A mix of chuckles and snickers filled the kitchen, each woman loading up with armfuls of food and condiments, and lumbering toward the open sliding glass door. It was such a simple act. Four women working together to prepare a celebration, sometimes jabbering over sales and television series surprises, and other times coasting in companionable silence. But it was never weird. Not like she’d been afraid it would be. If anything, the past few months had surpassed all her hopes, Haven’s women banding around her in an unshakeable foundation of support.
She’d grown closer to April, too. While their relationship was special in its own right given it marked her first foray into her new and growing reality, she still wasn’t family. Haven was exactly what they’d named it. A safe place only for family.
And today was special, just for Danny.
The women filed outside, the summer heat hitting Gabe in a none-too-subtle slap. In the background, the Dallas rock station she’d grown to expect at any Haven gathering pumped vintage Bob Seger through the air.
Ninette slid two casserole dishes onto the long glass patio table. “Jace, pry your ass out of that chair and fire up the grill. Axel, you’ve had enough time sitting pretty, too. Get up and get all the ladies a cold one while we set up the fixings. Trevor, get Beckett on the phone and find out how much longer until he’s here with Danny.”
One by one, the men unfolded themselves from their cushy poolside spots, grumbling good naturedly as they set about their assigned tasks.
Trevor tagged his phone off a side table. “I’m starting to notice Zeke hasn’t drawn a short straw in a long time.”
“Son, you get a bullet in your back, I’ll give you a month or two to be lazy.” Ninette winked at Gabe and lowered her voice. “That doesn’t mean you should follow suit. Our boys are spoiled enough as it is. You keep yours in line.” With that, she hustled off to get another armload of food.
Our boys.
Hers.
Nearly eight weeks since Zeke had been shot, and the idea that this thing between them was real still sent goose bumps skittering out in all directions.
Stepping clear of the gazebo’s stainless steel fridge, Axel kicked the door shut with one foot. In typical man style, he’d loaded his arms up trying to avoid more than one trip.
Gabe slid the burger patties onto the grill’s side work space and hurried to help him. “Here, give me a few.”
“Ah, lass. You’re a sweet angel.”
Behind her, Sylvie scoffed. “Don’t be thinking I don’t know yer game, Axel McKee. Yer kissy-kiss might fool Gabrielle this time, but I’ll be takin’ her aside and explaining yer tricks before the night’s through.”
“Me?” Axel splayed his big hand over his heart, feigned indignation and rolled out the brogue. “Ye think I’d ply our fair Gabe with dirty tricks?”
“Ye’d ply anyone w’ a skirt and we both know it.”
He winked at Gabe and strutted toward his mom. “Can’t blame a lad for learnin’ from his mother’s sweet-talkin’ ways.” He leaned over her shoulder and planted a big smooch on her cheek.
Gabe ducked her head and meandered toward Zeke. Yeah, she’d had the same kind of light relationship with her dad when he’d been alive, but it was always brief and never with spectators looking on. The funny thing was, her new clan had locked on to her bashful side to public displays of affection and seemed hell-bent on showing her a new way of life via limitless hugs.
She held out one of the two ice-cold Bohemia Weiss to Zeke. “You know the spoiling won’t last forever.”
He could have kept his seat and soaked it up, but stood instead, prying both bottles free and setting them aside on the table next to his chaise. He pulled her flush against him and wrapped her up tight. “It absolutely will last forever. I plan to do a lot of spoiling where you’re concerned.”
And...cue more goose bumps. Definitely not a response that should be possible with the temperature at ninety-five degrees and the humidity dancing around ninety, as well, but the word forever in connection with Zeke could make a woman’s body do all kinds of wonky things. A part of her said to be pragmatic. To edit out the word forever when it popped up and keep her focus on right now.
Not that anything in the right now was rough. If anything, the past two months had been perfect. Between finding balance with her medicine and fighting through the fears from her past, her whole world was opening up. Broadening in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
She smoothed her hands across Zeke’s pecs, the puckered scar where the bullet had exited his chest dowsing her light thoughts.
