“I know I fucked up. I know I did. I should have listened to Aubrey about keeping her. I know I should’ve figured something out, but I love my sister, and I know what could’ve happened to her if the truth came out about who Jenna’s father was.”
“I’m her father.” I turn in my seat to face him. “If you ever get back into your sister’s good graces, you need to understand that.”
“Fuck, man.” He jerks his fingers through his hair. “You’re right.”
I blow out a breath and attempt to get my temper under control before I say something I might regret. “Your sister loves you. Just give her time. Right now, all she’s thinking about is Jenna not being here and why that would’ve been.”
“I’ll give her time. Just… fuck, please just talk to her. I miss her.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I tell him, opening the door and getting out, unwilling to say more. Whatever happens between him and Aubrey will happen when she’s ready, and not before then. I walk to the trunk, pound it with the back of my fist, and it pops open. I swing my duffle up over my shoulder then, without another look in his direction, I head into the airport to catch my flight home to both my girls.
“Is that how you greet visitors now?” I grin at my dad as he steps out onto the porch with a shotgun in his hand.
“All I saw were headlights. I didn’t know who was here.” He opens the door wide to let me through as he returns the gun to the case on the wall. “Glad you’re home.”
“Me too. Thanks for looking after my girls while I was away.”
“You know I’m here anytime you need me.” He pats my back as my eyes meet Aubrey’s across the room.
“Hey.” She smiles at me from the doorway of the kitchen.
I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around her, holding her close. “I missed you.” I breathe in her scent, letting it wash away everything I saw and did.
“I missed you too.”
It’s been too long since I’ve held her, and I don’t want to let her go, hating it when she releases me so my mom can hug me.
“As much as I’ve loved having Aubrey and Jenna here with us, I’m so glad to have you home safe.” My mom gives me a look that asks a million questions, questions I’ll never answer. I’ve told my dad some of what I’ve been doing the last few months, but even he doesn’t know all the details.
“I’m happy to be home. I missed my girls.” I look at Aubrey. “Where’s Jenna?”
“Sleeping,” she says then shakes her head when the baby cries. “She must know you’re home.”
“I’ll get her and give you two a minute alone,” Mom says, taking Dad’s hand and pulling him out of the room.
I lead Aubrey over to the couch and sit down, pulling her onto my lap.
“Are you okay?” she asks, sliding her fingers through my hair as I wrap my arms around her waist and rest the side of my head on her chest.
“Oh yeah.” I’ve kept my promise to her each and every trip, and this time isn’t any different. “It’s over.”
“It’s over?” she repeats on a whisper, and I tip my head back to look at her.
“Paulie’s dead. His wife found out about his mistress and killed him. We didn’t even have to get our hands dirty.”
“So it’s really over?”
“It is.”
“My brother?”
“Still isn’t my favorite person, but I don’t dislike him as much as I did at first.” She looks surprised by that. “He wants to reconnect with you and asked me to talk to you.”
“I…” She shakes her head. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that, if I’ll ever be ready for that.”
“You running marked him. He knows he messed up.” I cup her cheek.
“He hurt me.”
My jaw clenches. It kills me thinking of her in any kind of pain. Even her parents being in town for our wedding was hard on her, and I was tempted to send them back to Vegas sooner than planned. It was a catch twenty-two; she was happy they were here but still hurt by all that happened.
“I’ve got your back for whatever you decide, but I think it’d be good if you two spoke. He just wants you to be happy, even if it means he’ll never be a part of your life again.”
She leans into me and rests her head on my shoulder. “I don’t know if I could ever trust him after what he did, after everything that’s happened.”
“This isn’t something you need to decide on today, tomorrow, a year or however fucking long from now. The ball is in your court, baby.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, cupping my jaw. “Thank you for always putting me and Jenna first.”
“No matter what, baby, you and Jenna will always be my priority,” I say, knowing I’ll work my ass off so she never regrets putting all her trust in me. She touches her lips to mine then smiles when Jenna cries. I turn my head and my chest warms when I see my baby girl’s eyes on me. “Hey, pretty girl,” I coo as Aubrey scoots off my lap, and I take Jenna from my mom. The minute she’s in my arms, she latches onto the beard on my face, tugging hard enough I lean forward.
“You’re probably going to need to shave that,” Dad says, and I grin.
“Maybe I should shave my hair off too,” Aubrey states, and I look at her, narrowing my eyes. “I’m kidding.”
“You better be.” I give her a swift kiss then lift my girl so we’re eye-to-eye. “I missed you. Are you ready to go home?”
Her answer is to reach for my beard again, making me laugh.
“I’m gonna miss having the girls here,” Mom says, eyeing the luggage and baby items packed up by the front door.
“Mom, we’re less than thirty minutes away. You can come over whenever you want.”
“I know.” She waves me off. “It’s just that Jenna has already gotten so big, and it feels like each day she grows more and more.”
“I think that’s how it works,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.
“You and Aubrey should have another baby, so I don’t run out of baby time.”
