by Toni Aleo
Stopping in front of a glass case, he could see that the girl behind the desk couldn’t agree more.
“Sir, can I help you?”
Erik nodded. “Yeah, I need a mom ring,” he barked as he hauled Katarina up into his arms. The wiggly one-year-old didn’t want to be held though and promptly smacked him in the head. “No, that’s not nice.”
“Not nice!” Dimitri yelled and Erik rolled his eyes. The kid was his own personal parrot. He copied anything and everything Erik said, and usually that got him in trouble.
Katarina’s little lip quivered, and then she wailed at the top of her lungs. Trying to soothe her, he looked back at the salesgirl and said, “Mom ring, August birthday and a July birthday.”
“Platinum, white gold, or gold?”
“Platinum, big stones, diamonds, and the prettiest you got.”
“Prettiest you got,” Dimitri said.
“Price limit?”
“There isn’t one,” he said, and when she smiled, he shot her one back.
Then Dimitri added, “There isn’t one.”
The girl gave Dimitri a sweet smile before walking away and Erik shook his head.
“You need to cut that out.”
“Cut it out.”
“No, you cut it out.”
“No, you cut it out.”
“You’re copying me.”
“You’re copying me!” he cheered before grinning extra big. Erik shook his head in disbelief just as Katarina dumped her drink down the front of his jacket.
“Lovely, my love.”
“My love!” was Dimitri’s comment, while Erik’s sweet baby shot him a little grin.
Chuckling, he decided it was lovely. She was his princess and Dimitri was his little dude. They both drove him insane, but they were his. Just as Piper was his too. Erik kissed Katarina’s cheek, and she cuddled into his neck as the girl brought back a few rings.
“Here you go, we can have it all ordered and ready before Christmas.”
Erik nodded, satisfied since he was worried he might be too late. “Awesome. Okay, guys, which one?”
Dimitri stood in his stroller and peered over the counter. He then exclaimed, “That one, Daddy!”
Erik was almost tempted to copy him since that’s what Piper did to make him stop, but they weren’t at home. Looking at the ring, he decided that was the one. The two stones would make a heart with three diamonds around it that would represent Erik and the kids. It was perfect and he knew she would love it.
“That’s it.”
Piper Titov’s head fell to the side as she took in the elaborate Dr. Seuss mural she was doing for her nephew Journey’s room. The little bugger loved Dr. Seuss, and while she had done his hockey mural only a couple years ago, she was happy to change it to make her little guy happy. She was sure her niece Ally was next, but for the time being, she was going to make the best Dr. Seuss mural in the world.
Not only was the famous cat causing havoc on the wall but he was joined by Thing One and Thing Two, along with Sam, the Lorax, and many other timeless characters from the wonderful books. This was probably her favorite mural yet. Smiling, she moved her brush along the wall, the color vibrant as she let out a contented sigh. She loved her life. She had the hottest husband imaginable, two superawesome kids, and family and friends people begged for.
But.
And she hated that there was a but.
But.
She was getting bored painting murals.
She knew it was crazy, and she knew that she was making a killing doing them, but she was getting bored! She had been doing this for almost four years and she was kinda done. She needed more of a challenge and found that in book cover design. She hadn’t told anyone yet, but for the last three months, she had been designing covers for her author friends. It was so exhilarating! Bringing a book to life was becoming something she had to do. Something she was born to do. She loved reading, and being able to sum up the book with a simple image gave her a crazy rush. The only problem was she had made a huge deal saying that painting murals was her life.
She knew people expected her to change her mind, but she wanted to stick with something. Unfortunately, she just wasn’t happy doing it anymore, and she wasn’t sure what she should do. It was Christmastime, not really the ideal time to tell her husband she wanted to change careers. Erik didn’t care about the money since he made enough for their family and then some, but she wanted to contribute. She didn’t make as much money doing covers as she did doing the murals. Would she feel like a contributing part of the family? And plus, what would everyone think?