“Hey.” Zeke covered her hand with his and tugged it up for a kiss. “Let it go. It’s over.”
Yes, it was. Along with a dump truck full of other burdens she was determined to let go of. Tilting her head back, she smiled up at him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, gatinha.” He pressed his lips against her forehead, the touch reverent despite the whirling activity around them.
The side gate swung open and Beckett lumbered through, the huge ice chest he lugged in front of him clunking with every step. “I’ve got the birthday boy and two extra cases of beer. Who’s ready to party?”
Never a question that went without cheers in this crowd. What was laid-back and easy before, ratcheted up to a full-on party complete with music, food and general male insanity. Watching them never got old. Outside of Haven, they worked their assess off, each of them focused on their responsibilities to a degree that was almost scary. But here, tucked away in this private, safe place, they let down their guard.
And Danny was part of it.
By the time the guys had blown through all of the food and at least a six-pack of beer each, the sun had passed the five-o’clock mark, inching its way toward the horizon. Zeke reclined on the oversize chaise, his legs on either side of Gabe so she could lay against his chest.
Not surprisingly, Ninette was kicked back at the family-sized patio table trying to talk Viv into hitting the mall for some big sale the next day, an endeavor she’d finally given up ever getting Gabe to agree to. Shopping for a purpose? Sure. Get in, get out, go home. Shopping all day just for giggles and grins? Um...no.
Next to her and Zeke, Trevor was outlining some new expansion project for his private charter service, the accelerated hand gestures that went with the details a good indicator of how many beers he’d knocked back so far.
Zeke’s thumb shuttled a slow back-and-forth path against the back of her arm. Her eyes slipped closed, every muscle relaxing into the moment and soaking up the cool shade around them.
One of the loungers groaned, and wet, heavy footsteps sounded across the poolside’s decorative concrete. A second later, a Five Finger Death Punch remake of a Bad Company song cut off mid chorus.
She snapped her eyes open in time to catch Axel slipping something out from under a few of the still folded beach towels on the table next to Zeke. “Now that everyone’s got a belly full, it’s time Danny gets his party favor.”
“Don’t buy it, Danny,” Beckett said. “Axel’s just in a hurry for cake.”
“And you’ve had Ma’s cake, so you know damned well that makes me a wise man.” He held out a simple, unwrapped mahogany box. It was long and slender like what she’d expect a bracelet or watch to come in. “Seein’ as you’re a brother and we were a little sidetracked when we brought you in, we figured your birthday was a good time to give you this.”
Danny looked at the box, then at all the guys. “What is it?”
“Won’t know until you open it.” Jace tucked Vivienne into the crook of his arm. Based on the grin on her face, the brothers weren’t the only ones in on the surprise. In fact, everyone seemed to be in the know but her and Danny.
Danny fought his way out of his lounger’s deep cushions, took the box from Axel and slowly opened the lid. “Ah, man.
” A huge smile split his face, and he lifted a thick silver chain from inside. “I got tags.” He swiveled toward Zeke, the heavy pendants made of platinum and etched in black with their custom logo dangling from his fingers. “I got tags.”
Zeke dipped his chin in one quick, affirming nod. “You’re a brother. You get tags.”
Tossing the box to his chair, Danny pulled the chain over his head. “Fuckin’ sweet.”
Indeed, they were, but not nearly as awesome as the happiness on her brother’s face. One by one the guys ambled to him, taking turns shaking his hand or smacking him on the back in their man-love way.
Everyone except Zeke. As if content to simply enjoy the show, he wrapped one arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear, “I think he likes ‘em.”
“Oh, yeah,” she said. “You just made his day.”
“That’s good. I like having Danny for a brother.” He nuzzled her neck, running the tip of his nose along the sensitive spot behind her ear. “How do you feel about him being a brother-in-law?”
