“I love you,” she sighed.
Victor kissed the top of her head, his reply sleepy enough that she knew he was coasting on fumes. “Love you too, Sunshine.”
Belle couldn’t resist when she said, “Good night, Beast.” But Victor was already asleep, his heavy, steady breathing lulling her into that same state within seconds.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Victor watchedthe last rays of sun glint off the pool and tried to keep his nerves under control. Vivian’s flight had been delayed, which meant the carefully planned moment he and Belle had prepared to tell her about their relationship hadn’t happened before the Welcome Home cookout.
Perfect fucking timing, as always.
The party had been in full swing by the time a travel-weary but joyful Vivian appeared. Pip had leapt into her mother’s arms and remained there for a full hour despite the fact she was getting too big to be carried. Not that Vivian had minded. Eventually, she’d plopped the two of them down in a lounge chair, mother and daughter sitting with their heads touching as Pip inundated Viv with questions about her trip, regaling her with all of her own summertime adventures, then asking if she’d brought home a present for her.
Vivian had narrowed her eyes at Victor, blaminghimfor her daughter’s belief that every out-of-town trip required a gift. Not that Victor would apologize for that. Also, not that Vivian hadn’t brought home many gifts for her daughter.
While the party had been a way to welcome Vivian home, and his sister had loved the idea when he’d suggested it on the phone—claiming she’d missed everyone terribly—it was clear to Victor the only person he’d needed to invite to the shindig was Pip.
Just an hour ago, the yard had still been alive with laughter and the smell of grilled meat. Belle had moved through it all with her usual ease, serving as the perfect hostess, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, a bright smile on her face. Despite their heart-to-heart eleven days earlier, they’d maintained the secrecy of their relationship at home, both agreeing it was best to tell Vivian first, then loop her in when they broke the news to Pip.
Well, Victor thought with a grin…he and Belle hadtriedto keep things on the down-low. There had been more than a few near misses, because now that she was his, Victor was hard-pressed to keep his hands to himself, sneaking kisses as often as he could, some ending only a split second before his niece caught them.
Pip had made a few comments this past week about Victor’s ever-present smile, asking him why he was so happy all the time, which wasn’t surprising considering he typically looked like the world’s grumpiest bastard.
He’d been looking forward to his sister’s return, counting down as excitedly as Pip, who’d been religiously drawing X’s on the calendar her mother had hung on the refrigerator back in June. For one thing, he’d missed the fuck out of Vivian, and while they had FaceTimed almost daily, those too-brief conversations hadn’t been enough.
But more importantly, with her return, he and Belle could finally stop hiding and he could scream to the entire world that she was his. He would also know if all the worrying over Viv’s and Pip’s reactions had been justified or a huge waste of time. He prayed it was the second.
With the last of the guests gone, Victor picked up the tray of empty cups, beer bottles, and plates Belle had loaded.
Taking a quick glance around to make sure they were alone, he gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll take this into the kitchen, then come back for more.”
She nodded. “I’ll keep cleaning up out here.”
Victor passed the living room on his way to the kitchen, peering in. Pip was curled up on the couch, completely zonked, and Victor chuckled at her tiny snores.
Continuing to the kitchen, he placed the tray on the island and started unloading it.
Vivian, surprisingly cheerful after a long trip, was at the sink, drying dishes. She hummed softly, filling the kitchen with her calm energy, while Victor tried to think of how he and Belle were going to start their conversation.
“How long do I have to wait until you confess?” his sister suddenly asked, spinning around with a knowing grin.
Victor groaned, rubbing his neck. “Are we that obvious?”
“Only to the trained eye.”
Vivian had always been sharp.
“Besides, your teammates—with all their sideways glances and “wink-wink” nudges—are about as subtle as sledgehammers,” she deadpanned.
While he was still hiding his new relationship at home, he really never had a snowball’s chance in hell of keeping it from his buddies. Preston had texted at six a.m. the morning after his teammates told him to stop being such a fucking coward at Pat’s Pub.
Six a.m.!
Victor had given his buddy shit for waking him, especially considering he and Belle had woken up twice during the night to “consummate” their relationship again, certain that if one time was enough, then three times must be stellar.
His anger toward Preston didn’t last long when his friend told him that he might want to start getting used to early hours if he hoped to become a father someday. With that image in his head, he’d promised to call Preston later, muted his phone, then “practiced” making a baby with Belle, who’d made it back to her own room just five minutes before Pip woke up.
“We’d intended to tell you before the cookout,” Victor admitted, sighing. “But your fucking flight got delayed.”
