“Consider it done then.” I run my thumb along her lower lip, and she visibly shivers. Her eyes flash with heat in a way I haven’t seen for a while. I kiss the corner of her mouth. “I love you.”
Her eyes turn glassy again as she smiles. “I love you too.”
I open my mouth—to ask permission to kiss her—before I mentally slap myself upside the head. I’m Saint fucking Westbrook, and I need no permission to kiss my beautiful wife. Lowering my head, I claim her lips with mine, and every part of my body rejoices as her lush mouth moves against mine.
6
Harlow
“Want some company?” Caz says later that night, entering my bedroom. I set my book down and smile at my husband.
“I’d love some.” It’s amazing how much lighter I feel after the family talk earlier. Saint and I went for a walk on the beach while the others went to meet up with Freya. We talked and talked for hours, cuddled and kissed, and we both needed that. Being with him like that again reminded me of everything we’ve been missing out on, and I can’t wait for our romantic getaway this weekend. Saint is insisting on organizing it and he wants to keep it a secret until Friday. I’m already on a countdown.
Peeling back the covers, I pat the empty space beside me. Caz shucks out of his sweatpants, climbing into the bed in only his boxers. He opens his arms, and I settle my head on his bare chest. “You’re so warm.” I nuzzle in closer, my fingers lightly tracing the ink on his chest. The guys got them done last year—a large heart with my name and the kids’ names inside. They left space for the planned future addition to the family, and I truly hope they’ll be updating their ink next year. I have all their names, along with the kids’ names, inked on the inside of my right arm, and every time I look at them, it brings the biggest smile to my face. Caz’s strong arms tighten around me, and I briefly close my eyes, savoring being held by him. “You always make me feel so protected.” I sigh in contentment when Caz’s hand weaves through my hair.
“I’m glad because I would go to the ends of the earth for you, queenie.”
I press a kiss to his chest, right over his heart, where the family ink rests. “I know you would. As I would for you too.” I look up at him, spotting the telltale purple shadows under his eyes and frowning. “What’s keeping you awake at night?”
His eyes lower to mine, and I get lost in the warm brown depths. “You and Saint were part of it. I’m glad we talked things through.”
“Me too, and it’s going to be okay.” He nods, and I can tell he’s happy we are getting things back on track. “Is it your mom?”
“Yeah.” His face showcases his concern.
“Has something happened?” Have I been too self-absorbed to notice his pain?
“Not really. It’s just that Nelia says she’s very down and her mobility isn’t great.”
Caz’s dad survived the shootout at Galen’s house the night Sinner died, but he was subsequently arrested, charged, and imprisoned, along with several other surviving Sainthood members. He died three years ago in jail—from lung cancer—only a few months before he was scheduled to be released. Mrs. Evans divorced him a couple years after he was incarcerated, and it helped to rebuild the bond with all her children. Caz bought his mom a new house in a nicer part of Prestwick, and his younger siblings still live with her. Nelia turned twenty-two recently, and Jake is eighteen. He just graduated high school.
We discovered Caz’s mom had Parkinson’s just after we found out about Bishop’s heart condition. It was a stressful time for Caz. I know being so far away plays on his mind, and I wonder if we are selfish to stay in Rhode Island. If we shouldn’t consider uprooting our lives and returning to Prestwick or Lowell, even if the thought doesn’t hold much appeal.
“Why don’t you go visit her this week? I know Theo is busy with work, but I could take a couple days off to go with you?” I offer. “We could bring the kids. They’d love to see their grandma.”
“I appreciate the suggestion, but it doesn’t make sense. We’ll be vacationing there next month,” he reminds me.
Every August, we return to Lowell to spend time with Caz’s family and to catch up with Bry. He has his own tattoo shop now, and business is booming. He’s been with his girlfriend, Deana, for years, though neither of them seems in any hurry to get hitched. We spend a week at the house on Galen’s family grounds—the kids adore playing in the maze—and then we travel to Arizona to spend a week with Mom and Lincoln. They are married now and happy running a successful law practice in their local town. Diesel and Denise try to coordinate it so they are there at the same time, and our kids love playing with their girls.
“And the garage is fully booked this week,” Caz continues. “Plus, Harry is on vacation, and we can’t afford to be another man down.” As a business owner, you’d think you could take time off whenever you want, but the reality is often the opposite.
“That’s a shame, but you’re right. Maybe we should send your mom some flowers, or I could talk to Nelia about booking them both in for a spa day?” I look into his eyes. “Do you think she’d like that?”
He kisses the tip of my nose. “I think that might cheer her up, and it’s very thoughtful.” He squeezes me gently. “Thank you.”
“Do you ever wish you lived closer? That we’d move?” I ask, swirling circles on his chest with the tip of my finger. “Because we can discuss it with the others, if you like?”
He tilts my chin up. “You’d do that for me?” His tone drips with incredulity. And I get it. He knows I’m not keen on returning to the area we grew up in, for a whole heap of reasons.
“Of course, I would if that’s what you need to happen.” And I mean it. They are not idle words.
He lowers his mouth to mine, kissing me tenderly. “I love the way you love me, Lo.”
“The feeling is definitely mutual.” I smile against his lips.
“And I appreciate the offer so much, but I wouldn’t ask that of any of you. I don’t want to uproot the kids. They are happy here, and I know it’d be painful for everyone to move back there. Especially you and Theo.”
Theo’s family situation hasn’t changed, and though he says he doesn’t care—that he’s moved past his parents’ abandonment of him—we all know it’s an ongoing source of pain because of the impact it has had on his relationship with his siblings. Theo meets up with his sister Ria a few times a year. She’s three years younger than him, and she’s a doctor. She works in Jefferson City, Missouri, and she’s engaged to a fellow doctor. Ria is super sweet, and I’m glad Theo has a good relationship with her. The twins are a different matter. They are seventeen now and starting senior year soon, but Theo has little contact with them.
