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“As furious as I was the moment they rang our doorbell, they came at the perfect time.”
Liam smiled fondly. “Mum has that knack.”
“I’ll say. All right. I’ll drop the party idea. I guess I was just looking for some way to publicly thank them for all they’ve done to help us.”
Grabbing his drink and one for Macen, Liam crossed the room and handed his friend a glass. “They know, mate. They’re just glad we’re together and happy.”
“You’re right.” Hammer shot back his drink. “Still, they saved my ass.”
“So did Raine.”
“Yeah. Did you have any idea she’d tracked Marlie down and talked to the bitch?”
“No. Part of me wants to give her a red ass for going behind our backs—again. The other part is in awe of the size of her balls. She poked and goaded that plastic whore into all but admitting she knew you were in legal trouble.”
Hammer just nodded. “If I’d walked into that bar to confront her, I’d have ended up strangling her. No way I could have simply left once she’d made that guilty comment. But Raine just plucked up and walked out. I’m still trying to decide if we should knock River’s and Seth’s heads together…or shake their damn hands.”
“I think, for the sake of family peace, shaking hands is the better option,” Liam mused. “But that wasn’t what I meant about Raine saving you. I meant years ago. Think about who you’d be now without her. I suspect I’d still be a bleak bastard in denial about all my anger. My point is, we’ve got a house and a baby on the way. But I’d like to make it impossible for her to refuse us if we propose something like marriage again. What we need is a foolproof way to get her to accept the idea—and us—and I might just have a plan that’ll work…”
Liam filled him in on the details, including some of the other joinings he’d seen online and been imagining in his head.
“I haven’t allowed myself to think about that since all this legal shit exploded. I didn’t dare to hope. But now that it’s behind us, you’re right. We should be thinking of the future. We need to make our commitment more concrete.”
“Permanent.” Liam nodded.
“Yeah.” Hammer knocked back more of his drink. “Real for her and in the eyes of others.”
They batted around a few more ideas, narrowing the possibilities into a concept that felt like them. The plan appealed, and from Macen’s grin, it was obvious he felt the same.
“Tomorrow?” Hammer confirmed.
“Can you think of a better time? My parents will be gone. It will be our first day alone, happy and ready for the future. And oh, I guess it’s your birthday, too,” Liam teased. “Old man.”
“Fuck off. I can still beat your ass.”
“I don’t know.” Liam shook his head. “Thirty-five. Are you sure gout hasn’t set in? Need some arthritis pills?”
Hammer jumped to his feet, glaring and trying to hold back a laugh.
Duncan pushed the double doors open with a disapproving stare. “What’s this, then? Less than twenty-four hours after vanquishing the wild skank-muffin, you two knuckleheads are back to fighting one another?”
“No, Da. We’re just teasing.” Still, Liam threw a mock punch to Hammer’s shoulder.
“The women are out in the backyard, enjoying the evening. Come toss back a couple with us.”
Hammer picked up his drink and gave Duncan a warm smile as he headed out. Behind Macen’s back, Liam gave his father a questioning stare, which Da answered with a proud little nod.
So they were ready.
Liam jogged his way up to Hammer and reached the back door first, blocking the portal. “So everyone was busy tonight, right?”
He flung open the door and shoved Macen out to a rousing chorus of “surprise!”
Their guests mingled all over the backyard. The bifold doors on the main level had been folded back to extend the indoor living out onto the patio and beyond. Floating candles with rice-paper shades in pastel colors filled the pool. Fairy lights had been strung through the trees and shrubs. An open space had been cleared for a band and dance floor at one end. At the other, a huge banquet table overflowed with delicious morsels. More tables and chairs had been set up. The fire pits had been lit to provide light and warmth. Inside, their kitchen had been transformed into a wet bar, and seating had been subtly rearranged all around in conversational clusters.
Macen looked stunned.
Camera phones flashed. The gathering laughed at his expression. Raine jumped toward him, clapping and smiling.
“Are you surprised?” She hung around his neck and kissed his jaw.
“Shocked.” He glared between her and Liam. “You two cooked this up?”
“Guilty, mate. My parents helped, along with Heavenly. But our wee wench was the true instigator. She’s been working nonstop since yesterday morning. What do you think?” Liam asked as he moved in beside Raine.
