Harlow, Ramsey, and Jensen Bradford were all there with their wives and children. The toddlers, Drew and James, played cars on a race track with my son Bryant. Our fellow former SEAL, Larson was there too, with his wife Brynn. He had adopted her son, Caleb, who was the oldest of the bunch and who was alternating between playing cars with Drew and Bryant and James, and wandering over to where Harlow and Whitney’s now nearly one year old daughter, Bella, was playing blocks in the corner.
“Boom!” Caleb said, knocking over some blocks and causing Bella to laugh and stack them up again.
“Boom, boom, boom!” Bella repeated, before going back to blowing raspberries.
Caleb was really good with younger kids, and enjoyed helping her stack the blocks back up. I hoped that Bryant would be as good with his younger sibling— we had decided not to find out if it was a girl or a boy, and instead be surprised after the baby’s birth, which, judging from the size of Hope’s baby bump and her overdue due date, could be any day now.
The baby was supposed to be here by Christmas but it turned out babies have their own ways of doing things and sometimes like to take their own sweet time. I had decided long ago that whenever the baby wanted to make his or her arrival would be fine with me, even though I was rather impatient.
I realized now, though, that some things had to be worth waiting for, and were. I was also treasuring the time together with Bryant, making up for lost weeks and months and years, before his baby sibling arrived. I hoped he wouldn’t be jealous and that instead we could all be a happy family.
Everyone was in a great mood. It was like the accident had never happened and we were just five happy families enjoying our holiday together. Plus Eve was there, of course, as was my mother. Bryant had been really enjoying living with Hope and me, but he always loved when Grandma came over to visit, or when we went over to her house. Those two would always have a very special bond thanks to how she had cared for him when I needed her to the most.
“Hope, you look absolutely amazing,” said Ramsey’s wife Monica. “Do you mind if I touch? I always hated when people just did that to me without asking.
“Go right ahead,” Hope answered, giggling, while Monice rubbed her very pregnant belly. “And thank you for the compliment. I hope that I look a lot better than I have been feeling these days.”
That got laughter from everyone in the house.
“Is everyone ready to eat?” called Eve from the kitchen.
She was looking better than ever and had insisted on coming over and cooking for the party. She didn’t usually cook or clean any more, as she had enough money to live on and we had hired someone new quite a while back.
I had told her that she didn’t have to cook today, either, but she said that she would be glad to do that for her future son-in-law, daughter, and grandchild. She was quite insistent on calling me her future son in law, so I knew I should get the ball rolling with plans to make that official soon. I could tell that Hope was happy to have her there doing what she loved, and that Eve of course enjoyed cooking Christmas dinner, so I didn’t put up much of a protest, even though I would have rather her just rest instead of slave over the stove.
Eve had been seeing some of the best doctors in the country. I had told them to find the best treatment and that I would pay for it, whatever the cost.
It seemed that as soon as she started being treated by the doctors, her condition improved dramatically. She came right back to working for me, even though I told her that I would have to find someone to replace her. There was no way that my child’s grandmother was going to be working for me or anyone else if I had anything to do with it.
So, as far as I was concerned, the day she insisted on coming back was the last day she was ever going to work for me. She took her time, making everything sparkle and shine, for her last time being my housekeeper.
At dinner, I felt like I wanted to make a speech.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Everyone turned to look at me and the music was turned all the way down.
“Thank you all so much for joining us here today. Your love and support means the world to me. I know that it has not been easy with all that we have been through, but I am happy that we are able to spend time together as we prepare for a new chapter of our lives. Cheers.”
Everyone raised their glasses and called out “cheers”.
“I’d like to say something, too,” said Ramsey, standing up. “I am so grateful that we are here with you today. For a while, I thought that we would never come back together. And the fact that you welcomed us into your home to celebrate Christmas and the birth of your new child says a lot. We love you, man.”
Ramsey and I hugged like long lost brothers. And soon, the rest of the Bradford brothers joined us, as did Larson. Because, that’s what we really were.
Ramsey had saved my life. And Harlow had helped me restore it. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.
I motioned to Hope, and she came over to join the hug. Her hair smelled like cinnamon as I pulled her in close to me.
“Have you been baking?” I asked her.
“Perhaps I got up earlier than you to make you one of my famous apple pies,” she said.
I laughed, and kissed her. Bryant had been busy with his toys, but— never one to want to be left out— he bounded over to us to join in the group hug, as did my mom, and the rest of the women who had been at the table.
“I love you, Daddy,” he said.
“I love you too, son.”
I looked around at everyone there with us and decided to say something cheesy. It was Christmas eve, after all, and the first time I had ever been able to put this expensive cabin to use, filling it with love and light of friends coming together for a special occasion.
“I love all of you, too.”
“Cheers,” said Harlow, grabbing his bottle of beer and holding it up high. We all did the same. “To our reunion.”
“To our reunion.”
We had certainly been reunited by love and a baby.
Merry Christmas to us all.