“Why don’t you let Aubrey and Justin decide when they are going to have more kids?” Dad suggests, rolling his eyes.
“It’s their choice. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be upset if they wanted to start now.”
“I think you two should go.” Dad grins at me. “If you don’t, your mom might lock you in a room until she gets her way.”
“Right.” I stand with Jenna while chuckling at my mom, who’s glaring at my dad. “We’ll see you two in a few days.”
“Don’t worry, Cora. I’ll try to convince your son,” Aubrey says, surprising me, and I look at her. “What?” She shrugs. “I wouldn’t mind having another sooner rather than later.”
“Baby.” Fuck, I want that. I want lots of babies with her.
“Yay!” Mom whispers loudly. “More babies.”
I keep my eyes locked on Aubrey’s then close them, wondering how the fuck I got so goddamn lucky.
Chapter 17
AUBREY
“I CAN’T BELIEVE we have a whole night to ourselves.” I should probably be nervous about leaving Jenna, since it’s my first time away from her, but I know she couldn’t be in better hands. And I’m excited about spending the night alone with my husband.
“Mom and Dad will take good care of our girl,” he assures me.
“I know they will.” I lean into his side as we walk through the lobby. “This place is so cool.”
“It used to be a train station.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he says as we stop at the elevator that will take us up to our suite.
“It’s also haunted,” a woman says, and I turn, meeting the eyes of an older lady with graying hair.
“Marsha, don’t start,” the man at her side, who’s probably her husband, says, sounding exasperated.
“Well, it is.”
“Really?” I ask her.
She nods, stepping closer to me, and Justin’s body stiffens. I pat his abs to let him know it
’s okay. “They say a young girl named Abigail died here, throwing herself in front of a train after the love of her life didn’t return from war. Now, she haunts the hotel and room 711.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
“I know.” She takes my hand. “Isn’t that so beautiful?”
I blink, not sure we have the same outlook on a woman dying because the man she loved didn’t return from a horrible war. “Ummm….”
“Marsha.” Her husband sighs.
“What?” She looks at him. “It’s beautiful.”
“Sorry, you two,” her husband says, grabbing her arm and leading her away.
When the doors to the elevator open, I stand just outside the car as Justin steps in with our bag. “Babe.”
“This place is haunted.” I look around, expecting to see a ghost swoop down out of thin air to attack me. “We can’t stay here.”
“Jesus.” He shakes his head, tugging my hand, and I stumble into the elevator car as he wraps his arm around my waist and holds me against him.
“Did you know this place is haunted?” I ask as the doors close and the elevator starts to rise.
“It’s not haunted.”
“That lady just said it was haunted.”
“Sweetheart, it’s not haunted.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, and he looks away from me, not answering. “You knew it was haunted.”
“It’s just lore, baby, and it doesn’t matter. We’re not staying in room 711, and I don’t expect you to see more than our room,” he says as the doors open and he takes my hand. When we reach our room, he taps the key against the knob to unlock it then pushes the door in, gesturing for me to go inside.
As soon as the door shuts behind us, he drops our overnight bag on the floor and sweeps me off my feet. I barely get to see anything as he strides to the bedroom and tosses me on the king-sized bed. I laugh as he starts to strip off his clothes then moan as he makes quick work of mine. Once we’re both completely naked, he comes down on top of me and presses me into the mattress.
His gorgeous blue eyes stay locked on mine as his hand slides down my neck and chest to toy with my nipples. As I writhe beneath him, he moves lower, his hand sliding down over my ribcage and belly to between my legs. When he reaches my pussy, he presses his palm against my clit, and my hips buck in response.
“Easy, sweetheart.” He dips his head and drags his tongue over my clit. I whimper as he buries his face between my legs, his fingers entering me as he works me with his mouth. He doesn’t relent; he licks and sucks until an orgasm rips through me, making me see stars. “I swear I’ll never get enough of you.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not going anywhere,” I breathe, lifting up on my elbows to watch him wrap his hand around his cock and stroke his hard length.
“Spread your legs, baby. I want inside you.”
I don’t hesitate. I give him what he wants. I spread my legs as he slides the head of his cock through my wetness, and I glide my hands down his chest and trace the grooves of his abs. A deep groan rumbles from his chest, and I keep my eyes locked on his as he slowly enters me.
“Perfect. You’re so fucking perfect for me.”
I move my hand up his chest and wrap one around the back of his neck, pulling his head down so I can brush my lips against his. “I love you.”
“I know.” He thrusts into me hard and fast, going deeper and deeper with each powerful movement. Every time we make love is amazing, but this time feels different, like we’re more connected than ever, heightening my senses, driving me closer to the edge faster than normal.
“I’m so close,” I pant, my walls beginning to pulse around his hard length. My nails dig into his skin, my toes curling. When he releases his grip on my hips and glides his hands up to cup my breasts to pinch my nipple, it feels like there’s a direct link to my core.
