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When we reach the boat dock, I’m eager to get to my daughter. Stanley tells us all to hold tight while he ties off the boat and then steps off. One by one, he helps each of us off the boat.
“Come on, let’s go see your girl.” Aspen links her arm through mine, and I’m surprised when Aurora does the same on the other arm. The three of us walk toward the pavilion, and what I see has my heart stuttering in my chest.
Owen, Royce, Jase, and Marshall are all on loungers. Eyes closed sleeping, as all four kids slumber on their chests. My eyes lock on Marshall, and something inside me shifts. His big strong hand is resting on Madeline’s back, holding her close. My daughter is slumbering away as if she’s slept on his chest a thousand times.
“It’s a good thing I’m already pregnant,” Aurora whispers.
“Right? Ovary explosion,” Aspen agrees.
“Where are the others?” I ask, forcing myself to look away from the scene before me. Aurora points, and I see Conrad and Grant both napping on a lounge chair as well. They don’t have babies in their arms, but that doesn’t take away from their hotness factor. Really, the genes in this family are insane.
“Should we wake them?” Aspen asks.
“Nah, let’s let them sleep,” Aurora tells her.
“I should take Madeline,” I comment.
“She’s fine. Let’s go grab something to drink and talk wedding plans,” Sawyer says, pulling lightly on Aspen’s arm and leading the way to the cooler.
I glance back at Marshall and Madeline, and I’m torn. I feel bad that he’s had her all day.
“She’s okay, Wren. I promise. The Riggins men don’t do anything they don’t want to. Marshall snatched her right up and volunteered to watch her. They’re all sleeping. When she wakes up, you can take her back. For now, enjoy the break we know that you never get.” Aurora places her arm over my shoulders, and we follow after Aspen and Sawyer.
I know it sounds crazy that I’m just leaving my daughter with him, but something deep inside me knows that I can trust him with her. That I can trust all of them with both of us. My gut has never steered my wrong, so I’m going to do exactly as Aurora suggested, and try to relax. She’s right. I never get a break, and I’m okay with that, but since it’s being offered, and it’s obvious that Marshall isn’t giving my daughter back anytime soon, I might as well try and enjoy myself.
Sawyer hands me a glass of lemonade. “Lena made it. It’s the best you’ll ever have,” she says as she continues to pass out Solo cups of lemonade.
“So good,” Aurora sighs, taking a huge drink.
“So, Aspen, wedding planning,” Sawyer prompts.
“I don’t really want anything big. Just all of us, and at the end of the day, I want to be Conrad’s wife.” She shrugs.
I’m listening to the conversation, but my eyes keep straying to Marshall. Why do I find it so damn sexy the way he’s holding my daughter as if he’s protecting her?
“Earth to Wren.” Aspen waves her hand in front of my face. “We lost you.” She smirks.
“I just… I can’t seem to look away,” I admit. What I don’t say is that for the first time since losing Travis, I notice a man as more than just an acquaintance. Marshall Riggins is sexy on a normal day, but with my sleeping daughter on his chest, Aspen was right. Ovary explosion.
“So, is it the man or the man and the baby?” Layla asks.
“Both,” I confess. With my free hand, I cover my face to try and ward off my embarrassment.
“No need to hide. Not from us. You’re forgetting that we’re all married or soon-to-be married to a Riggins.”
“Hey!” Sam interjects.
Sawyer waves her off. “Jase might as well be a Riggins. Besides, he’s just as sexy.”
“Did you just call my husband sexy?” Sam asks, amusement in her voice.
“Yep.” Sawyer grins. She has zero shame in admitting it. “I’m married, but I’m not dead. All six of them are sexy. You know I’m right.”
“Agreed.” Layla chuckles. “And, Wren, we know how it is when you first meet them, and the tension. We get it.”
“Oh, there’s no tension. At least not before today.” I glance back over at Marshall and Madeline.
“He’s good with her,” Aurora comments.
“He’s a good guy.” This from Layla.
“He acts like a big goofball, and he is,” Aspen adds.
“But he has a heart of gold. They all do,” Sawyer chimes in.
“I have a feeling that Marshall is going to fall harder than the rest of them,” Sawyer says.
That grabs my attention. “What do you mean?”
“All of them”—she points to the guys—“have fallen in love differently. We each”—she motions to our small group—“have our own love stories. However, the common denominator is that when our men finally accepted that they had fallen head over ass in love, they didn’t stop fighting until we were so wrapped up in them, until our hearts were entwined that there was no going back for any of us,” Sawyer explains.
