He covered baby Brice’s ears. “Fuck off, Colonel.”
“Same to you.” He laughed. “Beer’s in the kitchen.
“Thank god!” Jack turned to his wife. “You all right here, mon coeur?”
Morgan smiled fondly. “I’ll come with you. Maybe Del brought some sparkling cider.”
The pair drifted deeper into the house, and Caleb turned to glance into the kitchen at the collection of family and friends, all eating, drinking, laughing, enjoying. Carlotta stood at the center of much of it, pouring beverages, handing out napkins, holding babies… God, she looked perfect in his world.
A loud honking outside signaled the arrival of the food. Caleb jogged outside, as did Tyler, Deke, and Logan, to help Luc and Alyssa in with the incredible smelling dishes that made him want to grab a fork and dig in now. Whatever Luc cooked, Caleb couldn’t wait to eat.
It didn’t take long before they had the banquet tables lined up in the great room with some folding chairs from the back of Luc’s van. Del and Kimber had brought tablecloths and paper plates. Morgan produced plastic flatware from a bag in her purse. Tara rushed back to the car to fetch the table centerpiece while Alyssa set up the food station in the kitchen, her daughter Chloe hanging on her leg.
The gorgeous blonde bent to pick up her daughter and brush some tears from her face. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Chloe pouted, her big blue eyes expressive. The girl would grow up to break hearts. “Boys.”
Caleb laughed. Seth and Cal were forever fighting for Chloe’s attention, but she sometimes got pushed or insulted when she wanted nothing to do with either of them.
“Here’s a boy who will always treat you right.” Alyssa turned to him with a smile. “Do you mind for a minute? I don’t want her to burn herself.”
Holding out his arms, he took Chloe from Alyssa’s grasp so she could finish setting up the food.
The little minx threw her arms around his neck. “Hi, Unca Caleb.”
“Hi, princess.” He kissed her cheek. “What is Santa going to bring you?”
“Lots of toys. And no boys.”
She’d changed her tune in a dozen years, but for now, he smiled and agreed.
The phone in his pocket vibrated, and Caleb shifted the little girl to one hip as he reached in to find the device and read the text from Hunter. “They’re hitting the edge of town now,” he told everyone. “They’ll be here in less than twenty.”
The party kicked into high gear then. Kimber rushed back to the car and produced a Christmas wreath for the front door. Deke followed with a nail, and they quickly hung it. Tyler and Logan trounced through the front yard, deciding at the last minute that it might be a good idea to string lights in the bushes. Delaney and Tara stood at the window watching them, shaking their heads.
“I’ve reproduced twice with that man,” Del murmured. “I hope the gene pool survives.”
Tara laughed. “I’m hoping we’ll add to it soon, so we’ll shallow it more. Then I’m sure I’ll be second-guessing myself, too.”
Del wished her good luck.
Out the big front window, Logan stopped to welcome someone who came up the walkway. Tyler greeted whoever it was as well. Caleb frowned. Were they expecting anyone else?
Finally, Logan opened the front door, and shouted, “More incoming.” Then he turned behind him. “Glad you came.”
His younger son bounded back outside to argue with Tyler about the lights, and Xander Santiago walked in the door. Caleb rushed forward. Chloe immediately started making starry eyes at the single billionaire playboy.
Xander, who’d walked in with a weary expression, laughed at Chloe. “That one is going to be dangerous.”
Luc strutted past, carting two more platters of food. “Don’t I know it! Anyone got a baseball bat? I’m suddenly feeling the need to start hitting teenage boys. Hey, Xander.”
The other man sniffed. “Hi. Smells good, man.”
“Thanks.” With a nod, Luc continued to the kitchen.
“So how have you been?” Xander asked.
“Doing good. Great in fact.” Caleb’s gaze slipped over to Carlotta, and he felt his smile widening.