“What did you dream about last night?” I ask. It’s a question I normally pose at breakfast, but if he’s this excited, I’d imagine he needs something to keep his mind occupied.
“Dragons!” He goes into a long-winded story about how he wore a full suit of armor while riding the back of his red dragon. I thoroughly enjoy listening to him talk about his dreams. I have a feeling some of his stories are created after he wakes up, but I love listening to his imagination work.
By the time he’s squirming and ready to get up, Knox and I are fully awake. We send him off to his room to get dressed for the day after a long discussion about whether he shouldput on his party outfit right away or wait. The final decision was to wait until everyone is about to arrive so he doesn’t get it dirty.
Once he’s out of the room, Knox wraps an arm around my waist and hauls me into his chest. “Good morning, Princess.”
“Good morning.”
“Sorry about the early wake-up call.”
I shrug. “I don’t mind. We’ve got a lot to do today anyway, so it’s probably better to get things started now.”
He grunts, clearly not excited about all the work that’ll go into setting up Finn’s party. Gia and Gwen are planning to come an hour early to help, but there’s more to do before then.
“Come on, guys!” Finn shouts.
I giggle into Knox’s chest as he groans again, then pop a kiss on his mouth before I get up. “Come on, grumpy bear. We’ve got a birthday party to get ready for.”
* * *
“Damn, woman. You’ve been busy,” Knox murmurs into my neck. The kitchen and dining room have been transformed into the coolest science lab. I’ve designated spots for the food on the counter and made them to look like science experiments, and the table has been set up with little science kits for each kid to play with when they arrive.
I turn around and start to hug Knox’s neck, but he moves away. “Don’t. I smell like horse and sweat and who knows what else.”
I make a face and step away from him as he laughs. While we were having breakfast this morning, one of Knox’s ranch hands came in saying they were missing some cows. He raced out the door after a drawn-out apology kiss for leaving me to deal with everything by myself.
“Did you find the cows?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s the weirdest thing—the fence I just put up had been cut.”
I frown. “So someone deliberately put a hole in the fence?”
“Seems like it. I came back as soon as I realized. I was worried Alex might’ve done it to get you alone in the house.”
I shake my head. “I’ve been inside all day and haven’t noticed anything.”
Knox releases a long breath. “Good. My heart was racing all the way back.”
“He probably did that days ago, thinking they would get out faster than they did. He’s a city boy through and through.”
Laughter lights up Knox’s face. “Well, his stupidity cost me a day with my woman, and I didn’t get to help decorate for my son’s birthday. I’m also late to go pick up the cake and stuff.”
“It’s okay. You’re not that behind, and I managed to get more done than I expected. Gia and Gwen can help me with the last few things I need to do.”
“When are they getting here?” He makes himself a glass of water, carefully moving around my decorations. Whiskey winds himself around Knox’s legs. I’d pout at how much he loves my boys more than me, but I’m too relieved to see him as happy as I am.
“In about two hours.”
Knox nods. “Okay, I’m going to run up to take a shower.”
I smirk. “You want some company?”
“If I ever say no to that offer, kill me right then and there.”
I squeal as he lifts me over his shoulder.
“Where’s Finn?” he asks.
