you,” Nash started singing and we all joined in as Kyan came running out in a white shirt which was on backwards, clear Saint bait. He was such an asshole. Why did I love it so much?

Everyone joined in singing while Saint stiffened in his seat, despising this custom as everyone sang out of tune and stared at him. But the kids loved it so he accepted it for their sake.

Nash presented the squid cake to him as the song came to an end and Saint’s eyebrows descended.

“Oh for the love of Christ,” he muttered. “Must we do this rigamarole every year?”

“It’s tradition,” I said with a smirk.

“Skid, skid, skid!” MJ started chanting as he reached for the cake and Saint shook his head and cracked a smile.

“You’ll be in trouble later, all of you,” he warned, giving Nash a pointed look and I chuckled as Saint lifted MJ up to let him blow out the candle on top of the cake.

“Ohhhh, I wanted to blow out the candle,” Caesar complained as he crowded closer with the others.

“Well we can light it and do it again,” I suggested just as Rowan ducked between Nash’s legs and shoved his hands into the icing at the back of the cake. It toppled forward and I gasped, lunging desperately to try and catch it but it was too late as it smashed all over MJ and Saint’s lap.

Rowan burst out laughing as MJ squealed in delight and the rest of the kids dove on them to grab a piece of the exploded cake. Saint grinned at the carnage and I picked up a piece of cake, holding it to his lips.

“You look good in red,” I purred and he took a savage bite out of the cake as Nash snapped a photo.

“I want some!” Blake pushed to the front, grabbing a handful off of Saint’s crotch and he cursed.

I gazed around at my family as Blake pushed a piece of sweet strawberry cake between my lips and I was sure my life couldn’t possibly get any sweeter than this.

“You know what would balance out our family?” Kyan mused as he lifted me