milk, and a host of other healthy things in there. I wasn’t sure if they were just her preference, or if she was trying to make me live longer. Either way, it had reduced the space for beer by quite a bit.
“Looks like I need to buy another fridge just for alcohol,” I said.
“And put it where?”
“Well, with that pretty SUV you have, I’d imagine I’ll need a rather large garage now. It would be nice to have one for the bike anyway. Might need a second vehicle too, once we start having kids. No reason I can’t go ahead and plan for enough room to add an extra fridge and maybe one of those big chest freezers out there.”
She leaned against me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Only been here a week and look at you… already getting domesticated.”
I swatted her ass. “Watch it or I’ll show you just how undomesticated I am.”
“Promises, promises.” She giggled and pulled away when the doorbell chimed. “Looks like you’ll have to hold that thought for later. Much later. Once my dad and grandfather step inside this house, they won’t leave until it’s time to go to bed. And despite their age, neither one heads to bed at nine o’clock.”
“And just how do you know how late your dad stays up? Watching and waiting for a chance to sneak out?” I asked.
Her cheeks turned bright red. “No. More like the entire house and neighbors can hear him and my mom going at it. Definitely no issues with their sex life, and they’re noisy as hell. All. Damn. Night.”
I couldn’t contain my laughter, and I still hadn’t gotten control of myself by the time she let her family into the house. I wiped the tears from my eyes and went to greet them. One look at my face and Casper seemed highly amused.
“And what has you laughing like a hyena?” he asked.
“Trust me. You don’t want to know.” I shook my head. “Seriously. Leave this one alone.”
“Now you have to tell us,” Torch said.
“All right.” I glanced at Tink, who was frantically motioning for me to shut up. “Lyssa here was just telling me that she knows her dad stays up late because she, and apparently all the houses nearby, can hear him and her mom going at it all night long. It was the look on her face when she said it that made me laugh.”
Torch ran a hand down his face, but not before I saw the smirk. “Well, it’s not like she thinks the stork dropped her off.”
“You know, just because I’m old enough to know about sex and babies, it doesn’t mean I want to hear my parents down the hall every night,” Lyssa said. “It’s traumatizing.”
Torch winked at her. “Just remember that when you start having kids. Better only plan on having one and then abstaining the rest of your life. Can’t have you traumatizing my grandkids.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing he’d mentioned one grandkid, then no sex ever again on purpose. If he thought I was keeping my hands off Lyssa, he was going to be sorely disappointed. “We already decided we’re filling the house with kids. I’ll hire a therapist for them.”
Lyssa groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Why did I think it was a good idea to have them over? Now the three of you are going to team up on me.”
Casper patted her shoulder. “Better have girls or you’ll always be outnumbered.”
I smiled, thinking of a girl who looked just like her mother. Yeah, I definitely wanted that. Until it was time for her to date. Then I’d make sure I was armed to the teeth and whatever punk took her out knew the consequences of hurting her. I wasn’t about to let some unworthy motherfucker hurt my baby.
Shit.
I glanced at Torch, suddenly understanding how he felt.
Looked like I had a long road to travel, but one day, he’d realize his daughter meant the world to me and I’d do anything for her. Even die to protect her.
Chapter Eight
Lyssa
I eyed the items I’d pulled from the hobby store sacks and wondered what I’d gotten myself into. Note to self: Never complain I’m bored.
I picked up a small mallet, which was far heavier than I’d anticipated. I assumed it went with the large metal block and other items I’d found in that particular sack. Looked like I’d be Googling how to use it. It wasn’t that the idea of crafting something