Promises (The Kings of Guardian #14) - Kris Michaels Page 0,21

wasn’t yours?” She leaned forward, her eyes brilliant with unspoken emotion.

“God, Jilly, I really get a kick out of all the kids here at the ranch. I mean, yeah, I think I could. What about you?”

She nodded, and tears formed in her eyes. “I remember Cliff when he took us in. He was impossible. He didn’t know how to cook. He tried way too hard to get us to like him, but he was there for us. Every day, he got up, and he was there for us. When we were happy or sad or when we threw tantrums because we were lost and confused, he was right there. He never wavered. I know I could do that, that we could do that. We can be that person. We could be there for a child who needed someone.”

“We’d need to clear it with Guardian. If need be, we can build a house in Hollister so the kids could have a stable life but still be segregated from the business side of Guardian.” Drake smiled and leaned forward to kiss her.

When he pulled away, she whispered, “You’d be willing to leave Dixon and move off the ranch?”

“In a heartbeat. Dixon has a wife, and from what you’re telling me, they may start working on a family. I’ll always live close to him, but I don’t need to live in the same house. We can start looking for house plans and a plot of land.”

“Are you sure?” She put a hand on his cheek.

He stared into her beautiful, expressive eyes. “I’m positive. Let’s research our options and find out what we need to do. I want a family with you.”

He leaned back in for a kiss as he heard people laughing outside the aircraft. “Hold that thought.”

She groaned. “All the way to Aruba?”

“No. Just to D.C. We’re spending the night and then flying to Aruba.” He lifted his eyebrows suggestively.

Jillian drew a deep breath. “Drake?”

He stood up and glanced at the three couples and one little girl walking toward the plane. “Yes?”

“Fly fast.”

He groaned and palmed his hard cock, adjusting himself out of the view of the latecomers. It was going to be a long damn flight. He wondered how fast he could push Gracie. It was about time to find out.

Jade King picked up a red bikini top and wrinkled her nose. The barely-there material would be okay in an adult-only setting, but her nieces and nephews would be running around. Speaking of which… She dropped the red suit and grabbed a one-piece navy blue suit with white stripes as she yelled, “We aren’t going to do the beach.” She tossed in two more one-piece suits and grumbled, “I get sand in places sand should never be.” A stack of shorts and summery tops and a few nice dresses went in after the swimsuits. She leaned back and hollered, “I’m decreeing dibs and we are staking out chairs at the pool. I pity the person who tries to usurp me this time. I want that corner near the palm tree. That’s where the alcohol is.” She muttered the last part to herself. She loved her brothers’ and sister’s kids, but they made her nervous. How she got roped into saying she’d take a day with another couple to watch the older ones was beyond her. Oh, right. Too many damn mimosas after their impromptu breakfast in Jazz’s room. “Hey, we, meaning you, are on tap to help with the kids one day in the next two weeks.”

She sniggered to herself. Nic was great with kids; he’d have a blast. When there was no reply, she headed out to the family room. The huge sectional with magical cushions from heaven had cradled them to sleep too many times to count.

Well, that’s why he didn’t answer her. That damn game again. The newest zombie apocalyptic game was blazing across the projection screen. Nic was so engrossed that he didn’t even acknowledge her when she stood beside him. Yes, this was her man-child. A massive explosion sent zombie pieces flying across the screen. Gross. She hip-checked him and he glanced up at her. He shouted, “I’m a god! I just completed level thirty-seven!”

She flinched and pushed off his headphones. “Holy hell, stop yelling. I’ve just gone deaf. You said we needed to pack.”

“We are.” He pushed some buttons on his controller and stood up. “I was just taking a break. We are officially on vacation and I’m going to enjoy every minute.”

She sidled up