All around them, laughter, congratulations and birthday wishes rumbled in a happy cacophony, but in her head it was background noise. A nuisance while her mind tried to reevaluate what she’d just heard. She twisted for a better look at his face. “What?”
“I was thinking it would be nice if we made him more than just a brother by choice.” Zeke grinned, clearly enjoying her stupor as he tucked her hair behind her ear. “Do you like having a big family, gatinha?”
A question. Her brain registered it as such, but damned if it could kick out an answer. Or, for that matter, prod her mouth to move. “Yeah, I like it,” she finally muttered, though how the words actually found air she wasn’t sure. It was like her mouth had developed some backup autopilot mechanism she never knew existed.
Reaching to the same table where Axel had hidden Danny’s surprise, Zeke pulled a small box from under the same pile of towels. Unlike Danny’s, this one was much smaller and covered in black velvet. He opened it, the hinges squeaking a tiny protest before he turned it and showed her the contents. “Then make one with me.”
A beautiful ring nestled in the middle of the soft black fabric, a big square diamond in the center and two not-so-smaller ones on either side of it. A princess cut. A fact she only knew because Viv had one similar to it, but more old-world styled than this one.
Zeke’s voice cut through her shock, the tone of it low and a little hesitant. “If you don’t like it, we can go pick out another one.”
“I love it.” She brushed one fingertip along one side of the big diamond, afraid if she moved too fast the whole moment would evaporate the way dreams did the moment she woke up. “It’s beautiful.”
He wiggled the ring free and slid it onto her finger. “Say yes.”
Not a dream. Not short-term and so much more than just right now. “You really meant forever,” she whispered, her emotions barricading her throat too efficiently to allow anything of more substance.
“Of course, I meant it. I told you, I knew it the minute I saw you.” He kissed her fingers. “Now, say yes.”
“Yes.” It floated past her lips as easy as the evening wind slipping through their shaded corner of paradise, but it felt like it roared all the way up from her toes. She lifted her gaze from the ring to him, the love on his face as bold and beautiful as a morning sunrise. “Yes.”
He smiled huge and shifted her on his lap, guiding her knees so they straddled his hips. “So, how big is our family going to be?”
“Kids?”
“A family usually implies kids.” His innocent smile shifted to a deliciously wicked grin. “I’m looking forward to making them. Lots of them.”
God, if he kept looking at her like that, she was looking forward to it, too. A lot. “I don’t know. I never thought of it before.”
“Yeah?” He swiveled in his seat and stood, guiding her legs around his waist and cupping her ass with his hands. “Well, you’d best get to figuring it out. I’ve got work to do.”
“Right now?” She glanced around the patio, her startled commentary cutting into all the congratulatory banter going on around Danny. She lowered her voice. “But... I’m taking that shot. We can’t get pregnant.”
“You know me.” He hefted them both toward the back door to the house. “Doesn’t mean I can’t get a running start.”
“Hey, Zeke!” Danny’s shout rang out across the pool, all the other chatter falling silent in its wake. “I take it this means she said yes?”
Zeke kept walking. “She said yes.”
“Don’t you think you should stay and let us offer congratulations?” Jace shouted.
“Congratulate us later.” Zeke glanced over one shoulder right before he slid the glass door open. “Right now I’ve gotta show my woman gratitude.”
The hoots and hollers from the family they’d left behind rang out long after he’d closed the door behind them. Once upon a time it would have freaked her out to be the center of attention, or made her want to curl up in a tiny ball and disappear. But today? Today, she didn’t care. She might have issues and a past to bury, but with Zeke she could do anything. For the first time in her life, she couldn’t wait to jump.
* * * * *
Coming soon from Carina Press and Rhenna Morgan
Trevor’s used to living outside the rules in order to save lives, but this time he’s willing to risk everything to save hers.
