Page 50 of The Decoy

Brody stops at a red light. He turns his head, his eyes locking onto mine with a gravity that makes my breath hitch.

“Ellis,” he says, his voice dropping to that deep rasp that always settles my nerves. “He is ours. Period. You don’t owe Eva, Alie, Presley, or anyone else an explanation. If anyone asks an uncomfortable question, you tell them we’re together, and I’ll handle the rest. Good?”

A wave of warmth floods my chest, loosening the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “Okay,” I whisper.

“Good,” he says, stepping on the gas as the light turns green. “Now, are we telling them what we’re having, or are we keeping that in the family for a little longer?”

“I think we tell them. I’m excited to talk about him. The sticky part is just the details of how he came to be and how we got here. He’s the fun part.”

Brody lets out a booming laugh. “He is the fun part. And I’m proud as hell that we’re having a boy.”

“Okay, then,” I breathe. “We tell them we’re together, we’re having a baby boy, and keep it simple for now.”

“Yep, simple,” Brody echoes as we pull into the driveway. “Oh, hey, did I tell you that Alie is pregnant too?”

“No! I haven’t talked to her in a while, but I’m surprised Eva hasn’t mentioned it since I talk to her more often. I’ll have to ask Alie about it today.”

“She’d probably be helpful if you have any questions about the pregnancy or what to expect.”

“For sure,” I agree, looking out the window as we pull up to the house.

Saint and Presley’s home is breathtaking. Pine trees and immaculate landscaping surround it. Warm light pours from the arched windows, and as Brody parks next to Aston’s truck and Liam’s SUV, the faint sounds of music and laughter drift out into the night.

Brody rounds the truck, opening the door and offering me his broad, calloused hand. As I step down, he pulls me flush against his side and tucks me under his arm. Before we reach the steps, his arm slides around my waist, his palm resting over the side of my bump in clear, possessive declaration.

I take a deep breath, lean into his warmth, and let him push open the heavy oak door.

The entry is warm and grand, and echoes with the sound of a house full of kids.

“Vaughn! You made it!”

Saint walks out of the great room, a glass of amber liquid in one hand, looking every bit the dominant team captain he is on the field. Beside him is Presley, stunning as always; their kids—actually Saint’s nephew and niece he got guardianship of when his sister and her husband died—run around them, chasing Alie and Liam’s daughter, Sera.

“Sorry we’re late, traffic was a little slow with the snow falling,” Brody starts, stepping into the room.

He takes off my coat and his, and hangs them on the hook in the hallway.

Presley is frozen in place. Her eyes go from Brody to me, widening dramatically, then dropping to my waist where my dress hugs my pregnant belly, and Brody’s hand is anchored.

Standing beyond the archway, glass of wine in hand, are Alie and Eva. Aston and Liam stand near the fireplace, but as the silence falls over the room, all four of them turn to look.

“Ellis?” Eva gasps, her jaw dropping so far I worry her wine might slip through her fingers. “Wait … what’s … Ellis?”

“Oh. My. God,” Alie gasps, stepping forward, her eyes darting between my face, my belly, then to the tight end whose arm is wrapped around me.

For about three seconds, the room is completely silent except for the kids as they tumble into a pile of cushions on the living room floor.

Brody doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t pull his arm back, and he doesn’t look remotely embarrassed by the spectacle we’re causing. Instead, he pulls me in closer, a proud, unbothered grin spreading across his face.

“Hey, guys,” he says, casually. “You all know, Ellis.”

“Brody Vaughn, what is happening right now?!” Presley shrieks, breaking the spell. She smacks Saint in the chest, then marches straight to us, her eyes wide with shock and excitement. “Are you … are you two … together?!”

“We are,” Brody says firmly. He looks down at me, his eyes shining with a warmth that makes my heart do a backflip. “We’ve been together a while now.”

A collective, deafening explosion of noise erupts through the house.

“I knew you were up to something!” Liam roars from the great room, throwing his hands in the air before coming over to us. “She’s the girl you mentioned a while back that you were kind of seeing. You sneaky bastard!”