I pulled Bre along with me, Lennon and the others following behind. When we entered the crazy chaos, Stormi attacked her new cousins with glee. She adored Lennon and Bre. They seemed to feel the same. Having had a bit of time to get used to the idea of having more family than just River, they’d taken Stormi under their wing. I had no doubt Lennon would protect her like he did his sister.
All the kids that were in the room crowded around the older two in wonder. They seemed to think the teens hung the moon. Bre talked and smiled but she hadn’t let go of me yet, but I didn’t mind.
I felt a hundred feet tall right then, knowing she trusted me to keep her safe and that I was someone she felt comfortable with.
I watched as River moved with Lake farther into the massive room that was an open floor plan containing the kitchen, dining room and great room where I’d been waiting for the very three people who’d become very important to me.
All the ladies slowly descended on the newcomer, welcoming River. The chatter began immediately and the room grew louder by the minute. It looked like almost everyone was there, but then Lance and London walked in behind me, mixing into the fray.
Lance had his hand protectively on his pregnant wife’s back. She hadn’t been really showing the last time I’d seen her, but she was a bit now. She was also glowing.
Lake, also being pregnant, was still a little green, meaning I’d had the unpleasant experience of hearing her puking at work. My friend refused to take time off yet, even thoughBronson had been begging her to. We were all a protective bunch of men.
I glanced back over to the group of ladies and caught River watching me. Our gazes connected and held.
It was hard not to be protective when we had such special people in our lives.
And River was truly special.
Chapter Fifteen
RIVER
I almost didn't believemy eyes.
When my daughter ditched her brother and me for Huntley, warmth settled inside me. It was still shocking, but it was a huge growth, it was amazing, and it was with a man.
But it wasn’t justanyman.
Huntley was… I searched for the right words as my eyes soaked him in. Sure, he was gorgeous on the outside, but more importantly, he was a good guy. Bre couldn’t have picked a better person to put her trust in. The words I’d been looking for floated around in my head.
Huntley wasspecial.
Tome.
I wasn’t the only one either. Lake had told me what an awesome friend he was, how much his co-workers at the station liked him, and how people gravitated to him even when they were on grueling calls. He had a way about him and my daughter had picked up on it.
Huntley was worming his way into our lives and I was afraid to admit quite possibly my heart. The issue was, I couldn’t trust my heart.
But watching him with Bre, I had a hard time not believing everything it had been trying to tell me over the last few weeks.
That was the case throughout the afternoon, and into early evening as I watched Huntley with everyone. It seemed every adult and kid hadn’t left him alone. Bre had finally let him out of her sight and started to play with the kids but then it was Lennon who stuck close to him.
It was clear that Lennon was soaking up the male companionship. He already liked Bronson, now Huntley, and as the day wore on, he was letting his guard down with the other guys too.
There was only one thing I was a bit disappointed about where Huntley was concerned. It seemed everyone was getting a piece of him but me. However, since I had been attuned to him pretty much the whole day, I’d noticed that he seemed to track me all the time, his gaze always finding mine.
I worked to stamp down the tiny bout of jealousy. Because seeing him with the kids, not only mine, but all of them, along with everyone in attendance was very telling that when I’d thought he was special, I was without a doubt correct.
I’d get my time with him. I was getting used to the different expressions on his face and the way his eyes changed to different shades of green depending on his mood. As I looked over in his direction, I could see the longing and the promise that we would have our moment.
Anticipation zipped through my body.
He was popular and none of the ladies seemed to want to leave me alone, so that’s how the day had gone. I knew the women were trying their hardest to make me feel welcome. They were relentless when it came to bringing me into their fold. Little by little, I felt myself caving. But I wasn’t sure exactly when I would be fully used to their crazy candor.
Alley gave me a small hip check. “So, is there anythingyou want to tell us about the hunky fireman you have been watching all night?”
And there it was.