“Come for me, baby. I want to feel you come for me.” His cock and his words send me over the edge, and my pussy clamps down on him while I scream his name. I hold onto him tighter as his hips ride me through my climax, and my nails dig into his back as he plants himself deep and finds his own release. When his weight rests against me, I close my eyes and soak in the feeling of us reconnecting, and I smile when I remember we have all night to just be Justin and Aubrey, a newlywed couple in love and starting a life together.
“I want a baby,” he says, and I open my eyes as he pulls his head back to look me in the eye.
“Really?”
“I didn’t have siblings. I want Jenna to have that. I want her to have brothers and sisters. I want a house full of kids driving us crazy.”
Tears fill my eyes. “I want that too,” I whisper right before he drops his mouth to mine to kiss me. Then, for the rest of the night, we work on making our dream a reality.
_________________
“Morning, baby.” I open my eyes and see the man I love looming over me with a satisfied smile on his face.
“Morning.” I stretch as he touches his lips to mine.
“Hungry?”
“Yes.” I sit up, wondering how long he’s been awake. Really, I expected us to sleep until noon, something neither of us has done since Jenna was born.
“I ordered room service. It should be here soon.” He ogles my bare chest, and I roll my eyes as there is a knock on the door.
“Food’s here.” He stands up then asks, “Are you disappointed you didn’t see a ghost last night?”
“Shut up.” I toss a pillow at him as he walks across the room, listening to him laugh.
“It was just a question, baby.” He grins at me as he comes back into view pushing a cart.
“Whatever.” I eye the plates as he pulls off the lids, my mouth watering when I see a fluffy-looking omelet and fresh fruit.
“Can you check that for me?” he asks when his phone chimes on the table next to me.
“Sure.” I frown when I see the name on the screen. “Why is Aedan sending you a message? I thought you were done with Vegas.”
“Relax, baby.” He takes the phone from my hand. “Just because your brother sent me a text doesn’t mean shit’s happening.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “Why are you acting like it’s no big deal Aedan’s contacting you?”
“We talk at least once a week.”
“You talk to him once a week?” I hiss, unsure how I feel about that.
“Yeah.” He takes his phone and moves away from the bed, setting it down to pour a cup of coffee from the carafe on the tray.
“What do you talk about?”
“We don’t talk. He normally just asks for photos or updates.”
“Photos?”
“I send him pictures of Jenna,” he says, bringing me a cup of coffee. I’m not sure how to react to the news that my husband and brother have been talking for the past few months without me knowing about it. A part of me is happy they’re getting along, but another is pissed I didn’t know.
“Why am I only hearing about this now?”
He shrugs his broad shoulders. “Because the last time we talked about your brother, you weren’t ready to have anything to do with him.”
“And you are?”
“I’m not saying I want to see him all the fucking time, but I feel for him, and he’s not stepping on my toes. All he wants is to know you and Jenna are doing okay, so that’s what I’m giving to him.”
“Oh,” I mutter.
“When you’re ready, sweetheart, not before,” he says, reading my mind.
I take a sip of coffee, wondering when that will be. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and the only black cloud hanging over me is the pain of missing him. “Is it safe for him to be texting your regular phone and not a burner?”
“I wouldn’t let him do it if it wasn’t,” he says quietly.
“So it’s also safe to call him on it?”
“Yeah.” He pushes the cart of food next to the bed and takes a seat next to me.
“Can I see your c
ell?” I ask, and his eyes search mine before he hands me the phone. I take it, and my hands tremble as I hold it.
“I’m right here.” He touches his lips to my cheek, and I pull in the strength I need from him before I dial Aedan’s number.
“What’s going on? Are Aubrey and Jenna okay?” Aedan asks, and I close my eyes.
“We’re fine,” I whisper.
“Aubrey?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Fuck, it’s good to hear your voice,” he rasps. “For a minute there, I thought something must’ve happened to you, because Justin never calls. He sticks to texts.”
“Sorry for scaring you. Justin said it’s safe to call, and I guess I figured I’d better do it now before I lose my nerve,” I say as my husband takes my hand.
“You don’t have to apologize. Not for anything. I’m the one who owes you an apology. I wish things were different. If I’d never gone down this path in the first place, things could have been—”
“Stop,” I cut him off. “What happened to me isn’t your fault. I wasn’t targeted because of who you are. It was a case of me being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the only person who’s to blame is already dead. Let’s leave it in the past where it belongs.”
“Fine, I’ll give you that.” I listen to him let out a deep breath. “But I’m still so fucking sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, sorry that you ran, and sorry I’m missing out on knowing my niece.”
This version of Aedan is very different from the one I left behind. And as much as I wish he’d been as open and understanding before, I’m glad he wasn’t, because then I might never have met Justin.
“I accept your apology,” I say, unsure what role I want him to play in our lives.
“Are you happy?” he asks, sounding curious.
“I have an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “Right now, I’m focusing on what I’ve gained instead of what I left behind.”
“I’m happy for you, little sis.”
“Thank you.” I look at my husband, the man who changed everything for me, and know without a doubt my path led me exactly to where I needed to be.
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