I’m so incredibly in love with her.

  “I think we should skip the party,” I say only low enough that she can hear me.

  AJ steps back to create some room and I am reminded that we are not alone. It takes everything I have not to toss her over my shoulder and carry her right back upstairs to our bedroom. Suddenly I feel like a teenage boy being overtaken by hormones.

  “Thank you for taking the kids tonight,” AJ ignores my comments and the smoldering look I am more than sure I have on my face.

  “You don’t have to thank us for taking these babies,” my mom says, with a smile, cuddling Blake close to her. “We feel like you don’t ask enough,” she adds. “We would take them every weekend if you’d offer.”

  My father doesn’t argue, holding Brynn to his chest.

  “We can lock up, if you two want to get going,” Mom offers and I reach out to link my fingers with hers.

  Tugging a little, AJ looks back over her shoulder. “Come on babe,” I need to get her alone.

  She quickly moves away giving both of the kids a kiss goodbye and backs away waving to them like she may never see them again. Blake plays the game with her where he wipes it off each time she presses her lips to his cheek and God knows I love the kid more than my own life, but I need his momma, like yesterday.

  “Call if you need anything,” AJ tells my mother and I know she isn’t listening to my wife. She’s only letting her go through her motherly motions allowing her to get it all out.

  Once I have her outside, I hurry her along to the truck and tuck her up inside. On the inside I feel like a bomb ready to ignite, and try like hell to get hold off my urges. That is until AJ speaks, and that is all it takes.

  “Are you okay?”

  I am turning off the main road and traveling up a dirt one leading to an old barn that I know will provide me a place to hide.

  “Rhett?” I glance over to find AJ looking around the darkened field that surrounds us and I slip in behind the barn and place my truck in park. Turning off the lights, I leave the engine running and grab ahold of her, pulling her across the cab of my truck. Immediately my hands are on her ass, pulling her tightly against me. She attempts to argue, but I don’t give her the chance before I cover her mouth with my own.

  “We have all night,” she mumbles against my lips.

  “Can’t wait all night, can’t wait ten minutes babe,” I grab the bottom of her shirt and lift it upward over her head.

  “If my parents weren’t there when you walked down the stairs I would have taken you right there against the wall.” She moans when I bite at her nipple through her lace bra.

  Laying her over, her back to the bench seat I turn toward her and start to undo her pants. I half expect her to stop me, only she starts wiggling her hips offering me assistance.

  It’s like we’re back to the first time we got each other alone after weeks of built up tension. My woman is on fire, fisting my hair, tugging it.

  The very second I push inside of her she moans, and thrusts her hips to meet my own. It’s been far too long, weeks without a moment alone that we both weren’t exhausted to the point we’d barely laid our heads down and we were out.

  “One night a week to ourselves,” I growl out as I continue to move above her. AJ’s legs are wrapped around me, her heels digging into my ass and she moans out a yes. Unsure if it’s a response to my demand or a cry of pleasure. But either way I’ll take it.

  The windows of the cab are so fogged up you can’t see out of them, both of us chasing our release. My stomach tightens, my toes curl and AJ tightens around me, tugging on my hair a little harder.

  With one more deep hard thrust and together we fall over the edge. My entire body shivers, one deep breath after another as I try to regain control.

  “Wow,” she mumbles, followed by a laugh. “That was unexpected,” she sighs and I lift my body, looking down at my wife. Her hair is a mess, her bra is half off, and her body shines with a thin layer of sweat.

  “Not for me,” I have no shame as I grin at her. “I knew the very second I got you up in this truck that the two of us would be making a detour.”

  AJ laughs, but reaches up to drag her thumb over my lip. “I miss this,” she confesses.

  “What? Getting dirty in the cab of my truck?” I kiss the tip of her finger and then bite playfully.

  “Us,” her words gain my full attention. “The unplanned, spur of the moment, can’t control ourselves, times. We need more of these.”

