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“Isn’t that your job?”
“Like I said, never knew it could be like this. There’s a lot of shit that goes into having a baby in the house, all help is appreciated. Especially with two other kids in the mix.”
Evin Graham surprised the shit out of everyone when Dev was born. He’s always been a family man, but that baby did something to him. Dev has all of us crazy in the head, but Ashlyn and Evin are the worst. Even outside of Annie and Edward.
“You get to break the news to Ashlyn.”
“Hell no, that’s Darby’s job.”
I chuckle, picturing Ashlyn’s scowl when she receives the message she has to share the kids tonight.
“On a different note, we need to talk. Any news?” He sits up, his easy-going attitude turning rigid.
“No more crazy unidentified calls or texts. Once Ashlyn called Brock directly and found out it wasn’t him, nothing.”
That Monday morning, with Ashlyn sitting between my legs and her family standing around, she dialed Brock and confronted him about the vague messages. As she suspected, he denied and tried to persuade her back. The fucker knew he was on speakerphone, so he was slick with his flattery, never letting onto their history. She cut him off, declining his offer, and hung up.
I wanted to put another hole in my wall next to Andrew’s morning explosion, but I held it together for her.
“Stephanie called Darby this morning and she’s convinced that firm is filled with shady characters. But Ashlyn’s name is squeaky clean.”
“She called us, too. Scottie phoned right after with gossip of more shit in the firm. I left Ashlyn in bed, cackling like a fool.”
“Scottie is about to bust a gut to get here. He’s coming during Christmas break.”
“Heard that, too.”
“Brace, Miller, because Ashlyn’s in the mix now and these people are crazy.”
“I’ll leave that up to you. We will be busy.”
He nods, knowing my plans to have Ashlyn’s house ready by Christmas week.
“You have something else on your mind?”
“Are you asking me something specific?” I sit back in my chair, eyeing him wearily.
“Moving in together isn’t such a big deal, but all this other?”
“I won’t lie, things don’t feel settled with her, but it’s my job to make it so she feels safe and secure in this. I don’t care if she ever goes back to practicing law, but that’s not my call.”
“She’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, she will.” I run my hand through my hair. “I’m about to rock her world a little more. She may go ballistic.”
He cocks his eyebrows, his eyes lighting with curiosity. “I don’t care what it is, I want in.”
I thumb through the files and toss the file through the air. He catches it easily and reads through the contents, his smile growing wilder with each page. “Fuck me, you’re taking a chance here.”
“Kinda like you took a chance with Evin, buying a run-down bakery?”
“Yeah, that kind of chance. I’m in on this, from the beginning. We’ll have it constructed by late spring.”
“Counting on it.”
My cell rings and I answer with a smile, “Princess.”
“Evin is joining us tonight,” she huffs.
“I heard.”
“He’s going to take hostage of the baby, like always.”
Her voice carries through the line, and Pierce chuckles, shaking his head.
“It’ll be family night. The kids will love it.”
“Yes, they will. I’m at the store now to get the stuff for dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you at home.”
“See you soon.”
“Hey, Ashlyn?”
“Yes?”
“We could have our own baby and lock ourselves away so you don’t have to share.”
She shrieks, hanging up, and my smile grows wider.
“Good one.” Pierce eyes me approvingly as he stands. “What do you want me to deal with?”
I pass over a handful of folders and he leaves with a quick wave.
With him taking most of my afternoon work, I make the executive decision to head on over to Ashlyn’s and do another walk through the property next door.
If all goes well, and they accept the offer, the house will be mine on Christmas.
Then the rest of my plan can finally fall into place.
•—•—•—•—•
“Oh shit,” Cole blurts out.
I twist from the chair to correct him on his language and hear Evin’s loud hiss. My eyes fly out the front window to see what they are focused on.
“Fuck me.” I’m on my feet and at the door in under a second.
Connie is storming up the front steps, her gaze locked on Ashlyn, who is swaying and feeding a bundled up Dev on Pierce’s porch swing. Runner goes crazy, pacing in front of the door.
I point to Cole. “You stay here.”
He nods, looking out the window, not happy to see his mom.
Evin joins me, stepping onto the porch and keeping Runner behind.
“What do you mean they’re not here?” Connie seethes.
“I mean we are home with the children while they attend the Brasher holiday party. I’m assuming by the resemblance that you are Maya and Cole’s mother.” It’s hard to miss the venom in Ashlyn’s tone at the word mother.
