“Papacito,” Domineau yelled. “Front and center!”
Matty scrambled across the store and came to a fast halt beside Domineau at a rack of Arizona T-shirts covered with grinning cactus and a laughing sun. She held a few up and laughed when Matty shook his head. The boy had very specific tastes in clothing.
He felt Kelly’s small hand slide into the back pocket of his pants. She told him his butt was like a security blanket. All she had to do was touch him and everything was right in the world.
At his side, she murmured, “He’s doing really well. So is Bella. I expected drama, didn’t you?”
Roman wasn’t sure if he should tell her what Matty told him. That he was fine but worried about her. The two had an intense bond, and he was careful to respect that fact.
“Look,” she quietly gasped.
Roman followed the direction of her finger. Bella had joined Domineau and Matty. He guessed what made her choke with emotion was seeing her little man crouching to tie Bella’s sneaker.
He nodded approvingly. Young Matthew was developing some interesting alpha habits. He watched over Bella in much the same way that Roman kept an eye on Kelly.
Domineau caught his eye. Her warm smile was full of praise—praise he knew was heartfelt. His old friend was Roman’s biggest supporter as he navigated the many challenges involved in learning to be a dad.
Heather and Brody joined them and watched as Domineau forced matching shirts on both kids. Separately, neither kid was interested, but convince them that having the same shirt was cool and the purchase was guaranteed.
He sighed. More shit to lug back to New York.
“Here,” Heather said while pressing a box into Kelly’s hands. “Brody and I remember East Coast winters. You’ll need this.”
Kelly opened the box and tipped it until a large insulated mug slid into her hand.
“This is great!” She laughed and held up the cup for him to see. #FamilyJustice4Life was printed on the supersized container.
“It will keep your tea piping hot,” Brody explained. “I had several,” he told them with a chuckle. “One in my car. One in my classroom.”
Roman smiled at Heather. The mug was a wonderful gesture and personalizing it gave Kelly a connection to Bendover.
“I must say, Roman,” Heather gushed with a smile giggle. “That ring is something else.”
Kelly turned on a high-beam smile and waved her hand around so the diamonds could catch the light. With a snorting chuckle, she lowered her voice and smirked. “I think it might be bigger than Rhiann’s ring.”
Was it pathetic that he pushed out his chest and grinned like an idiot? Brody’s quick laugh confirmed what Roman suspected. That everyone knew he was lovesick and proud of it.
He noted the time and nodded to Brody. They had a schedule to keep and a plane to catch.
Domineau was having a blast entertaining her kid posse, which left the four of them to start the good-bye ball rolling.
Kelly grabbed Heather for an emotional hug that made Roman grit his teeth. He had a hard time when his Carina was unhappy.
Kelly rather pointedly demanded that Heather keep an eye on Remy. They exchanged some whispers and hugged it out one more time.
He shook Brody’s hand. They were becoming easy friends. Though Jensen wasn’t Original Justice, he was a trusted and important part of Justice World and if Roman was even partially right about what the future held for their kids, they would be involved in each other’s lives for a long time.
Heather pulled him in and managed, in the short time they hugged, to tell him in no uncertainty of terms to treat Kelly right and be a good father to Matty. She also told him something surprising that made him think.
Her exact words were, “Get started on that family you both want. Don’t wait.”
His interest was piqued. Had Kelly discussed having a baby with Heather? They were extraordinarily close, so he shouldn’t be surprised.
Brody and Kelly were hugging and looked to be exchanging jokes. He didn’t like it when she was physical with anyone but him. He knew his reaction was irrational, but that didn’t make it any better. She brought out all his territorial instincts.
A bumbling tourist unsuccessfully navigating a rolling suitcase crashed into Kelly and Brody. She cried out in surprise and alarm.
In one intense second, several things happened.
He jumped forward to catch Kelly before she hit the floor.
Domineau grabbed both kids and went into a defensive posture. The only thing she didn’t do was pull out a gun.
