“And me,” Jo said quickly. “Damn, I will never lose this baby weight.” She looked to her husband. “Don’t say there’s more of me to love.”
Breck looked sheepish. “You know I love every bit of you, Joey.”
Cassie led them to a large, airy kitchen. “I’ll leave the cupcakes in here. Everyone’s gathered outside. Come on.”
Mac followed the trio through a door. A large pool looked inviting. Scattered groups of outdoor furniture made for cozy places to talk. A gas grill larger than any he’d ever seen caught his attention and he wandered toward it. Rhett had a spatula in hand. He greeted him and Dash, who looked in charge of the meat.
“It’ll be burgers and chicken today,” Rhett said.
“Two basic food groups for me,” Mac replied.
Breck joined them and the four men talked sports for several minutes. Then Mac saw Keely and Scarlett step from the house and excused himself.
Keely spotted him and lit up. He joined the two women and kissed Keely briefly, wishing he could do much more.
As she moved to greet the others, he said, “Hello, Scarlett. Good to see you again.”
“Keely is my best friend and crazy about you, Mac Randall. I’m putting you on notice. You better treat her like a queen or you’ll have me to answer to. You think I’m tough negotiating contracts? You haven’t seen nothing.” The attorney eyed him, daring him to challenge her words.
“Keely is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Mac confided. “I plan to marry her.”
Scarlett’s tough act disappeared and she beamed at him. “Have you told her this?”
“Not yet. I’ve already terrified her enough by telling her I love her.”
“Good. Wait a bit because you don’t want to scare her off.” She paused. “But not too long.”
Scarlett slipped her arm through his and led him back to the group. Everyone was pulling chairs around and settling in. Mac took the empty seat next to Keely.
Leaning close, he said in her ear, “I think Scarlett might put a hit out on me if I mess things up with you.” He inhaled the subtle vanilla scent that clung to her skin. “You smell really good.”
She laughed. “Scarlett is very protective. She’s the youngest of four and turned out pretty scrappy. She can be like a pit bull with a bone. I guess I should be glad she put you on notice. Either make me happy—or deal with her.”
Mac looked into her eyes. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy, Keely.”
A loud shout erupted and he turned to see a man running. Four children and Jax chased him. They tackled him and all climbed atop him, giggling as he screamed for mercy as Jax yodeled and turned in circles.
“That’s Herc,” Keely said. “Dash’s brother.”
“Let’s swim,” Herc cried and the children scrambled off him, running to the pool and jumping in. Jax followed suit as Herc headed toward the adults.
“Sydney, I need cold water. I’m thirsty,” he said.
She ruffled his hair. “You’ve been playing hard, Herc.” She reached into an ice chest and pulled out a bottled water, twisting the cap off and handing the drink to him.
“Thank you, Sydney,” he said politely. He guzzled the entire bottle and handed the empty back to her. “I’ll go play now. Bye, Sydney. Bye, everybody.”
The group echoed, “Bye, Herc.”
Mac realized that Herc was a special needs individual by his speech and demeanor.
Dash watched Herc race away and then the actor turned to Mac. “I’m Herc’s legal guardian. He’s my brother and also my child, just in a bigger body than other kids.”
Sydney added, “Dash swears I married him because of Herc. I may have fallen in love with Herc before I did Dash.”
Dash kissed his wife’s cheek. “When Sydney met Herc and treated him like a regular person, I knew she was the one for me.”
“Mr. Mac?”
He turned and saw Cadence Corrigan and Harper DeLauria standing next to him.
“Would you come swim with us?”
“I thought I was your swimming buddy,” a voice called out.
Mac turned and saw Knox and London Monroe had joined them. The strawberry blond singer was visibly pregnant and glowing.
“Hi, Mr. Knox,” Harper said, grinning. “You can come, too.”
Both girls scampered back to the pool. Knox introduced himself and his wife to Mac and said, “Come on, Mac. Let’s go be swim buddies.”
Mac peeled off his shirt and tossed it onto his chair. Keely had told him to wear swim trunks so all that remained was to slip out of his soccer slides. Knox did the same and the two men looked at one another and then ran toward the pool, jumping into the deep end with hoarse shouts as they hit the cold water.
They surfaced and Harper and Cadence swam toward them like quick minnows, begging to ride on their shoulders. Each man lifted a girl up and Herc pushed long noodles toward them. The girls had a noodle fight while their brothers and Herc practiced diving from the springboard.
“You’re working up a great appetite,” Mac told Cadence. “I’ll bet you have plenty of room for the cupcakes I brought.”
Cadence squealed. “Cupcakes! Mr. Mac brought cupcakes, Harper.”
The girls dropped their noodles and Harper asked, “What kind? Chocolate is my favorite.”
“There are some chocolate,” he assured her.
“What about red velvet?” Cadence asked, her eyes lighting up.
“Is that your favorite?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I’ll tell you a secret.” Mac lifted her from his shoulders and set her on the edge of the pool. “When I bought them, one of them was softly calling, ‘Cadence. Eat me. I want to turn your teeth and tongue red.’”
“Really?” Her eyes grew round with wonder.
“Yes. But you have to eat all of your burger first. Then dessert.”
“Hey, kids, come towel off. It’s time to eat,” Cassie shouted.
Knox placed Harper next to Cadence and both girls held hands as they skipped toward Cassie.
“Mommy, Mommy, Mr. Mac got me a red velvet cupcake but he says I have to finish my burger first. Then I can have dessert.”
Cassie gave Mac a grateful smile and wrapped Cadence in a towel as Sydney did the same with Harper. Both boys and Herc grabbed their own to dry off. Jax hustled up the pool steps and then shook his coat before trotting over to curl up in the shade.
Mac turned backward and thrust himself up onto the edge of the pool. Knox did the same.
“When is your rug rat due?” he asked.
Knox grinned. “Six weeks. And I can’t wait. You’re pretty good with kids.”
He laughed. “I’ve never been around them. Beginner’s luck.”
“You’re a natural. I hear you started filming with Sydney this week.”
“I did.”
“She’s by far my favorite director. She gives excellent notes and then sits back and lets you find the essence of your character.” Knox chuckled. “I’d started dating London when I was working with Sydney. Keely was my leading lady and London became jealous. She’d never been around actors and had a hard time watching me kiss Keely, who is like a little sister to me.”