anyone speaking to Astrid like that.
“It’s fine, Jack. He didn’t mean it.”
Blake folded his arms. “No, I didn’t, and I’m sorry.” He eyed Jack. “Next time though, maybe keep my private life private.”
Alex slung his arm over Blake’s shoulder and knuckled his head, hard. “We’re family. We don’t have boundaries and congrats, man. Evelyn will be happy to have someone in this with her.”
“She already has Autumn with them both due so close together.”
Alex paled a little, and Jack fought the urge to laugh at his friend’s terror. “I know, and it’s only ten weeks to go. It’s scary and exciting.”
Jack loved to see his men so happy and becoming fathers, and he knew he’d do whatever it took to make sure they were around for those babies.
Astrid grinned at Waggs. “What about you, Waggs? You want more kids?”
Waggs held his hands up. “Wow, hold up. I haven’t got a ring on Willow’s finger yet, and we have already one that I’m still figuring out.”
“He’s adorable, though.”
She turned to Liam, who stepped back as he pointed a hand at Jack. “Jack, control your woman before she jinxes us all. I want Taamira and I to keep practising for a while before we jump on that wagon.”
Astrid laughed as Jack hooked her around the waist and brought her close for a kiss. He would never get enough of this woman, and a child with her sounded like something he’d like one day. “I could never control her, and I don’t want to. She’s perfect as she is.”
“Ah, Jack, that’s so…”
He placed a finger over her lips. “Don’t say it, firefly.”
She smirked and went to bite his finger, but he pulled it away and kissed her again.
“Get a room you two. Not everyone can have their girlfriend on the tour with them and it’s making us all feel like sad, heartsick losers.”
Jack pulled away and grinned at Liam. “Fine, keep me updated. I need to meet with Fitz about tomorrow.”
Lopez and Decker had already wandered off when the talk moved to babies.
“Sure thing, boss man.”
Jack walked beside Astrid as they left the room. “What time is your meeting with the Queen?”
She checked her watch. “An hour but I want to change first.”
“Okay. Let me walk you to our room before I meet Fitz.”
She looked at him shyly, and he realised how wrong he’d been about her. She had a wild streak, but it wasn’t a death wish as he’d thought. She wasn’t the reckless woman he’d perceived her to be. Oh, she had her moments, but he’d underestimated her in so many ways, and he felt guilty for it now.
“Why are you frowning again?”
He looked up, his eyes raised in surprise. “Was I?”
Her finger stroked the crease between his brow as they stopped at the door of the room they shared. “Yes.”
“I was just thinking how wrong I was about you. I thought you were out of control, had a death wish, but I was so wrong. I’m sorry about that, Astrid, I really am. Maybe if I’d opened my eyes and stopped being such a blind fool, we’d have found this sooner.”
Astrid shook her head. “Don’t be sorry, I wore that persona like an armour, still do in a lot of ways.”
“Not for me.”
“No, Jack, not for you ever again. You make me feel safe without it.”
“You will always be safe with me, firefly. I would give my life for yours.”
“I hope we never have to find out, but I feel the same way.” Her lips met his in a quick kiss. “Now go before I drag you back to bed and show you how much those words mean to me.”
“Rain check?”
“Absolutely, handsome.”
Jack left her at her door and went to meet with Fitz. When he arrived, the man was waiting with his leather-bound notebook in his hand. They spent the next fifty minutes going over plans until Fitz took a call.
He glanced up at Jack as he did, and Jack tensed for more bad news. “What?”
“The Queen would like you to join her and Astrid for afternoon tea.”
Jack closed his phone where he’d been making notes. “Do you know what this is about?”
Fitz shook his head. “I do not, no. I do know Her Majesty is rather taken with Astrid.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“Mmm, it seems that way.”
Jack checked his watch and the two men walked out of the room Fitz was using and down the hallway towards the room he unofficially shared with Astrid. He stopped and knocked, and she opened