Ian winced. “Can we do it tomorrow? I was going to leave the office early.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Are you feeling okay?”
“In perfect health,” he answered, puffing his chest up like a goof. “I’m just skipping out to spend some time with my girl.”
“Oh, yeah. Of course. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Have fun.” With a forced smile, she left, heading to Erik’s office.
“Ready?” I asked.
“For a sex club? As I’ll ever be.”
We drove together to Voyeur and pulled into an overly full lot. “They must be doing some training. Usually, there aren’t as many people during the day.”
“Hopefully they don’t mind you brought me along.”
“I’m not worried. Daniel and Kent are pretty relaxed.”
When we walked in, the club was quiet, and I checked my phone to make sure I didn’t get the time wrong.
“Maybe they’re all back in Daniel’s office?” Usually, for the meetings, they moved all the club chairs into a circle and conducted them there.
I’d taken two more steps into the dim interior when all the lights flashed on and a crowd of people popped up from behind the bar.
“Surprise!” they shouted in unison.
Adrenaline flooded my veins, leaving tingles in its wake. “Holy shit,” I gasped, my hand to my chest. “What the hell?”
“It’s a surprise baby shower,” Jake explained.
I blinked a few times taking in the group of people behind the bar, including Jake and Jackson. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
“Well, hello to you too,” Jackson joked.
“You know what I mean. Why aren’t you on your honeymoon?”
“Flights are cheaper on Wednesdays,” Jackson answered as Jake rolled his eyes beside him.
“We never got to throw you a shower before the baby, so we figured better late than never,” Kent explained, stepping out behind the bar.
Warm goo filled my chest as everyone came over to give hugs. Kent and Daniel co-owned the club together, and I helped them set up their bar. Kent was also one of my first independent clients who I was helping set up multiple hotels.
“A little party from your family here,” Daniel said, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“Even I was allowed to come,” Olivia said behind him.
Daniel grumbled about his niece being in his sex club.
“Carina would want her here,” Kent said, slapping Daniel’s back.
I raised my brow at his explanation because I did love Olivia. I’d gotten to know her while she interned with Kent at his hotel, but I knew Kent liked to keep Olivia close when he could.
I was also pretty sure that Daniel had no idea his business partner was boning his niece, who was almost twenty years younger.
But it wasn’t my place to say anything or judge, so I pulled Olivia into my arms. “I am glad to have you here. We need to balance all this testosterone.”
“Is this the famous Ian I’ve heard about? The baby-daddy?” she asked.
“In the flesh,” Ian answered, offering Olivia his hand.
“Not bad, Carina,” she said from the side of her mouth.
Next up was Oaklyn, Olivia’s friend and a former employee of Voyeur. As well as a few other employees.
Ian smiled and shook hands with everyone as cake was brought out, and drinks were served. He only grumbled and placed a possessive hand on my hip when Jackson pulled me in for a tight hug, rocking me back and forth.
“It was last minute, but we couldn’t forget our favorite baby-mama,” Jackson said.
“Thank you. I feel like I had a million before Audrey came.”
“Well, there’s no harm in one more. Especially since we’re the coolest.”
Ian wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to his side. “Especially since her boyfriend gets to attend this one.”
Jake’s brows shot up as he looked between us.
“Boyfriend, eh?” Kent asked.
“Yeah,” Ian answered over his shoulder before looking down at me. “I changed my Facebook status and everything. It’s pretty official.”
I rolled my eyes and earned a slap on my ass. “Watch it,” I warned.
Ian leaned down to my ear. “I’d love to watch my hand on your ass. Is there a room for that?”
“There’s a room for everything.”
“God, yes,” he groaned. “New favorite place.”
We moved the chairs around to sit in a circle, and I opened my gifts. I gushed over every baby outfit, hairbow, and tiny shoe. Of course, there were more diapers and wipes, but I almost cried over the spa package Olivia and Oaklyn, had given me.
“Callum chipped in too,” Oaklyn explained, talking about her professor boyfriend.
“It’s perfect.”
“I’ll give you a massage any time you want, hellcat,” Ian promised, his eyebrows waggling.
“Let me guess,” I deadpanned. “A chest massage?”
“Hey, you said it. Not me.”
“So predictable.”
So perfectly predictable.
I didn’t know what drove me to invite Ian to Voyeur today, but I knew I was happier than I ever thought possible with him by my side.
He was becoming a fixture.
One I was coming to never want to be without.
24 Carina
“It was good to have a little more testosterone this year at Thanksgiving,” my dad said, shaking Ian’s hand goodbye.
“Had to balance out the extra female at the table,” Ian joked, gesturing to Audrey who was asleep in her car seat already.
My dad wasn’t always the lone male at Thanksgiving. Jake and his mother usually joined us, even after the breakup. Our families had always been close, spending most holidays together. But Jake was on his honeymoon and Joanne was on what she called a mothermoon.
I had to admit, not having Jake there with Ian and Audrey was kind of nice. I was able to relax more and enjoy my little family’s first holiday together.
“So, what can I expect,” I asked, once we were on our way to his Thanksgiving. My family’s lunch was always more formal with a catered meal, but I knew that wasn’t always the norm.
“Much more casual than yours. Louder,” he said with a smile that let me know he loved every loud noise. “Momma Brandt cooks everything despite everyone asking to help. The men drink beer and watch football, as the kids run around hopped up on any candy they managed to sneak in before dinner.”
“Sounds like the Thanksgivings you see on TV.”
“Exactly like that.”
“It sounds perfect.”
We pulled in the driveway, and I had to wipe my sweaty palms on my leggings. What if I didn’t fit in? What if they didn’t like me? I’d met Ian’s parents, but this felt like I was meeting his real family for the first time.
We didn’t knock. Ian just opened the door and called out a loud, “Honey, I’m home.”
A short woman with dark short hair came around the corner with her arms open. The apron had me guessing this was Momma Brandt.
“Ian, my favorite son,” she gushed, pulling him down for a hug.