Read on for a sneak preview of
CLAIM & PROTECT,
the next book in Rhenna Morgan’s
THE HAVEN BROTHERHOOD series
Chapter One
Any bar owner in Dallas’s Deep Ellum district would be tickled shitless with a light crowd on a dreary, October weeknight. But seeing more than half the tables of his own pub occupied and both bartenders knocking out nonstop drink orders—that was a thing of beauty.
Not too shabby for a college dropout. But then, if there was one thing Trevor Raines had learned from his brothers in the last ten years, it was that the right focus and a little ingenuity made anything attainable.
Beside him, Jace Kennedy leaned into the brotherhood’s reserved table and motioned with Scotch in hand at Trevor’s newest waitress across the room. “That one’s a hustler.”
Trevor followed his gaze in time to witness said hustler sidle up to one of the oversized corner booths with a drink-laden tray balanced on one palm. She was a little thing, five-foot-one at best and couldn’t weigh more than a buck-twenty sopping wet, but she had a friendly face and a way with the customers. For a woman who’d never taken a drink order in her life, Natalie Jordan had acclimated to her new job a whole lot better than he’d anticipated. “Just hired her a few weeks ago. Basically told me she’d be the best waitress I ever had if I gave her a chance.”
“Gotta love a woman with spunk,” Jace said.
Another of their Haven brothers, Zeke Dugan, nursed his Bohemia Weiss and studied Natalie over the rim. “She looks familiar.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Trevor said. “Since I was just hiring for a waitress, Knox only ran a cursory background check. He still turned up an expired RN license she hadn’t put on her application. Was a long time ago though.”
Zeke nodded. “Yeah, that’s gotta be it. But she didn’t work down in trauma with me. I’d remember that swagger.”
Zeke’s fiancée, Gabe, looked up from the wedding magazine anchored between her and Jace’s wife, Viv, and smacked him on the shoulder. “You’re weeks away from being a married man. You’re not supposed to appreciate another woman’s swagger anymore.”
“Didn’t say I appreciated it, gatinha. I said I’d have remembered it.” He snatched her hand before Viv could drag her back into all things wedding dresses and cakes, kissed her knuckles, and grinned. “I’ll take your leisurely strut to a power walk any da
y.”
Trevor reclined against his seat back and reconsidered his newest hire while she worked. Defining the way Natalie moved as a power walk was a little harsh. Yeah, she got from point A to point B without a whole lot of dillydallying, but it didn’t diminish the subtle sway of her hips.
Done with handing out drinks, Natalie wove through her section, eyes sharp and checking for needed refills. The soft mini lights strung across the ceiling cast her pixie features in an easy glow, and the standard-issue tank top with The Den’s logo showcased one helluva of a rack. She’d just about made it back to the arched opening that led to the main bar when she slid her phone out of her back pocket, checked the screen, and hurried out of sight.
“Damn it,” he murmured before he knocked back the last of his beer.
“There a problem?” Jace asked.
Probably. Though he’d really hoped his new recruit would pan out. “Fucking cell phones. I told her they’re off-limits while she’s working and I’ve busted her with the thing twice tonight.”
“Could just be checking the time,” Zeke said. “And if she’s taking care of her people, what’s the harm?”
“If you were with a patient, would you text?”
Zeke chuckled. “Point taken. But then I don’t have time to text when someone’s bleeding out all over the ER’s floor.”
“With your attention span, you’d probably try.” Jace spun the toothpick anchored at the corner of his mouth with his tongue and focused on Trevor. “Don’t jump the gun on your new girl too quick. Could’ve been a misunderstanding on her part. If she’s doin’ all right otherwise, talk to her first. Unless you’re in a big hurry to start interviewing again?”
“Hell no.” The last round had taken him three weeks to hire two girls. Natalie had ended up being the only one worth the effort.
Viv straightened from the mini wedding huddle at the end of the table and slid the two inch thick bridal magazine right in front of Gabe. “Really? You don’t like that one? It’d look great on you.”
Wild & Sweet (The Haven Brotherhood) Page 33