Epilogue
Hope
Christmas dinner was beautiful. The party the night before had been epic and I was glad Darren had thrown it. It was wonderful to meet his friends. But, now it was great to have Christmas dinner with just our family.
The table was draped in red, green, and gold. There was so much food on the table, there was barely any room for our plates. But, it was wonderful sitting there with my whole family, which in my mind included Bryant, and Darren’s mom, and my mom and brothers, all of whom were there with us as they deserved to be.
This is how life was meant to be lived, I thought.
I could feel my mother’s eyes staring at me from across the table. She looked so happy, like she was realizing a dream that she’d held for a very long time.
I stood up to speak. I felt it was my turn to give a toast, and I was planning to let my mom and Darren and Bryant know how much I loved them. And to thank them for all they had done for me.
But, before a word could leave my lips, I felt something pop and water started trickling from between my legs.
Everyone stopped and turned, staring at me.
“You okay?” asked Darren, a look of worry starting to show on his face.
“My water just broke,” I said.
“Sure did,” my mother added, as if there was any doubt.
We rushed to our cars and headed to the hospital. My mother told Darren to go on without her and that she would follow with a bag of my things.
Soon after getting to the hospital, the doctor told me that he hoped I was ready, because this baby was on its way out.
“This little one is determined to be a Christmas baby,” were his exact words.
“We’re definitely ready,” I told him.
They didn’t even have time to give me an epidural before the baby was out, while I screamed and writhed in pain. Darren was holding my hand the whole time, until th
e baby’s head appeared and he proclaimed, “The baby has red hair! Just like you!”
“Just get it out of me!” I screamed, fearful of how it would feel for the baby to actually come through.
But, aside from a burning sensation that left almost as quickly as it had come, that was the easiest part. Suddenly, loud crying could be heard and I immediately started crying tears of joy.
“Would you like to cut the cord?” the doctor asked Darren, as he placed the baby on my chest.
I looked down at the head full of red hair, already in love, before I realized almost too late that I didn’t even know gender the baby was. Not that it really mattered. I would still be just as in love.
“What is it?” I asked, kissing the top of the baby’s head as Darren cut the cord.
“It’s a boy,” the doctor answered. “A Christmas boy.”
“Oh, my God,” I answered, happily. “A boy!”
“What should we name him?” asked Darren. We hadn’t discussed names much because we’d agreed it was bad luck. But, I already knew what I wanted.
“George. For my dad,” I said.
The baby’s tiny hand closed in a fist around my finger when I said it.
“George,” Darren answered. “I like that.”
We smiled at each other.
Then he added, “You know, I really thought it might be a girl. I’m glad he’s a boy. I love him no matter who he is. But, I also thought, hmmm, maybe we’d have a girl.”
“We’ll just have to have another one,” I said, and laughed.
“We sure will,” Darren agreed. “I like the name George. It sounds very royal.”
“Yes. My mother will be happy,” I said. “Of the fact that he’s here, and that he’s named George. And my dad would be so proud.”
As if on cue, my mom pushed open the door of the hospital room. She’d never been known for her tact. Darren’s mom was following her, and Bryant squeezed in ahead of both of them.
“It’s a boy,” Darren announced, proudly.
“A grandson!” My mother proclaimed. “Your brothers will be so happy. I took them home to finish opening up the rest of their Christmas presents because I didn’t realize this would be so quick. But, I’ll bring them over here to visit soon.”
“A brother,” Darren’s mom said to Bryant, in a sing song voice.
“Yay! A brother! Can I see my baby brother yet?” came Bryant’s high-pitched squeal from around the corner.
“Sure! Come on in, buddy,” I called from the bed.
He ran over and peeked up at the baby I held in my arms.
“Yay!” said Bryant again, clapping and jumping up and down. “I have a new baby brother! And he gets to come live with us at our house!”
“I’m glad you’re so happy about this news,” Darren said, looking relieved. I knew he’d been anxious that Bryant would be jealous. “We’re excited to expand our family. And, on that note, there’s something I was planning to do today, before little George here stole my thunder.”
“What?” I asked him, looking into his serious green eyes.
By looking over at my mother’s eyes, which lit up with happiness, I had a good feeling of what was to come. I just couldn’t believe it.
Darren got down on his knee right there on the cold hospital room floor, and held up a tiny blue box. He opened the lid, revealing a large, shiny diamond ring.
“Hope, you’ve made me the happiest man ever. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed, reaching over to hug him, then saying, “Ow,” as my rib cage twisted a bit. I was still in fragile condition from giving birth.
“Are you okay?” Darren asked.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I continued, not letting a little injury get me down. “Yes, I’m okay, and yes, I’ll marry you, and yes, this is great. I’d be so happy to be your wife.”
“Daddy’s going to marry Hope,” Darren explained to Bryant.
He bent down to kiss me, and then kissed Bryant and then little George, right on the top of his head. He was bobbing around looking for my boob, so I decided to try to nurse him.
