“Aww, how sweet,” she was on him in a flash, plastering her sexy body against his. “No kissing. Makeup, remember?” She clutched his lapels and made love to him with her eyes.
Drawing back before he embarrassed himself by coming in his pants, he kissed the tip of her nose and gestured at the closed door.
“Your admirers await, milady. Shall we?”
He held out his elbow. She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and took a deep breath.
“Just family, right? No surprises?”
“You are correct. Just family.” He grinned, knowing what surprise awaited her.
They left the study and started down the long hallway. She matched her steps to his and clung to his arm. Her adoring glances made him feel like a god.
Laughter rang out as they neared the formal living room. Stan’s voice was loudest as he said, “Dad! Catch!”
As they came around the corner and stepped into the room, he heard Summer choke out a sound as their baby daughter sailed through the air while being tossed between his brother and father.
Dottie was taking cell phone pics, and his grandfather was choreographing the whole thing.
Ari, for her part, was giggling up a storm.
“Shit,” he murmured so only Summer would hear. “Your daughter is going to be a daredevil, isn’t she?”
“Says the ninja acrobat,” she replied.
Clearing his throat loudly for dramatic effect, he paused them in the archway until everyone looked their way, and he had their full attention.
“Look who I found wandering about,” he said in an announcer’s voice.
Dottie took it from there. “Summer!” she exclaimed. “You look like a princess! I love the coordinating outfits!” She pointed at the baby. “Brava!”
Everyone rushed forward at once, each gushing profusely about his sunshine lady’s beauty and charm. He was pretty sure at some point pride and pleasure made him puff up like rising dough.
Not only were diamonds a girl’s best friend but they were also a surprisingly potent aphrodisiac. Something about the cool stones on her skin gave her shivers and sent arrows of lust into her core. The pleased with himself Adonis glued to her side didn’t know it yet, but she was going to screw his brains out later wearing nothing but her sexy diamonds and the Jimmy Choos.
She’d never been a guest at a fancy dinner, so everything delighted her. When a waiter-waitress duo appeared to handle appetizer tray service, she pinched herself. Never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned her life taking such a luxurious turn.
The doorbell rang, and she noticed Arnie stand at attention. Wondering what made him react so, she followed the direction of his gaze. At first, she saw nothing unusual. Then Mrs. Estrada appeared in the archway.
“Captain Reed Warren,” the housekeeper announced a half a second before her brother strode into the room in his impressive Army dress blue inform. He removed his hat, slung it under his arm, and searched those gathered until he found her. His smile stretched from ear to ear.
“You clean up pretty good, twerp,” he laughingly greeted her and came to her side. He kissed her cheek, whispered, “Is the bling real?” and then gave Arnie a thumbs-up gesture.
“Reed, what the …?” She stammered. “How did you get here?”
The question was stupid, but she was too shocked for reason.
“Well, let’s see.” He tapped his chin and pretended to think. “Your baby daddy’s dad’s daddy called me with an invitation.”
She squinted and deciphered his word salad. Baby daddy was Arnie. Arnie’s dad was Ned, and Ned’s daddy was Pops. Looking straight into Darnell Senior’s happy gaze, she made a heart with her hands, and mouthed, “Thank you.”
Senior smiled and made a sweeping pointing gesture to Arnie, letting her know it was his grandson’s idea.
She looked into her man’s beautiful eyes. He was watching her with an intensity she felt in her bones.
Everyone crowded around them, Ari was passed from person to person, pictures were taken, alcohol consumed—just not by her—and appetizers devoured. When Mrs. Estrada gave them a ten-minute heads-up before dinner was served in the formal dining room, their happy family gathering was firing on all cylinders, and Summer couldn’t imagine a more wonderful night.
They took their seats around the dining table. Instead of one large flower display, there were small, square crystal containers lined up in the middle of the table. Each had a different arrangement of wildflowers, greens, and in a few, mini sunflowers. Flickering pillar candles set inside antique-looking crystal vases were interspersed with the flowers and gave off a warm glow.