They’d probably roll their eyes and think of her as flighty again. It was a depressing thought because she didn’t want to be flighty. She wanted to be strong, know what she wanted, but she just got bored with the same thing all the time.
Being a mother and wife was the only thing she didn’t get bored with. It was everything she had ever thought it would be, and sometimes she couldn’t believe she had been so scared to have Dimitri. He honestly brought out the best in her. He also helped his daddy get his head out of his ass and love her, so really, he was the biggest blessing in her life. As well as Katarina. She was so full of life and so perfect. She drove them all crazy since she was sort of a crybaby, but Piper loved her so damn much. They had the perfect little family, and she couldn’t wait for the future.
“Wow, looks amazing.”
Piper looked over her shoulder and smiled as her older sister Harper entered the room.
“Thanks,” she said with a grin as she dipped her brush in the paint. “Where did you go? I got here expecting some food, but only Jakob was here with the kids, and no food was provided. When I asked where you were, Jakob wouldn’t tell me.”
She laughed but it was more of a shocked laugh, not a ha-ha funny one. “Funny story, actually.”
Piper’s brows came up. “What’s up?”
“We are getting an extra special Christmas present this year.”
Still confused, Piper asked, “Huh? What?”
Shaking her head, Harper met Piper’s gaze and said, “I’m pregnant.”
Confused, Piper’s head tilted to the side. “But you couldn’t get pregnant.”
“I know.”
“And your tubes are tied.”
“I know. I’m ten weeks and had no clue.”
“Huh?” Piper asked, completely shocked. “Ten weeks!”
“Yeah, I’m as shocked as you are. Believe me. We both are. I haven’t had my period, but it been spotty since the tubal anyway. But I haven’t been sick or anything. The only reason I went in was because my tits have been hurting so bad, I thought I had cancer or something. Nope, a baby.”
Piper laughed. “Wow. That’s so awesome! Congrats!”
Wrapping her sister in a half hug, she found that her eyes were clouding with tears. Harper had wanted another baby so badly after Ally. She’d even asked Piper and her twin, Reese, to carry it for her, but then they found a surrogate and had Journey. Now though, she was going to carry her own child.
“Audrey’s pregnant too! This is so awesome.”
Harper laughed. “All us Assassins women are always pregnant together. Damn hockey players are fertile as hell.”
“No shit, right? That’s so cool! I am so excited for you,” Piper said, squeezing her again, and when she pulled back, her sister had big fat tears rolling down her face. She could see the excitement in Harper’s eyes and couldn’t be happier.
“I’m nervous I could lose it again, but I mean, I’m ten weeks. I think God did it that way so I wouldn’t stress and worry, you know?”
Tears flooded Piper’s eyes as she wiped away her sister’s. “Yeah, this one is going to stick and stay. It has to—it went through tied tubes to get here!”
“I just can’t believe it!”
“Me either! It’s freaking amazing. Come here!”
Harper laughed and wrapped her arms tightly around Piper as she sobbed into her shoulder. Pi
per loved Christmastime; it was the best time for miracles.
And Harper’s and Audrey’s babies were just that.
After finishing for the day and loving on Harper and her family, Piper went home to her own family. As she drove, a huge grin was on her face. Her sister was pregnant. What a freaking miracle. When her phone started to ring, she reached for it to see that it was her twin.
“Hey!”
“Have you talked to Harper?” Reese basically yelled with excitement.
“I did! Can you believe it?”
“No! Oh my God, really, Piper, I’ve been sitting here crying, I am so happy for her.”
“Me too, I cried. I just can’t believe it.”
“It’s a damn miracle, I tell you!”
“I know. It’s so awesome,” Piper agreed. “Next is you, lady.”
“Oh, hell no! You’re next.”
“Whatever, we are done. We have two, a boy and girl, what more do we need?”
“I have a handful of a son and then a niece who is getting married. I’m too broke to have any more.”
Piper laughed. “Liar. You can afford ten more.”
