“You can’t have cake until Daddy does,” she said to the eager pup. “But you know he’ll give you some if you give him kisses.”
She patted Nahla’s head, and Nahla woofed.
They’d gotten lucky and found a cute four-bedroom Victorian on the outskirts of Harmony Pointe, situated on ten acres, with a barn big enough to host the birthday bashes, the first of which was taking place later today. Mason had immediately had a ten-foot iron fence installed around the property and a state-of-the-art security system put in. Remi was okay with all of it. Even though she’d decided to put acting on hold for a while and focus on their work with CCF, and Carl was behind bars serving a ten-year sentence, after everything they’d been through, she didn’t want to take any chances. Piper and her crew had renovated the barn, adding heat and air-conditioning, as well as a full kitchen and two bathrooms. They’d completed it just in time for today’s party.
Remi slipped Mason’s gift into the pocket of her short silk robe, excited to make his birthday extra special. He was also focusing more on their charity, and although he’d delegated much of his work over the holidays, he was planning to take on clients in the spring, with limited to no travel. She couldn’t imagine a life where he wasn’t doing what he did best, taking care of others. But this morning was all about Mason.
She carried the cake upstairs to the master bedroom with Nahla beside her. Mason was fast asleep, naked, the sheet bunched around his hips. The pink scars from his surgeries no longer gave her painful pangs. Instead they reminded her of how strong Mason was. Though with his broad, muscular chest and arms on display, she hardly needed reminding.
She set the cake on the dresser to light the candles, and then she picked it up and began singing. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you.”
Nahla leapt onto the bed with a low woof, giving Mason sloppy kisses all over his face.
“Good morning to you, too, Nahla.” Mason tousled her fur, pushing up to sit against the headboard. His eyes raked down the length of Remi’s body, leaving shivers of heat in their wake. “And good morning to you, gorgeous. You made me a cake?” His gaze swept around the room, lighting up at the sight of streamers and the birthday banner she’d put up while he slept. “Remi . . . ? When did you do this?”
“You were sleeping pretty hard after last night’s lovefest.” She sat on the edge of the bed, holding the cake, and sang, “Happy birthday, my beautiful soon-to-be husband, happy birthday to you!” They’d decided to get married in early summer, when the weather was warmer, in an intimate ceremony there at the house. Their house. Our home. “Make a wish and blow out your candles.”
“What could I possibly wish for? Everything I want is right here in this room.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“How about if we make a wish together?”
Oh, how she loved that he wanted to share his special wish with her. But this was his wish to make. “It’s your birthday, not mine, and don’t tell me what you wish for or it might not come true.”
“My last wish did. You said yes to my proposal.”
Nahla pushed her nose between them to sniff the cake and pressed her nose into the frosting.
“Nahla,” Remi said with a laugh.
Nahla licked the sweetness off her snout.
“Better make your wish quick or the cake will be full of nose prints.”
“This takes some thought. I’m not prepared,” he teased. “But seriously, I’ve got a fiancée I’m crazy about, the best friends a guy could want, a project I’m beyond proud of—”
Nahla licked Mason’s arm.
“And a dog I adore. What else could I want? Wait, can I wish for something for others?” he asked.
“Of course. It’s your wish.”
“Got it.” His face went serious for a second, and then he blew out the candles.
“Yay!” Remi cheered, which caused Nahla to bark. She set the cake on the dresser and sat beside Mason on the bed again. “I got you a little something.”
“Princess, you got me way more than a little something. You made a cake and you decorated our room.”
“You should see the rest of the house. This is just the beginning of your new birthday traditions. From here on out, every birthday will be more special than the last.”
He pulled her in for a kiss, which Nahla decided to join in on with her wet nose and sloppy tongue, causing them both to chuckle.
“This birthday is already more special than any other because I’m sharing it with you,” Mason said. “How much time do we have before everyone shows up?”
“An hour and a half. The party starts at ten, but everyone’s coming to help set up at eight. Parker and Grayson should get here around nine. I’m excited for you to meet them in person and see their baby girl. She’s so stinking cute!” Parker and her family were staying with them for the week, to visit and to talk about the future of their endeavor.
Mason swept her into his arms and rolled her beneath him with a boyish grin. “Then we have enough time to play?”
Nahla woofed, tail wagging, paws and snout flat on the bed. Nahla loved to play, and so did Mason—tossing balls for Nahla and playing sexy games with Remi.
Mason rolled his eyes.
Remi whispered, “You said the p-word.”
He eyed Nahla, who licked his face. “Okay, we’ll play, too, Nahla.”
“After I give you your present,” Remi said.
Mason pulled the tie on her robe open and pushed the silk to the sides, exposing her nakedness. “Now, that’s a present.”
“That’s not your present! You can have me after I give you your real gift.” She reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out the wrapped box. “Happy birthday, Mason.”
“You didn’t have to get me a gift,” Mason said as they sat up. He pulled her into his arms and said, “Thanks, Princess,” sounding choked up.
“You’re welcome. Don’t you want to open it?”
He continued holding her and said, “Yeah,” against her neck, embracing her for a moment longer. Then he sat back with a long inhalation, his eyes drifting from the gift to her. “You’re really something.”