  I know what she is saying. Our kids are my world, the life we are both working so hard to build is more than I could have ever dreamed of. But this, AJ and me, is where that all began. I can’t lose sight of us.

  three

  AJ

  We walk hand in hand to the front entrance of Lucky’s, knowing that we’ll get lectured for being late. The incoming texts and calls we’ve already ignored were a sure sign that there is no way we’ll be able to sneak in without anyone noticing.

  The second we step inside and the door closes behind us it echoes over the bar. All eyes are on us, I swear no one says a word. I know I am imagining it to be so much worse than it actually is, but it's almost like the place goes silent.

  “Run,” I whisper at Rhett’s side and he chuckles.

  “We were just about to send out the search party,” Mike says, smiling from ear to ear.

  These men seem to have some kind of communication that doesn’t involve words. It’s like they share a brain sometimes, and I know without a doubt that Mike already knows exactly why Rhett and I are late.

  I scan over the faces of all our friends and family and each one of them wear matching smiles and smirks. That’s when I realize, all of them know. They know exactly what Rhett and I have been up to, like I’m wearing a big sign above my head with an arrow pointing down, saying, just nailed!

  My cheeks suddenly feel hot.

  “Well even if you tried to deny you two just got it on, none of us would believe you,” Maddison points toward Rhett. “Did either of you pay attention when you got dressed?”

  I look over at my husband and because I don’t know what else to do, I laugh. Quickly covering my mouth and snorting, and Rhett arches a brow at me.

  So much for trying to sneak in discreetly.

  Inside out, his shirt is, inside out.

  I point to his shirt; he glances down and a grin stretches out over his lips. I watch and wait and I know everyone else is too. So what does my husband do? Nothing, well beside grin proudly, and offer me a wink, before walking toward the bar to order drinks.

  “Get it girl,” Julian holds out his hand to high five me and I know in that moment I can either own it, or shy away from it.

  Lifting my hand I slap it to his and shrug, walking off to join Rhett.

  I adore Julian, he is hilarious and fun, I don’t think the guy has a mean bone in his body. He quickly became a member of the family and I can’t truly remember what it was like prior to Grace bringing him back to Brooklet with her.

  Gathering my drink from Rhett, I turn around and join the ladies at the table while the guys alternate playing pool and darts.

  Gretchen is already feeling good, apparently starting her party a little early with Julian before Colton brought her to Lucky’s.

  Holidays are bittersweet for Gretchen, because the family she was born to, the ones that should be wishing her Happy birthdays and showering her with gifts, bring her sadness instead.

  She fought the love of all of us, fought the idea that she deserved more than what her family offered. But Colton was relentless and I think she is finally starting to understand that we may not share blood, but she is part of our family, through and through. We are in her corner.

  “Who wants to dance?” Gretchen starts to back away, motioning for us all to follow her. She is wiggling her hips, shimmying and I’ll admit, seeing her so relaxed is a relief. If anyone deserves to have a good time, it’s Gretchen. She has a beautiful soul, and I’m so glad Colton found her. They are like oil and water, but it's amazing how well they come together to create the perfect mixture of sweet and salty, it's incredible to see the two of them together.

  I glance in his direction noticing how he is watching her, though he isn’t moving in her direction. One eye on the prize, always ready to swoop in if necessary, but then again every guy in this family is the same.

  “Don’t make me dance alone ladies,” Gretchen shakes her hips before spinning in circles.

  “Well, ladies,” I place my beer on the tabletop. “We can’t let her be the only one to have a little fun.”

  “Ohhh sweets, we all know you have some real fun before you got here.” Chloe, sweet quiet Chloe interjects. “The kind of fun that has one putting their clothes on inside out without realizing it.”

  “Eww,” Grace shivers and pretends to gag. “The last thing I need to focus on is my brother and getting busy.”

  She shivers again and walks toward the dance floor, “I’ll be over here where it's safe. Out of earshot so my ears don’t bleed.”