She scoffed. “Claire is going to make us broke. You know she wants to pay for everyone to fly in? Phillip told her to kiss his ass, and I’m like, Claire, you haven’t even picked a date!”
Piper’s grin grew. Her niece was going to drive Phillip and Reese insane with her wedding.
“I swear, he is going to be gray before this wedding happens. My poor husband.”
“He’ll be fine. It’s awesome. Claire and Jude love each other so much.”
“Yeah, I know. She is so happy, and I love when she is happy. I just wish she’d wait at least another ten years.”
Piper scoffed. “Please, in ten years, she’ll have kids and stuff.”
“Oh, Lord help us all. Could you imagine her raising kids in Vegas? The horror,” she said and Piper couldn’t help but laugh.
“Jeez, Reese, you sound like Grandma!”
“Shut up!” she yelled, and Piper couldn’t stop her laughter if she tried. “I was just calling because of Harper and then to ask what time Christmas dinner is.”
“Mom said four and presents after.”
“Okay cool, just making sure. I’ll talk to you later.”
“All right, love you.”
“Love you,” Reese said just as Piper pulled into her garage. Shutting the car off, she locked everything up and shut the garage door before heading inside. Within seconds, she was attacked by two little people before her husband wrapped her in a hug, kissing her lips.
“Well, what a greeting,” she said, breathless, as he parted, kissing her nose.
“We missed you,” he said. “And they are driving me insane.”
She giggled as she picked up Katarina. Usually, she took the kids with her to her murals, but since Erik was home, they’d stayed with him.
“They tend to do that. Hey, Alla and Cooper!” she said to her in-laws. They were staying for a couple weeks for Christmas and she loved having them.
“Hey, honey, dinner is almost done,” Alla said as Cooper sent her a grin.
“Awesome. Hey, have y’all talked to Jakob today?”
All three of them shook their heads, and Piper decided that she would allow him to share the happy news. Alla and Cooper had been hinting for another grandchild. They weren’t going to get it from Erik and Piper. They were done.
“Why?” Erik asked.
“No reason,” she said, putting Katarina down and walking past them to change and shower. Like she knew he would, Erik followed her and shut the door behind them.
“What are you doing?” she asked, buying time.
“Following you,” he said before sliding his hands down her thighs, pressing his growing erection against her ass. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear, kissing the spot below it.
“I love you,” she said, turning in his arms and pressing her lips to his. When she pulled back though, he didn’t let her get far before he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding into the pockets of her jeans. Closing her eyes, she got lost in his kiss and didn’t realize he was walking her backward to the bed until he was lying on top of her, his hands going up into her shirt.
Grinning, she pulled away. “Erik, our children and your parents are in the room over. They got an earful the other night. Come on,” she pleaded as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. He had found her nipple, and he knew that was her hot spot. Gasping, her fingers tangled in his hair, but then banging started at the door, followed by Katarina wailing, “Mommy!”
Letting her nipple go, he kissed the spot between her breasts and grinned. “Your kid is a cockblock.”
She giggled at that before pushing him off her and going to open the door to her special little people. “What do you need, love bug?”
“You,” she decided before throwing her arms up. Dimitri came running in and jumped on the bed on top of Erik, hitting him right in the groin. As Piper laughed, Erik wallowed in pain while Dimitri just grinned.
“Ugh! You broke my balls, kid!” he groaned and Piper shook her head as Katarina giggled.
“I broke Daddy’s balls,” Dimitri said with a huge grin. “He gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine,” she said, sitting down and patting Erik’s butt. Wrapping her arm around Dimitri, she asked, “What did you do with Daddy today?”
“We bought you a ring for Christmas.”
“Dimitri! You weren’t supposed to tell her!” Erik scolded, but Dimitri didn’t seem to care. “I told him not to tell you.”
“He doesn’t listen,” Piper laughed. “Is it pretty?”
“Oh yeah, so pretty. Give it to her, Daddy!”
