“It’s what family does, Momma,” she informed me seriously when I thanked her for taking her plate to the sink.
“Need to feed the seed!” She would announce after supper daily. Liam had helped her plant a tiny garden out front, and she religiously watered her little plants every day, getting quite upset when it would rain and steal her tiny moments of pleasure.
The day she murmured “Holy shit” was the day I made Liam sit down and explain what bad words those were and how ashamed he was of having used them. She made Evan tell her all the bad words, and now a swear jar sat on the kitchen counter. Liam and Ronan filled it often. She became a keen listener to their quiet conversations and loved the sound the coins made when they went into the jar. I had a feeling it would pay for her first year of university.
Later, we sat on the beach by the fire, toasting marshmallows after having eaten our weight in hot dogs. I sat against Liam’s chest, relaxed and warm, watching the fire dance under the stars. The sound of the water lapping at the shore was rhythmic and soothing. Ronan brought Beth and Evan out once she was done at work, and they sat across from us, talking quietly. Evan and Lucy made s’mores, laughing and giggling about some secret.
It was bliss.
Liam’s lips were warm on my ear. “Happy, Sweet Pea?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll do this a lot, you know. Lazy weekends, fires, marshmallows, all of it. This is just the start of our life. Our future.”
“Hmm,” I said, sleepy and content. I knew what he was doing. Tempting me with the future he wanted for us.
“And after the munchkin goes to bed, I’ll show you something else we’ll be doing a lot of.”
I wiggled my ass, feeling his cock respond.
He bit down on my lobe. “Careful, baby. You’re playing with fire.”
I looked up. “Maybe I want to get burned.”
His mouth covered mine. “Now you’ve done it.”
Sunday was considered an unofficial family day at the compound. That was the day most of the kids seemed to show up to visit their parents, Nan and Pops, and one another. Liam explained you never knew who would be there, or when they would show up. Nothing was planned. In the summer, people hung out by the pool in the sun, or at the Hub on rainy days or when the sun became sweltering. It amazed me that a family who mostly worked together and saw one another a lot still chose to hang out on their days off, but as I discovered, this was a special group. They genuinely liked one another.
We’d had coffee on the deck, the sun shining and bright. Liam and Ronan had devoured the pastries on the table, making me laugh. “Are you ever full there, Tree Trunk?”
Emmy leaned forward and looked at me with wide eyes. “What did you call Liam?”
I laughed. “He’s like a tree. Strong and tall.”
“I always called Aiden Tree Trunk. Although my reasons were a little different.” She sat back with a grin. “Like father, like son. We’ve come full circle.”
Everyone laughed. I guessed we had.
I watched Aiden, Maddox, and Van man the grills, the scent of burgers, chicken, and sausages filling the air. It was an impromptu lunch for everyone who had shown up. Beth and I helped gather some condiments for the meal, while Dee and Emmy put together a salad.
“You must keep supplies on hand,” I mused.
Emmy laughed. “Sunday is unofficial, but it’s rare that it doesn’t happen. We always have supplies in the freezers for the barbecue, and the fridge is always full of easy stuff for salads or snacks. Someone here is always hungry.”
Cami grinned. “And if you run out of something in your own house, this place is well stocked—saves trips to the grocery store when you realize you’re out of carrots!”
I loved these women and their closeness. The way they accepted me as one of them. How they welcomed Lucy. For the first time in my life, I felt part of something. A family. It was a new feeling—one that would take some getting used to, but I liked it. I simply had to figure out my place.
“Look at that,” Cami whispered, staring out the window.
I peeked over her shoulder, smiling at the sight.
Liam was standing talking to Ronan, their heads close as they schemed something. Lucy was cradled in Liam’s arms, her head right in there with them. Her arm was wrapped around his neck, looking tiny and pale on his tanned skin. Ronan had his arm around Evan’s shoulder, and the boy was looking at Ronan as if he hung the moon.
“They’re building their families,” Cami murmured. “Look how happy they are.”
Beth and I shared a glance. Cami sniffled a little and smiled at us. “I’m so grateful they found you girls. What joy you have brought to all of us.”
My place was suddenly clear—and another little doubt broke away.
Chapter Fifteen
Paige
It was hard to go back to the little house in Toronto. It felt cramped and lonely compared to the open spaces of Port Albany. Liam had kissed me long and lingeringly before he left. He had an early morning meeting in Port Albany and wasn’t staying the night. I felt restless without him, and after tucking Lucy in, came outside to sit on the step. Beth joined me not long after.
She handed me a glass of wine, and we sat quietly.
“I never noticed the noise here until now,” she murmured. “The traffic, the people.”
“I know.” I glanced up. “You can’t see the stars the same way either.”
“I wonder what the neighbors would do if we started a fire on the lawn.”
I chuckled. “Not the same without the sand and the water.”
She nudged me. “Not the same without Ronan and Liam, you mean.”
I pulled my knees up to my chest and rested my chin on them. I turned my face her way and grinned. “Definitely not.”
“Those Callaghan boys certainly take over your thoughts.”
“They take over everything.”
She grinned and lifted her glass. “And aren’t we glad they do?”
I clinked my glass to hers. “Yes, yes, we are.”
Monday, Liam appeared, carrying a bag of sandwiches. Beth and I had given him and Ronan each a key, so when I heard the front door open, I signed off, hoping it was Liam. He strode in, his gaze intent. The lunch was tossed on the table as he came toward me, the hunger in his eyes for more than food obvious. Before I could even speak, he swooped me into his arms, his mouth hard on mine. He carried me to the bedroom, placing me on my bed, his body following me down to the mattress. His desire was evident in the tension of his body, his demanding, drugging kiss, and the hardness of his erection pressed between us. I returned his passion with my own, an undeniable hunger for him exploding as soon as he walked in. It felt as if it had been months, not a mere day, since he’d touched me. Since our skin had slid together as he took me. Everything felt magnified as we fumbled and pulled at the clothing separating us. He wasted no time settling between my legs, thrusting inside me. I was so ready for him I ached with it. I threw back my head at the feeling of him. Hot steel encased in velvet. Gliding, stroking, filling me up. Our moans filled the room, his grunts and growls of satisfaction low and sexy. I came quickly, the sensations too much to bear, and he followed not long after, my name falling from his lips as he stiffened and shook. He collapsed on me, our skin damp from exertion, our bodies temporarily sated. He rose on his elbows, gazing down at me. He claimed my mouth in a long, sweet kiss.