“Well Daddy and the uncles will all be receiving a time-out,” Jurnee said, giving her husband then each of us a stern look. “And you, young lady, would do good to remember to not do what they do.”
Everyone was trying hard not to laugh but when Embry got in the mix it was damn hard.
Letting out a small huff, she said, “Fine, but I don’t get a time-out because it’s their fault, right Gramps?” she said, running over to climb in his lap.
She adored Ruby’s grandpa and had him wrapped around her finger. All the kids did in fact.
“Sounds about right to me,” Gramps said.
“See,” Embry announced with a smug look on her face.
Her mother rolled her eyes and that was when the room erupted in laughter. I was glad I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t hold it in.
“See what we have to look forward to,” I whispered to Ruby.
Something passed across Ruby’s face. I knew that look. When I talked about the future she still struggled to believe that I would be in it. I didn’t think it was because she didn’t want me to be, but more because she didn’t know if it would last. She had been growing leaps and bounds in the trust department but old habits die hard.
“We have a future. Believe it, Red.”
She placed her hands on my chest, one resting over my heart, and my body buzzed with love. I didn’t need words to know how she felt. I could see it in her eyes and feel it in her touch.
“Time for the men to be put to good use,” Alley said, breaking up the moment. “It’s time to be manly and put all the stuff we brought together while us ladies organize.”
“We’ll continue this later,” I told Ruby.
There was a lot of stuff that had been brought in but everyone had been busy meeting the new family members and eating the pizza, salad, and breadsticks that someone had picked up on their way over.
Kids had been running all over and so far Autumn was doing great. It helped that Embry had taken her under her wing right away. But she seemed to like all the children and she also had a caring side to her, wanting to help the ones littler than she was. That amazed both Ruby and me. But we didn’t know much about her time before us and we were not sure how much we’d find out.
“Off I go to be manly,” I told Ruby, dropping my hands from her body.
“I’m not sure how much more manly you can get,” she muttered.
I smirked. “Do you think I’m sexy, sweetheart?”
She rolled her eyes as Jurnee had done moments before. I think it was a woman thing but I’d keep my mouth shut on that one because there were a lot of damn women in the house right now.
“You know you are. Now go.” She gave me a little shove and I chuckled as I walked off to join the rest of the guys, Jett included. Gramps was on kid duty.
“Well now that is quite the sight,” Alley said when we were all standing together. “Wouldn’t you say so, ladies?”
I noticed Patience blush. She had been holding her own, but she was only eighteen and this group of ladies was a lot.
“Watch it, wifey,” Landon said to Alley who stuck her tongue out at him. Something she did often. It was Alley’s playful, signature move it seemed.
The other ladies threw out some funny comments, along with appreciative glances at their significant others. My eyes went to Ruby.
Oh yeah, she liked what she saw and it was a good thing she was only looking at me. Desire simmered in her gaze and the look she was giving me almost set me ablaze.
Later,I mouthed.
A subtle squeeze of her thighs that nobody would notice, but I sure as hell did, told me she was feeling exactly what I was. And in all the right places.
I needed to get things done quickly and put everyone to bed.
So I could take my lady to ours.
* * *