He unwrapped the gift and lifted the top of the box. His eyes teared up again, and he put the top back on.
“You don’t like it?” She feared she’d made a big mistake. “I can return it. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, tears welling, his jaw muscles jumping double time. “Remi, this is . . . God . . .” He pulled her against him again, breathing hard. “This is just like the pocket watch I lost from my mother. It even has the same initials.”
“I’m ninety-nine percent sure it’s the same one.”
He sat back, gazing into her eyes.
“I put out a reward online. This woman was going through her father’s things after he passed away and she found it. Her son had bought it at a pawnshop and had given it to his grandfather two years earlier. I don’t know how it got to the pawnshop or how many other times it had been pawned. Porter tried to trace its history for me, but after tracking two owners and two pawnshops, he tracked it to a third pawnshop that had closed, so it was a dead end. I had Chuck come with me when I went to see it, because he said you’d described it to him, too.”
She’d loved spending time with Chuck and his wife, Estelle, when they were in the city, and they’d even gone to shows and dinners together. He’d told her all sorts of stories about Mason’s surly teenage attitude when he was younger and how Chuck had known that beneath the anger and the attitude was a good man waiting to be set free.
“You took Chuck? When?” Mason cleared his throat, regaining control of his emotions.
“One day when you thought I was going to visit Flossie with Aurelia. They actually went with me to see the watch, too. The four of us went together. Now you have something to pass down to our children. A family tradition.”
“Christ, Princess. I can see life with you is going to be full of surpris
es.”
“So, you like it?” she asked hopefully.
“I love it, almost as much as I love you.” He set the box on the dresser and said, “Nahla, down.”
Nahla whimpered and jumped off the bed.
“Aw, poor girl,” Remi said.
“She’ll be fine. I can’t get a gift like that without properly thanking my favorite girl.” His lips came coaxingly down over hers, and then he proceeded to thank her in the most toe-curling, exquisite way possible.
By ten thirty the birthday bash was in full swing, celebrating the special days of twenty-one foster children who had birthdays during the first quarter of the year. It was cold outside, but the barn was warm and festive, with colorful balloons and streamers hanging from the rafters. All of their friends had shown up to support the event. Music played from a stereo, and kids of all ages were doing arts and crafts and playing birthday games. Nahla was in her heyday, being loved up by children and adults everywhere she went.
Mason looked across the barn at Remi, who was helping a group of girls make ornaments. Patrice, an adorable four-year-old with pigtails, sat on Remi’s lap, where she’d been practically since the moment she’d arrived, and beside Remi was Olive, a fourteen-year-old girl who also hadn’t left Remi’s side since she’d arrived. Mason had never seen Remi look happier. He had thought the birthday boxes would make a huge difference in children’s lives, but seeing the celebration they’d been working on for months come to fruition was a gift in and of itself.
Aiden sidled up to him and followed his gaze to Remi. “She’s meant for this, isn’t she?”
“I’ll say. She’s a natural with kids.”
“You’ve made a world of difference in her life, Mason. I just want you to know that I recognize that. I think I was holding her back, and you set her free.”
“Or maybe she set me free,” Mason said as Brooklyn barreled through the barn doors and crashed into Mason.
She beamed up at him. “Mason, look!” She patted her fur hat as Krista joined them. “I’m wearing the hat you and Remi got me for Christmas! Don’t I look cool?”
“You sure do.” Before he finished speaking, Brooklyn darted off to greet Remi.
“Sorry,” Krista said, her eyes moving to Aiden. “She’s . . . um . . . She’s . . . a little excited to celebrate with the kids.”
Mason had never seen Krista at a loss for words, and Aiden looked a little starry-eyed, too. “Aiden, this is my friend Krista. She’s a photographer, among other things, and she’s going to take pictures of the event. Would you mind showing her where the coatroom is?”
“Absolutely,” Aiden said. “Right this way.”
As Krista followed Aiden, she glanced at Mason over her shoulder and mouthed, Wow, he’s hot!
“Playing matchmaker?” Piper asked as she came to his side, gnawing on a Twizzler.
“Just being nice,” he said as Porter came through the doors with his eight-year-old nephew. “Hey, Porter’s here with Lucas.”
“That delicious dish is married?” Piper sighed. “Figures.”
“That’s his nephew. His sister is a nurse and a single mother. He helps her out with Lucas when he can.” He nudged Piper and pointed to Harley, who was heading their way. “Besides, I think someone else has his eye on you.”
Piper arched a brow and said, “Nephew, huh? I’m good with a nephew.”
She headed for Porter and Mason headed for Remi, but Bodhi cut him off before he got halfway there.
“Hey, Mason, can you do me a favor?” Bodhi asked with Emerson in his arms.
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Would you mind taking Em for a minute? Willow needs my help getting a few things from her van.” Willow was providing the birthday cakes for the event.
“No problem.” He cradled Emerson in his arms and couldn’t resist pressing a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her sweet baby scent. She had Bodhi’s serious dark eyes and light hair like her mama.