Brody collided with a display and sent a cascade of souvenirs crashing to the floor.
A man in a Dallas Cowboys cap rushed toward them.
Someone on the periphery caught his eye. He didn’t focus quick enough to see whether it was a man or woman. What drew him was the way the figure stooped and then bolted.
Shit. What was that about? And who the hell was the football cap guy?
About to snap necks, he made sure Kelly wasn’t hurt and rushed the stranger. Just as shit got real, the guy flashed a hand sign and stopped Roman in his tracks.
Fuck. Really?
He put out his arm to stop Brody when the guy rushed to his side. He muttered, “Back away,” and moved them toward the kids.
“What the fuck was that?” Brody snarled.
Roman looked at him. “Justice.”
Brody’s eyebrows rose, and he turned his head to look at the guy now exiting the shop. “Even on the plane?”
“Apparently,” he grumbled.
Domineau was busily handing off little piles of M&Ms to the kids. A distraction. He nodded to her and gave the all clear.
Heather brought Kelly to his side with an arm around his lady’s shoulders. She looked put out and wore a scowl. He tried to play it off and cracked a few lame jokes about how small and easily overlooked she was.
When the time came, the kids hugged it out, fist bumped, waved, and got on with it. They’d all worried for nothing.
Roman frowned about the incident in the store and wished he’d had a clearer fix on what happened because he knew damn well the second their plane landed, he’d be talking to the Major.
Settled in first class, he had his hands full anticipating any number of reactions from Kelly and Matty to leaving Bendover behind. To his great relief, his concerns were unfounded. Matty was fine, and Kelly really did seem to be excited about starting a new chapter in the lives.
“Have I told you lately how smart you are?” Heather asked with a laugh.
Brody rolled his eyes. “Not smart so much as a devout coward. Tears are my weakness. If Bella starts bawling about Matty leaving, my goose is cooked.”
She had to agree with him there, but so far, the girl was a duck. The whole thing rolled off her. After the trip to the airport and a drawn-out good-bye, Bella barely reacted.
They were unloading the SUV while Bella sat in the back seat. She was bouncing off the walls with excitement, but after Daddy explained the need for quiet and calm, she was the perfect kid.
“Have we forgotten anything?” she asked.
He picked up the pet carrier and a tote bag filled with supplies and motioned at her to take the second bag.
“Let’s do this,” he told her with a happy light glowing in his eyes.
Brody loved facilitating pet adoptions. He took the process so seriously and could be quite a bear if a pairing went wrong.
“Bella, sweetie. It’s okay. We’re ready. You go ring the doorbell.”
The girl flew out of the vehicle and sprinted to the front door. Parker and Angie knew they were coming, but Brody asked them to play along.
“Surprise!” Bella exclaimed when Parker opened the door. “Look, Uncle P,” she hollered exuberantly as she gestured to Brody and the pet carrier. “Daddy found you a puppy!”
They bustled inside, and Angie grabbed Bella for a mighty hug. They performed a handshake ritual that never seemed to go right and ended up laughing about it.
Parker led them to the great room and pointed with obvious excitement at the pet carrier. “Get on with the reveal!”
Bella squealed with delight and kept hugging Angie.
Brody opened the cage door and reached inside. “Easy now.” He pulled out a trembling ball of black and white fur and cradled the puppy against his chest.
She saw Parker motion with a nod for Brody to hand off the new member of the Sullivan family to Angie for the initial introduction.
“She’s a border collie from a litter of six.”
“Uh, she?” Parker sounded astonished. Heather tried not to laugh.
Brody handed the ball of fur to Angie.
“She’s sooo cute! Oh look, Parker! Isn’t she sweet?”
Bella exploded with joy. She fist bumped with Daddy and beamed at Angie.
Angie snoodled her face against the fur ball and giggled. “Aw, look! She has a poofy tuft of black hair!” She held the puppy for everyone to look. “See?” She picked at the crown of fur. “She’s a puppy Snooki!”