  “So you don’t want me to tell you how we pulled over just outside of town and found a dark road, where we—,”

  “Lala,” she places her finger in her eyes to keep from hearing anymore.

  “Oh please, go on,” Julian waved at me to continue, grinning wide with an eager look in his eyes. “And please do not hold back any details. Tell me everything, and I do mean everything.”

  All I can do is shake my head, because I know he’s only half kidding. Julian has never hid the fact that he thinks each of the guys are attractive. He calls Brooklet his hot man candy land.

  I truly love this family, each and every single one of them. They all bring so much to the table, and I have never met anyone more fierce and loyal. Sometimes I think those must have been a quality that was required to join. Smiling to myself at the thought I look around at the group of ladies now dancing in a circle in the middle of Lucy’s dance floor. Then glancing back over my shoulder I observe the guys, each entertaining themselves with different activities but never keeping their woman out of their sight. They are each so strong and protective, and yes, bull headed and as stubborn as they come, but also willing to do whatever it takes to make their girls happy.

  Like I said, the perfect mixture of everything great.

  We are all so lost in the music and laughing at Gretchen and how laid back she currently is. She’s so Zen, completely at ease as she sways to the music. That is until she is gone. As in lifted and carried off, like a sack of seed. Colton slaps her ass when she starts to wiggle and she squeals then laughs.

  They reach the door; Colton turns and offers a wave and then they are gone.

  It’s her party and she is gone.

  “They’ll be back,” Rhett moves in behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. Biting at my ear triggers a shiver from my head to my toes. “It seems I’m not the only one that can’t seem to keep their hands off their woman.”

  I relax against him, my back to his chest and continue to sway to the music, his hips matching mine.

  “I love you,” he whispers near my ear and my chest grows tight. “More and more each day, you are my world.”

  My throat feels tight but I nod, hoping he gets that I feel the same.

  I adore him.

  Our life, our love, I’m incredibly grateful.

  mike and maddison

  four

  Mike

  Smiling as I pull into the driveway and look ahead at our house. Maddison insisted on going all out this year with the Christmas decorations. Sarah is two and she is in the ahhh stage where everything is so exciting, and also extremely dramatic.

  My little girl has a set of lungs on her and toss in a mix of mine and Maddi’s attitude and damn she is a pistol. I’m talking about breaking glass and rattling cars to set off horns.

  There are lights twinkling along the porch, an outdoor Christmas tree tucked in one corner, and a line of reindeer in the other, lit up and flashing. There is a massive Santa and frosty standing side by side, bobbling around in the light breeze as it shifts the air filled displays.

  I sit for a minute taking it all in. Colton, Maddison’s dad helped her with the set up, but the choice of what and where that is all her.

  Knowing already before I walk up the steps and enter the house that there will be more inside.

  I love what I do, I love the people and the work, but residency also means that I miss a lot of time at home. We try to make all my time at home family time, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m gone more than I’m not.

  Maddison chose to stay home after we had Sarah and I’m grateful for that, but I know part of it is that she is still self-conscious about her limp. Something she will have the rest of her life after a near death experience with a horse. I barely notice, but she can’t seem to let it go.

  Opening my door I climb out of my SUV and start up the driveway. The closer I get the louder the music gets and I laugh when I realize it's Christmas music blaring throughout our home.

  Stepping up onto the porch, some little elf next to the door asks me if I’ve been good this year and I damn near jump out of my skin. I swear there is a new holiday treat added each day.

  Placing my key in the door, I give it a turn and then twist the knob. The minute the door is open and I am stepping inside, the smell of cinnamon and spice engulfs me. Setting my bag down, I remove my shoes and turn just in time to see my fiery little girl come running in my direction.

  Sarah’s loud excited squeal would make most cringe but I chuckle, bending down holding my hands out to catch her.

  “Daddy!” wrapping her little arms around my neck she squeezes as hard as her tiny body allows and instantly my heart warms.