“I hear if you smell them, you’re ten times more likely to have one in the next year.” Roxie brushed her fingers down Emerson’s cheek. “Isn’t that true, sweet baby girl? And how cute would a little Masi be?”
“Masi?” Mason arched a brow.
“Haven’t you seen the latest rag magazines? I’ve seen two new nicknames for you and Remi—Remson and Masi. You know, Mason and Remi combined. The press loves to do that. I prefer Masi. Oh, and apparently Remi’s pregnant, too.”
“What?” His gaze shot to Remi, and he warmed with the thought.
“That picture of her at the Christmas parade made her look a little heavier than normal, which of course means you’re having a baby.” Roxie laughed. “You need to keep up with the gossip.”
“I guess so. I never got a chance to thank you for your apricot potions.”
“My pleasure.” She looked at Remi, who was watching Mason with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I’m really happy for you two. I can bring some fertility potions by if you’d like.”
“How about we get married first?”
“Okay, but if you ask me, that baby in your arms is proof that babies come on their own schedules.” Emerson had been conceived after Bodhi and Bridgette were engaged but before they were married. Roxie pressed a kiss to Emerson’s head and said, “I think I’d better go see how Shira’s doing. Last I saw, she was drooling over Aiden.”
“He’s popular today.”
Roxie lowered her voice to a whisper and said, “I gave him a special shaving cream, too. Let that be our little secret.” She winked and walked away.
Mason arrived at the table where Remi was working with the kids just as Grayson Lacroux, Parker’s husband, rang a cowbell and announced, “Who’s ready to watch a magic show?”
Remi set Patrice on her feet and said, “Go with Olive. I’ll be right there.”
Olive, a shy brunette, took Patrice’s hand, and they joined the other kids and the adults gathering for the magic show.
Mason sat down beside Remi and said, “Hey, beautiful. Having fun?”
“I want to keep them all. Every last one of them.” She brushed her lips over Emerson’s head. “Think Bridgette will let us borrow Emmy for a night?”
“You have Miriam to play with for the next week.”
“I know, but look how cute Emmy is. I think we need a bigger house.”
He chuckled. “You can’t keep all these kids. They have foster families.”
“I know, but looking at them and thinking of what you went through, I can’t make sense of it. I just want to love every last one of them.” She motioned toward their crowded barn and said, “Can you believe we helped pull this together? Look how happy the kids are.”
“It’s pretty incredible.” He saw Aiden talking with Krista and said, “Did you see Aiden and Krista? They’re sort of gaga over each other.”
“Aiden doesn’t do gaga. He probably has gas,” she teased.
“You know, nobody thought I would get all mushy over a woman, either, and look at me now.”
“When I met you, I thought everything I wanted was just out of reach, and now I have you, and we have this, and a future, and . . .” Her eyes teared up.
He nuzzled against her neck and kissed her beside her ear, whispering, “I’m crazy about you, Remi Aldridge.”
“Talk dirty to me, baby,” she teased.
And he did, until her cheeks flamed red. She rolled her lower lip between her teeth, and her gorgeous hazel eyes brimmed with desire. Then he leaned closer and whispered, “Just breathe, Remi. Together we’ll make all your dreams come true.”
A NOTE FROM MELISSA
I have been waiting to write Remi’s story since I first met her in The Real Thing (Sugar Lake series). When I met Mason, I knew the charming, burly man had a huge heart and the right instincts to be Remi’s hero. I hope you enjoyed their love story as much as I loved writing it. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Remi, Mason, Aiden, the Daltons, and all of their wonderful friends, and I am
excited to bring you more Dalton and Harmony Pointe love stories soon. Ben and Aurelia’s story, Call Her Mine, is available in digital, print, and audio formats. Willow, Bridgette, and Talia each have their own book as well and have found their happily ever afters in the Sugar Lake series, all of which are now available for your binge-reading pleasure. If you’d like to read more about Duncan “Raz” Raznick, he’s mentioned in Anything for Love, the second book in my Bradens & Montgomerys series. Raz will eventually get his own love story.
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date with my new releases and to receive an exclusive short story (www.MelissaFoster.com/News).
If this is your first Melissa Foster book, you might enjoy the rest of my big-family romance collection, Love in Bloom. Characters from each series make appearances in future books so you never miss an engagement, wedding, or birth. A complete list of all series titles is included at the start of this book, and downloadable checklists, free series starters, and family trees are available on the Reader Goodies page of my website (www.MelissaFoster.com/RG).
Happy reading!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m continually surprised and inspired by fans and appreciate all of your emails and messages on social media. It’s wonderful to know that you’re enjoying my worlds as much as I enjoy creating them. I often turn to fans while researching scenes, and would like to thank Leisa Cossey Cook and Stephanie Durboraw, who were kind enough to answer numerous medical and hospital-related questions. Thank you for your endless patience and expertise.
If you’d like sneak peeks into my writing process and to chat with me daily, please join my fan club on Facebook. We talk about our lovable heroes and sassy heroines, and I always try to keep fans abreast of what’s going on in our fictional boyfriends’ worlds. You never know when you’ll end up in one of my books, as several members of my fan club have already discovered (www.facebook.com/groups/MelissaFosterFans).
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