Heather snorted. Angie wasn’t wrong. The poofy tuft looked exactly like Snooki’s hairstyle.
“Snooki?” Parker was mumbling and looked like he was having trouble following along. “Can someone tell me what a Snooki is?”
“Snooki! Snooki!” Bella hooted.
Brody seemed to enjoy Parker’s befuddled state. He clapped him on the back and filled him in on the cultural reference.
“Didn’t you ever watch the Jersey Shore?”
Angie giggled. “No. He’s too old.”
Heather watched Parker’s reaction to his wife’s taunt and felt sorry for her ass because pregnant or not, she was going to answer for the snark.
“Wrong,” he sneered. “Watched it with Alex when he was convalescing.”
“So you see the resemblance, then? It’s so cute,” Angie cooed.
Heather knew a love match when she saw one. Angie Sullivan was the perfect proud fur baby mommy. She moved to her husband and cuddled the puppy between them. “Isn’t she adorable? And a border collie! You love her, don’t you, Parker?”
Brody reached for Heather’s hand. She squeezed his fingers. He was nervous about Parker.
Nothing to worry about, she mentally quipped, because Bella moved in for the kill.
“Daddy says she’ll be good with your baby. You can get a sticker for your car with a mommy, a daddy, a baby carriage, and a puppy.”
Things were so simple in the mind of a child.
Parker’s worship of his Desert Angel was Family Justice legend. He might have preferred a male Cerberus hound to suit his macho vanity, but the guy had zero chance of denying her anything. Same for not being enthusiastic. Angie wasn’t dumb. She’d see right through an act.
Heather noticed the second he shifted from surprised annoyance to loving acceptance. She didn’t doubt that if Angie Sullivan wanted a pet llama, there’d be one in the yard. It was sweet how devoted Parker and Angie were.
He scooped the wiggling fur ball into his arms and sat to check her out while Bella hovered and offered commentary. Angie caressed her tummy and looked on with a happy smile.
Hugging Brody’s arm, Heather kissed his shoulder. “Another one in the win column.”
They hung around for another hour. She and Brody sat at the kitchen island and gave the new family a chance to bond. Bella grew serious and carefully explained the equipment and food. She took extra pains to admonish the new parents about the importance of fresh water. Not water leftover from the previous day. Her daughter had strong opinions about this. Every morning, she dumped whatever was left in George’s water dish onto a plant. Then she poured fresh, cold water from the cooler into his special bowl and sometimes added an ice cube.
It was obvious from their first day together that Bella Mia’s near obsession with clean, fresh water was rooted in her past. Heather wondered sometimes if they’d have to confront more of the things lurking inside Bella that were the result of the shitty selfish decisions her birth mother made.
In no time at all, Parker and Angie were crawling around on the floor with Snooki. Crafty Bella asked for permission to use one of their cell phones to capture the moment.
A fantastic shot of Parker on the floor, leaning back against the sofa with Angie and the puppy on his lap, got forwarded through the Family Justice message thread, making the adoption official.
Their work done, they bid the new family a farewell and headed for home. It had been a hectic and emotional few days. School started tomorrow. There were new classes and workshops at the Double M to juggle, and Family Justice had a grudge challenge with the Chixie Dicks coming up.
Summer was over. It was time to shift into autumn mode. She had a New Year’s Day wedding to plan. Her stomach rumbled at the exact second her thoughts turned to getting pregnant and reminded Heather that dinner was waiting for them in the crockpot at home.
Chapter 19
“Honey, come on. It’s just target practice. And we won’t use real guns. You like the Red Ryder BB gun, I know you do.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Cam pulled Lacey into direct contact with his chest and dropped a kiss on the back of her neck. She was stiff as a board and was doing everything she could to appear standoffish. Luckily, his wife was a terrible actress.
Marriage was an obstacle course sometimes.
“We did the research. Got the best protection on the market. And the earphones are cute as shit! He’ll be fine.”
