A dark laugh strums in his chest. “Ours will be a shining light, so bright, so unstoppable the world will warm under its brilliant sun.”
“Logan mentioned he wanted to farm me out—you know, just long enough for us to procreate.” It’s true. Our pillow talk took a turn for the carnal a few weeks back and Marshall was brought into the mix.
“He may farm you out my way as much as he desires, so much as you desire it as well, but that doesn’t mean I’m offering him my allotment of time with you.”
“You realize you have me now in every way but that.” I tip my head as if waiting for him to make a concession.
He leans in and presses a tender kiss to my lips that sends an electrical jolt sizzling from my head to my toes.
“I’d best assist the gentlemen with the cleanup. Something tells me they can use a good delegator to move along the process.”
“Delegator.” I giggle to myself as I head inside and spot Laken chugging down a bottle of water in the kitchen.
Chloe passes me as I head over and pulls me back by the wrist.
“Skyla”—her voice is demonically low, probably just showing her true colors now that there’s not anyone else around—“I’m going to hang Em by her vegan tits for feeding me that rubbish. My heartburn is about to kill me.”
“Em didn’t make anything for the shower but the cakes. Ezrina catered all the food. And I ate the same things as you did and I feel fine. How do you feel, Laken?”
“Exhausted. I was hoping Coop or Wes would offer to hobble Charlie and me across the street.”
Emma and Kresley come in from outside. So far, I’ve done a stellar job of avoiding them both, but apparently that good time has ended. Emma is holding baby Eli in her arms and he is every bit a twin to the boys.
Kresley has dyed her hair raven’s wing black. Her new face—post her Laken phase—is still supermodel beautiful. She’s lost all her baby weight and is back to wearing her preppy gear as if it were her religion, and I have no doubt it is.
“Good party.” She nods to Laken. “I had a good time with your sisters—both Jens.”
A long time ago, when the Counts kidnapped Laken, they Frankensteined her family and sewed in members who weren’t even blood-related. Their twisted ways know no bounds.
“I’m glad.” Laken watches Kresley with great apprehension. “Thank you for coming. I’m very happy that our relationship has finally turned a corner.” She brushes a finger over baby Eli’s face. “I know Charlie loves her brother.”
Giselle and Ellis come inside. Ellis is holding Charlie and they offer to help Laken across the street.
Giselle looks to her mother. “Did you see all the pretty presents? And the toys? Ellis is going to give me a baby so I can have all the presents and toys.”
Emma twitches. She still can’t seem to accept Ellis in Giselle’s life. “No toys. It’s schoolbooks for you, young lady. You’re making quite the strides at Host.”
“Yes,” I say. “And now that Mia and Melissa will be there this fall, you can show them around and teach them the ropes.”
“Oh, they’re going to have so much fun. There are so many boys and they’re all exceptionally nice. Ellis told me that Mia and Melissa are boy crazy.”
Chloe scoffs. “Just like their big sister. Skyla’s been showing them the ropes, too. I’m sure soon they’ll be knocked up in keeping with tradition and Lizbeth will figure out a way to shove her boobs in everybody’s mouth.” She whines as she grabs her back.
That’s what she gets.
Laken takes off with Giselle and Ellis as Emma tips her chin my way.
“We don’t see much of you anymore, Skyla.”
“And you’re welcome.” Because really? What else did she want me to say?
“Don’t be silly. You’ll always be a part of the family. Gage may have traded one wife for the other, but Logan is like my son, too.”
“Traded?” Chloe scoffs at her new mother-in-law. “We’re not playing cards, Emma. And who the hell cares if Skyla spends the rest of her days avoiding you? If you would have treated her like a person, and not a commodity, she might even like you.”
Kresley and I exchange a quick look. And here I thought Emma and Chloe were BFFs.
Emma sniffs at her daughter-in-law. “I love you both equally.” She sharpens her eyes over Chloe. “You just take it easy, little miss. You’ve had a very big day and that baby needs you to get your rest. Off to bed with you.” She winks my way as she and Kresley head for the door.