  To love a child, it's nothing like I ever imagined. It is consuming, my entire world is under the roof of this house, what I love and breathe for, what I work so hard to provide for and to protect.

  Glancing up, I see movement and find Maddison step through the threshold that leads to our kitchen and cross her arms over her chest, leaning her shoulder against the wall.

  “She's been dancing around for the last hour singing Daddies coming to town, instead of Santa Claus,” Maddi shrugs. “Then it was Daddy the red nosed reindeer.”

  “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” Sarah sings as she wiggles in my arms. I don’t release her, but instead bury my face in her neck and she giggles. “Did my little lady miss me?”

  “This lady did too?” Maddi adds as she pushes off the wall and starts to walk toward us. Repositioning Sarah I make room for Mad as she curls in to my side, opposite Sarah. Tilting her head back I press a kiss to her lips and our daughter giggles while reaching in to separate us.

  Immediately both Maddison and I grab our daughter's hand and pretend to bite at her fingers, making her giggle and squeal.

  “Nom nom,” I fake chew, “tastes like chocolate.”

  “Cookie,” Sarah corrects me, her smile reminds me so much of Maddison’s. Our daughter is a mirror image of her mom, with the same eyes and hair. She did get my nose, and my dimple on her left cheek.

  “Tell Daddy what you made for him,” Mad directs her.

  “nickers,” she announces and I laugh, I know she means snickerdoodles.

  “My favorite,” actually I love most cookies, so I would have been happy with any kind.

  “What do you say we eat dinner, and then take us some cookies and milk and watch whatever movie you want?”

  Sarah places one hand on each side of my face and leans in, getting so close our noses touch. “Arfur Cwismas,” she states slowly and very seriously. I try not to laugh, but damn it's hard, she is too cute. “Wif chocwat milk, my pwincess piwow and Mommy’s bue banket”

  She is so precise, staring at me waiting for me to make the wrong move. As if I would deny her, Sarah rules the house. Both Maddison and I have a really hard time telling her no. It's the eyes, the deep penetrating don’t cross me stare. Oh and her adorable smile, it’s a smile that hits deep and spreads like wildfire.

  Everyone Is affected by it, Mom, Pop, even Garrett melts in her presence. Then there is Colt, there isn’t anything he won’t let Sarah get away with. She rules us all, holding us all captive with her cuteness.

  “That sounds perfect,” I finally tell her and she leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. “You’re my favwut Daddy.” I try not to laugh at her choice of wording, because I know what she meant.

  After she pulls back and wiggles free, I lower her to the ground and then look at my wife. “How many Daddy’s does she have?”

  Maddi reaches out to pinch my side and I grab her hand, tugging her closer and curling it behind her back. She is so much shorter than me, but fits so perfectly in my embrace.

  “How was your day?” She asks, ignoring my urge to tease her.

  “Better now,” I confess. I love my job, but I miss my girls when I’m away. “Now we get the next three days together.”

  “But we’ll be pretty busy,” we always seem busy. “Garrett says you have your fitting for your tuxes tomorrow afternoon. Then it's Terrance and Graces for their annual Christmas ugly sweater party.”

  “Did they show up?” I grin.

  “Washed and hung drying in the laundry room.” Maddison matches my smile.

  I ordered them online a week ago, without even asking her to approve. Hers has a string of Christmas lights across the front, that actually light up and it reads, I like big bulbs. Mine is Santa holding a large package down low and states, stop checking out my big package.

  I couldn’t resist, they were funny and I knew they would strike up conversation as well as some laughs.

  “I’m gonna go grab a shower,” I offer her a kiss, lingering a little longer than I should but it’s something I can’t control. “You ladies get things set up and I’ll be back in fifteen.”

  She nods and I back away starting for the bathroom but pause as I glance back to find her still watching me. “I love you,” the word ‘love’ I still to this day feel is not a strong enough word for what I truly feel when it comes to Maddison and Sarah. The two of them are my everything.