Pushing him back with her butt, she disengaged, threw down the dishtowel, and wheeled around. The adorable scowl intended to express her displeasure only succeeded in firing up his already overactive sex drive.
Ponytail Cameron with an attitude was a guaranteed turn-on. It simply didn’t get any cuter or sexier than his young and very beautiful spouse trying to act big and bad.
Unfortunately, when she turned around, he didn’t wipe the stupid grin off his face fast enough. This earned him a scolding smirk that truthfully only made him consider taking her back to bed. Or doing her on the floor. One of those things was definitely on the agenda.
“Two-year-olds do not require target practice, so whatever arguments you and Draegyn worked up to cover this nonsense, you can forget.”
“But it’s a BB gun! Not even real.”
She pursed her lips and squinted. It was her exasperated wife expression.
“It’s a BB what?” she argued.
Before he answered, Dyl added his two cents to the breakfast discussion.
“Gun, Mommy.”
Cam grinned. “That’s my boy.”
That was when his Ponytail adopted the crossed arms pose and pointed look that signaled she wasn’t having it. Any of it. So he came at her with the next part of his carefully constructed argument.
She cut him off at the knees before he got any words out. “The warning on the box says for ages ten and up.”
“Ralphie was nine.”
Her face was really funny when she argued. “In a movie. And he shot his eye out like his mother said he would.”
He snickered. “He did not!”
Dylan banged his hand on the table to get their attention. His dish and sippy cup were empty. The kid loved breakfast.
“I’ve got it,” he assured his unhappy wife. With learned precision, he dropped three more French toast sticks onto his son’s dish and added a spoonful of his favorite homemade jam to dip them in. Dylan was a champion dipper. He’d dip birthday cake into barbecue sauce if they let him.
After inspecting the sippy cup lid—all it took was one time when it wasn’t secure and milk flew everywhere for Cam to make checking a habit—he handed it off to his watchful son.
When he turned to Lacey, she was ready for him.
“I asked Alex. He learned at six. I’d prefer eight but …” She shrugged.
For his wife, Major Alexander Valleja-Marquez was the next best thing to the voice of God. If he thought socks and sandals were cool, she’d be the first to g
ive it a try. And truth be told, it wasn’t exactly a bummer that his closest friend—the man he looked up to for virtually everything—was also a surrogate father figure for Lacey.
Bottom line—the guy gave great advice and had astonishingly good judgment. About everything. Except clothes. When he dressed himself, Alex generally came off like a mash-up between a man in boy’s clothing and a comic book character. Not a good look at all.
Thinking he was in the clear now that she’d backed down about the BB gun, he plowed ahead.
“Cool. Hear that, Dyl? Only four more years.”
His son rocked on his butt and chuckled. There was a bright blue glob of jam stretching from cheek to chin.
Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, Cam brought out his phone. “So check out the ear protection. These babies have a noise reducing rate of ...”
“No,” Lacey grumbled. “There’s nothing you can say to convince me that my toddler son needs to hang out at the shooting range—regardless of the sound protection.”
“But Drae has been taking Danny. It’s no big deal, hon.”
“I said no.”
He glanced at Dyl. As usual, his son was taking it all in while calmly munching a breakfast stick. Sometimes, he wondered what went through the kid’s head. And Lacey was right—when caught at a certain angle, his son had a thoughtful expression that was ripped from the Major Marquez training manual.
“You can come too. We can make it a family thing.”
“I’m not taking our children to the gun range!”
Should he back down? She wasn’t at all happy with him at the moment, but he was sure she’d come around once she saw his point. No matter which way you sliced it or diced it, their kids were going to be raised around a lot of stuff. Including guns. He was just trying to do the responsible, sensible thing.
“Tell you what,” he said in his most reasonable voice. “You can come to the range and test the earmuffs.”
“Cameron!” she yelled. “I said no.”
Without warning, she threw her hands in the air and boomed, “Goddammit!”
He was so stunned that his only reaction was frozen astonishment. Lacey never swore. Ever.
Enduring (Family Justice Book 8) Page 39