Fern cut his hair though—always.
She’d joined his business too, lending her talents as a painter to elevate his quirky pipe designs. Life was perfect.
Squirming from his arms, Fern’s otter hopped down and scampered around him in a circle before jumping up on a chair and shifting back. Her sundress fluttered into existence beside her, a wild cacophony of teal and burnt orange that—when she had it on—highlighted the aquamarine she’d dyed the bottom layer of her hair.
“Come here,” Elliott rumbled, holding his arms out.
She stood from the chair and slunk over for a hug, letting him squeeze her ass and dip his fingers between her legs before she pushed him away. “Stop that, someone could walk in.”
“I can hear them all down in the living room.”
Rolling her eyes, she turned her back on him and bent over slowly to grab her dress from the floor, giving him the view he craved.
“Thank you.”
She laughed, stood, and pulled on her sundress. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
“The steak needs to rest another couple minutes.”
Groaning, Fern grabbed his hand, and dragged him back to the party.
She went straight for Autumn, scooping up the little bundle of love, who she’d been keeping occupied with. The baby offered an excellent cover for the fact Fern hadn’t had a drink or joined Elliott to smoke all evening. Watching her hold the infant, the way she ran her fingertips gently over Autumn’s soft dark curls, swelled his heart with bliss.
Glancing up, Fern smiled softly, her eyes sparkling as she sent a wave of joy right into him.
“Let me hold her,” he rumbled, holding up his arm, crooked at the elbow.
“I can take my daughter,” Ben offered, coming over with a beer in hand.
“Nah, I got it.” Elliott shook his head, enjoying the weight of the baby and the way she blinked up at him through dark brown eyes.
“Give me my baby,” Beck growled quietly, infusing a dash of alpha energy into his command.
“Jesus, dude, take her. I didn’t realize you were serious.”
Grinning, he shrugged. “I missed her.”
“She looked good on you,” Fern murmured, stepping up to Elliott’s side.
Accepting a beer from Noa, who’d just returned from the kitchen, he sat hard on one of the sofas and pulled his mate into his lap. “Well, cover me in ’em.”
“I plan to.” Running her fingers up his chest, Fern leaned in and whispered, “Kiss me before you taste like beer again.”
He did, pulling her lip between his teeth and nipping her gently, then hugging her and leaning in to whisper, “Should we tell them?”
“Mhm. Do you have my phone?”
“Yep, right here.” Elliott fished around in his pocket, pulled it out, and handed it over.
She texted Renata, “Answer!” then promptly started a video call.
“Hi, hi!” Ren’s round face popped up on-screen, smiling, though it didn’tquite reach her eyes the way it had when he’d first met her last year. “Hi, Elliott.”
“Hey, Ren.”
“Renata!” Olivia snatched Autumn from Ben and came closer to be heard.
“Who’s all there?” came from the speaker.