“Hooray!” exclaimed Bryant, jumping up and down and clapping his hands. “This is the best day of my life!”
His excitement was contagious. Darren’s mother and my own both started clapping along with Bryant. And I could agree with him on that.
A new baby. And an engagement to Darren. On Christmas. This definitely was the best day of my life.
Can’t get enough Darren and Hope? Subscribe to my newsletter and receive an exclusive bonus extended epilogue to Mountain Man’s Baby.
Click here to sign up!
Thank you for reading.
If you haven’t read Sierra’s Two Bad Brothers yet, enjoy the following excerpt.
Two Bad Brothers:
An MFM Ménage
Copyright © 2018 by Sierra Sparks and Juliana Conners; All Rights Reserved.
Published by Sizzling Hot Reads.
Prologue
Imagine going to school your whole life with two kind of nerdy twin brothers and seeing them all the time, just like you do everyone else in your small town. You don’t really give them much of a thought because there’s nothing spectacular about them other than the fact that they have a rich dad, and bad things start happening to you and you don’t have time to think about anyone or anything else.
Then, even more really bad things happen to you and you don’t even have answers as to why they’re happening, and you’re determined to leave that town for good. You don’t give any thought to those two boys, nor to most anyone else in the town, except for your best friend since childhood, and your beloved grandmother, who is the only family you have left.
Then one day you are forced to come back under the worst circumstances— your grandmother and last living relatives has died. It’s one of the lowest times in your life— although you’re used to low times— and to top it all off, you feel really guilty for never coming back home to visit the people you love and now it’s too late in your grandmother’s case.
You get a knock on your door, and it’s those twin brothers, dropping by unexpectedly to pay you a visit. Except now, they’re fucking hot. And you’ve heard they’ve gotten really super rich, too, by helping their dad’s real estate business and developing some of their own.
They’re billionaires now. And they look like models. And they’re there to buy your grandmother’s house. And you don’t know that you want to sell it, except, what else are you going to do with it since you have no intention to stay in this town that you were once so anxious to leave? Plus, you can’t even think straight because they are so incredibly good looking.
Their handsome smiles. Their toned, muscular bodies. Their chests peeking through their buttoned down Oxford shirts— that you wish you could just peel off of them. And then, a tone in their voice and a look in their eyes that make you think they just might want you to do that.
Yep. You’re onto something. These two gorgeous twin brothers both want to be with you. To satisfy you sexually and to help heal your broken heart.
Your mind races a million miles an hour with questions. Is it just so they can get what they want—in your pants, since you’ve never even given it up to anyone before, as well as into your grandmother’s house, so they can buy it? Do you even care why they want to be with you? Maybe you just want to go with the moment for once, and see where it takes you.
But how could you ever decide which brother is better? How could you pick just one to be with?
And what if you didn’t have to? What if turns out these two guys both want to pleasure you at the same time?
This is my story, as hard to believe as it may be. Hang onto your seats, but not your panties, because you won’t want them to get in the way of the juicy parts of this story, as I take you on a ride that’s very wild in more ways than one.
Chapter 1
Scarlet
There are moments in life we should be prepared
for, because we’ve had a long time to get ready for them, but when they finally happen, we find ourselves in shock. That’s exactly the way I felt when I got the phone call: Your Grandma Rachel has died.
It shouldn’t have surprised me that my elderly grandmother could pass away. I should have been expecting it. But I suppose it had never really entered my mind, except as perhaps some far-off possibility that was never really going to happen. Or at least, it never seemed like something I would have to deal with anytime soon.
I couldn’t have been more wrong— about Grandma Rachel’s untimely demise, or a lot of other things, for that matter. Take, for instance, the fact that I never thought I’d be coming back to my hometown of Coldgrove. And it’s not that there is anything wrong with the place— other than the fact that it just never felt like it was place for me.
Coldgrove is just another small town, tucked away in the corner of Oregon. Nothing about it really stands out. Like any small town, we have our quirks, but that doesn’t make us any less stereotypical. The small town vibe works for some people, but this town’s charm petered out for me a long time ago. It’s one of those places that you see all over the U.S., and, growing up, I always felt trapped in it.
When I left for college in Portland, it didn’t just feel like the right choice; it felt like the only choice. It probably wasn’t, but I was young and looking to leave town as fast as I could after graduation. I didn’t spend a lot of time carefully evaluating the decisions I was making – I just made them. I had hoped for no regrets, but the death of my grandmother forced me to confront long buried emotions.
I knew that the way I’d left town wasn’t totally above board. No goodbyes – I simply faded out and then appeared in a bigger city, ready to reinvent myself. I told myself I’d done it that way because I hadn’t wanted anyone trying to change my mind— which was true, but it didn’t make me feel any better about the way I’d left. I was hoping I could manage to keep the guilt at bay for years, but that attempt didn’t last very long. Almost as soon as I’d left, I felt a tug trying to pull me back towards Coldgrove.
Loved by the LumberJacks_A MFMMMM Reverse Harem Romance Page 130