“No! It’s for Christmas, and it isn’t even done yet!”
Piper giggled some more as Katarina wiggled out of her lap and then out the door. Dimitri followed right along behind her, leaving Piper alone with her husband. They came, took her loving, and then were gone. That’s how it was in the Titov house.
Sending him a wide grin, she asked, “New ring, huh?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I might go change it.”
She lay back in the bed, cuddling into his side before kissing his jaw. “I can’t wait to open it.”
“Yeah, well, it’s ruined,” he complained and she shook her head.
“Never. I’ll be surprised and thankful. Don’t worry.”
“Good,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her nose. Looking deep into her eyes, he smiled and she felt breathless. He loved her. So damn much and she knew he would no matter what.
“I don’t want to paint murals anymore.”
Wow. Did she just blurt that out?
His brows came together. “That’s outta left field.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t told you, but I’ve been designing book covers for the last three months. I love it.”
She could see the shock in his eyes, but then a knowing grin came over his lips as he nodded. “That’s cool. Bored with the murals, already?”
She smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. Is that bad?”
“For you, no. I’m surprised you didn’t get bored sooner.”
“So you aren’t mad?” she asked, hopeful.
“Fuck no, baby. You do what you want. I’ll just be standing here, cheering you on. No matter what.”
Her smirk grew as she cuddled deeper against him. “You are the best husband.”
“I know,” he agreed, a grin pulling at his lips. “And you’re the best wife.”
Christmas wasn’t even here yet, and she knew he had a beautiful gift for her, but no matter what the season, her husband continually gave her the best gift of all.
And that was his love and ultimate support.
Phillip Anderson was going to kill Jude Sinclair.
He didn’t give two fucks if Claire loved him, or even if it was almost Christmas and his momma w
as going to be sad she lost one of her boys, Phillip was going to kill him.
He didn’t know what it was about playing against the kid, but it brought out the asshole in both of them, and soon they were messing and chirping at each other through the whole game. For Phillip, it was the fact that Jude was defiling his niece, and because of that, he hated him. He wasn’t sure what she saw in the little idiot, but she sure did love him. Enough to marry his punk ass. Phillip shuddered at the thought.
“Come on, old man! Can’t keep up? I’ve already scored on you twice tonight.”
Despite the fact that he had, Phillip glared.
“Shut up, you little shit,” Phillip sneered as he waited for the puck to drop.
“Ignore him, Anderson,” King hollered at him.
“He’s a punk. Don’t let him get to you,” Titov agreed. “Play hockey, you fuck face, before you have the whole team kicking your ass.”
“Bring it. I’d take all of you out,” the cocky little shit said.
“You couldn’t take out the trash. Shut the hell up and play hockey,” Shea bellowed at him, and he cowered a bit, but Phillip didn’t miss the defiance in his eyes. He couldn’t fight him though; they were down by two because of his little ass, and they had to catch up. Ending up in the box wouldn’t help the cause of winning, but this kid was dead set on driving Phillip insane.
Meeting Phillip’s gaze, Jude said, “I was considering naming our first kid after you, but for that to happen, I’m going to need you to play some decent hockey.”
Yeah. See the kid brought out some kind of rage inside of him, and without even realizing it, Phillip dropped his gloves and slammed his fist into Jude’s nose. The crowd lost their marbles as the two duked it out. He took the punches like a champ and felt empowered when the kid started to look rattled. But when Jude slammed his fist into Phillip’s jaw, it knocked him off-balance. Soon he was lying on his ass and the fight was stopped as the crowd again lost their shit cheering for their prize player.
Jude punk ass Sinclair.
Little asshole.
After being razzed by his teammates for getting knocked on his ass by his soon-to-be son-in-law—ugh, he shuddered again—Phillip decided he needed a stiff drink and headed down to the hotel bar. The hotel was decorated for the season, and usually that made him happy, but he was still pissed about Jude and the fact that, at any second, Claire would set a date and he’d have to give her away to that little shit.