Blake couldn’t deny it. He had no objection at all to baby cuddles, toddler cuddles, or the rest of it. Although, dear God, they were going to be heading into the teen years eventually, and that was going to be an adventure.
Although Daniel had managed it, and so had his parents. Somewhere amongst those roots and branches, he figured there was enough wisdom in the Coleman clan to get them out the other side intact.
Still, as he watched Jaxi cradle little Ryan, the look in her eyes made him want to give her everything she wanted. Or at least the things he had some control over.
Maybe it was time to do a little plotting of his own.
25
There were people everywhere. Far more than Mark expected even if he counted up the number of people in the Coleman clan.
He caught Mike grinning at him, his oldest brother stepping forward to offer a cheery hello. “Don’t worry. There’s a horde, but we’ve got enough food to feed two hordes.”
“Did you import people from Red Deer?” Mark asked as he glanced around.
Mike considered then shrugged. “Not impossible.” He caught Mark in a tight hug then aimed him toward the nearest circle of people. “Canada Day started small, but now it’s a free-for-all. Just wait. Once you build your place, we’ll add you to the list so you can host.”
Mark tried to picture this many people swarming around what was now a concrete foundation on the top of the rise. He shook his head. “Sounds like a plan. I can put them all to work, yes?”
His brother laughed then introduced him to the pastor at Dana’s church, who also happened to be Laurel’s dad. Fortunately, it wasn’t that uncomfortable of a conversation considering churchgoing wasn’t Mark’s thing.
When Dana arrived, though, he was grateful that after a short time, she took him by the hand and led him farther onto Moonshine land.
“I shouldn’t steal you away,” she said. “This is a good chance for you to get to know everyone.”
“We’ll wander,” Mark offered. “You say hi to everyone, and that will let me get a chance to make sure I’ve got all the names and faces right.”
Her lips twitched. “I don’t think anyone expects you to remember all of us this quickly.”
“It’s been four months,” he offered dryly before inspiration struck. He leaned in closer. “What do I get if I can name everyone we meet? I mean family only, no random strangers included in the bet.”
Her chin rose in a bit of bravado. “What do you want?”
The answer to that would take far too long. Mark stepped back far enough to look her over.
Her blonde hair hung to her shoulders, her ever-present curls bigger as if she’d deliberately puffed them up. Her bright eyes shone, and she wore a sundress of pale green with embroidery along the hemline. The vee dipping over her breasts stopped high enough to be modest, but the curves under it were full and tempting.
She wore half boots instead of sandals, which was a great idea for a party being held at a ranch. There was a straw cowboy hat in her hand that she put firmly on her head as she offered a cocky grin. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Just thinking about what I want to do to you,” he confessed. His voice came out kind of breathless. He stepped closer. “Just thinking about what I want to do with you.”
She looked at him from under her lashes. “Let’s hope you’re very good with names.”
For the next hour, they wandered. Mark knew the lay of the land well enough. He’d helped build this house as well as the one at Whiskey Creek, when Kate and Randy had decided to set up a home away from where Mike and Marion lived.
He supposed it was like kids stretching their wings, the very thing he wanted for Rafe and Laurel—
Okay, his motivation wasn’t all altruistic. He wanted Dana to be with him.
They said hello to Becky and Trevor again. Mark visited with them on a fairly regular basis, stopping in at the house to see how things were going. The kids—meaning Rafe and Laurel, and wasn’t it odd to be thinking of them as his kids—were with Rachel and Lee. Rachel eyed him speculatively before winking, as if offering her approval.
The newest babies were all there as well. Anna, the RCMP who’d busted him and Dana in the park, wiggled her fingers at them then adjusted baby Ethan in her arms. The veterinarian married to Steve Coleman held her baby girl, Raine.
The gathering also flowed around Jesse and his wife, Dare, each of them carefully holding a small, blue-wrapped bundle.
Dana pulled Mark forward. “I did not expect to see you out of the hospital yet,” she said as she slipped up to squeeze Dare carefully. “Congratulations. And you’re sneaky.”
Jesse grinned. “Had to follow my big brother’s example,” he said.
“Yeah, because your big brother totally carried twins and never said a word,” Dare drawled before lifting her shining face toward Dana and Mark. “This one is Royce, and Jesse’s got Ryan.”
“They’re as adorable as any three-day old,” Mark said honestly.
Dana slapped the back of her hand against his chest, but Jesse offered a wink. “Want to hold Ryan?”
If anything, Mark figured Dana was dying to hold one of the babies, so he sat, and a minute later, both of them were being passed teeny bundles.
Mark looked into the little scrunched-up face, amused and pleased to be able to be a part of his family in this way after so many years of not getting to share the celebrations. “Okay, I lied. This one at least is cuter than most three-day-olds.”
He stayed and chatted for a while, but eventually they rose, heading to grab some food.
En route, they were waylaid by Travis. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Uncle Mark?”
“I’ll grab us places at the table,” Dana offered.
Mark watched her walk away, admiring the sway of her hips. He might’ve been watching a little too closely, because when he turned toward his nephew, the other man was grinning very hard.
“That is one hell of a fine woman,” Mark said firmly, not a hint of embarrassment at having been caught gawking.
“Ashley wanted me to pass on a message,” Travis said, ignoring Mark’s comment. “She’s been working on a painting you might be interested in.”
Mark paused. “Ashley does good work. I’ll be needing art for the house.”
His nephew’s grin grew wider. “This one might be perfect.”
He vanished before Mark could dig any more information out of him.
Then he and Dana caught up with Mike and Marion for a while, but as they ate, the most curious sensation poked at Mark.
Dana sat against him, comfortable and easy, his hand around her waist. She’d placed her hand on his thigh and was rubbing her knuckles up and down, almost as if she wasn’t aware of the motion.
Only when she wrapped her hand a little farther around his thigh, rising a little higher than usual, Mark barely caught himself before a growl escaped.
She kept on talking, the face of an absolute innocent, and not at all as if she were damn near stroking him right in front of their family.
Mark was willing to take the pain, but when Rafe and Laurel walked past, plates full of food as they headed to join a set of their cousins, sudden inspiration struck.