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“Oh, sweetheart. If it’s persuasion you need, I can give it to you in spades.”
I gulp, as he wiggles his eyebrows. And so begins my downfall. With a wiggle of eyebrows and a sly smile.
“Alex, the man of the hour,” my brother Logan says, walking up to us. “You know what I’ve got to ask.”
Alex looks past Logan to where my nieces and nephews are huddled together, in the spot where Alex usually shows them his latest stunts.
“Yep. Duty calls,” Alex says. He touches his lips to mine, just barely, but his hand moves in little circles at the small of my back. It’s our newly developed secret language for, I want to kiss you until your knees go weak, but can’t in present company.
Well, I’ll be happy to report that even this chaste brush of lips makes my toes curl. God, this man is sex on a stick, I swear.
After Logan whisks him away, I head over to Sebastian and our cousin Landon Connor, who are chatting next to the gazebo.
“You two look like you’re plotting something,” I say when I catch up with them.
Landon clutches his heart theatrically. “Who, me and Sebastian? We’re always on our best behavior.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, yeah. I know. Oldest brother syndrome.”
“Hey, I did convince the entire Connor clan to fly here for the anniversary. Doesn’t that earn me any points?” Landon challenges.
I cross my arms. “You’ve got some cheek, Landon Connor. I know for a fact that your siblings are looking for any opportunity to spend time with you, you undeclared workaholic. That probably tipped the balance in favor of them flying here more than your persuasion skills.”
Sebastian whistles. “Ouch. You got caught in Summer’s crossfire, cousin. If I were you, I’d run.”
Landon laughs. “Who says I’m undeclared? Workaholic and proud.”
Hmmm... Landon has been lonely for too long, and that’s just unacceptable. Such a waste of a hunk. And I’m not just saying this because he’s my cousin and I’m biased. Half of the single female adopted Bennetts eye him with thinly veiled interest. The other half doesn’t bother with the veil. That’s solid proof, right there. All our Connor cousins are single, which is a damn shame. To meddle or not to meddle? That’s the question.
Valentina waves at me, crossing the yard and stealing me from our brothers. She hooks an arm around mine as we traipse around. “So, how are we doing on that emotional blackmail plan?” I inquire. She and I agree Landon needs a swift—and very loving, of course—kick in the butt to get things... moving. Obviously that requires a lot of plotting.
“I’m making progress. Slowly, but surely. I think the first step is getting him out of that office, convince him he needs a longer holiday. After that, the sky is the limit.”
I grin. Val is smart. “I like that plan.”
We chat until my parents ask us all to come closer to where they’re standing, near the entrance of the house.
“I think they’re going to hold their speech,” I say, clapping my hands. I love my parents’ anniversary speeches. They’re always so full of wisdom, I feel like I should take notes or something. Valentina goes to look for her sisters, and Alex joins me with our daughter in his arms. And cue the heart flutter.
“What?” I ask, realizing he’s watching me closely.
“I like seeing you smile. I promise to give you a reason to look at me like that every day.”
“You already do.”
The yard falls silent as Dad begins to speak. His hand is around Mom’s shoulders, keeping her tucked into him.
“Thank you all for joining us today. It’s a special day for Jenna and me. We like celebrating like this, surrounded by the people dear to us. Our family has grown exponentially in the past years, and we couldn’t be happier. We’ve been pestering them to give us grandkids for a long time, and now they’re everywhere. Our children have been blessed to meet their soul mates. Ava, Nadine, Eric, Emilia, Victoria, Nate, Clara, Caroline, and Alex: thank you for being part of our family. Seeing our children so happy makes us happy, and we’re lucky to have you all. At every anniversary, I get asked at least ten times how Jenna and I made it so far. First, I have to thank my wife for putting up with me every day.”
I swear to God, Mom blushes. Dad kisses Mom’s hand, then holds it in his. He still looks at her like she can walk on water, even after all these years.
“He has his bag of tricks, you know,” she says. “Still makes me coffee every day.”
Dad nods thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t want to face you on a day you haven’t had coffee.”
Several people, myself included, laugh. Yep, Mom’s need for caffeine runs through the family’s veins. The laughter subsides as Dad continues.
“But Jenna and I weren’t married for so long without experiencing our own share of rough patches, so here’s my advice: Even when things are hard, hang onto each other. Don’t turn away or try to put on a brave face. If you’re lucky, the person at your side will also be your best friend. Don’t hide from them. Remember to tell them how much you value and respect them. You think they might know, but sometimes they just need to hear it. And don’t forget to laugh and love together.”
