The truth was, he didn’t care if she hyphenated as long as his name was attached to hers somehow. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a resounding kiss. “It does,” he agreed. “As long as we’re together, I don’t care.”
“Ugh.” Vince rolled his eyes. “’Both my brothers have lost their balls,” he said, getting up to leave.
“Where are you going?” Nolan asked. “Aren’t you going to visit?”
“And talk about weddings and babies and last names? No thanks. I’d rather pull my eyelashes out.” Nolan sobered, knowing his brother felt alone now that both Dillon and Nolan had found someone. He could only hope that someday his beloved twin found the same level of joy but Vince was so closed off, he might not even know it if it were staring him in the face.
“You’ll be at the wedding, right?” Nolan asked.
Vince paused and cast him a look filled with love even though they were men and not supposed to be pussies about that kind of stuff. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he answered gruffly and then walked from the room.
“I don’t think he likes me,” Shannon said quietly. Penny, Dillon and Nolan knew Vince’s attitude had nothing to do with Shannon and everything to do with the pain he carried around inside himself but Nolan didn’t want to reveal Vince’s private business.
“That’s just Vince,” Nolan said, forcing a smile. “In his own way, he’ll grow to love you. He already adores Aubrey.”
“It’s true,” Penny agreed, rubbing her enormous belly. “He tries to hide it but Vince has the softest heart. He’s going to drive all of us crazy by spoiling the kids rotten.”
Shannon smiled, relieved. “Oh good. I thought it was me.”
Nolan appreciated Shannon’s concern for his twin, knowing how close he was to his brother. Vince would come around, eventually. And it was true, Vince loved Aubrey to distraction.
“So did you ever figure out who sent that anonymous letter in the first place?” Penny asked, intrigued. “Who knew they’d be a blessing in disguise.”
“Actually, I did find out,” Shannon answered, shooting a glance at Nolan. “It was CeCe, my intern. She found out through a friend of mine, did a little research and when she discovered Nolan, she thought if I were embroiled in a custody battle, I wouldn’t notice what she was doing behind my back, which was trying to steal my job.”
“What a dirty little you-know-what.“ Penny gasped in outrage.
“Yes,” Shannon agreed. “I would’ve never known if I hadn’t stumbled upon a few slips of paper that she’d apparently practiced her letter statement to Nolan on. Dumb girl left the rejects on her notepad on her desk. I guess she was so busy trying to take over my job she forgot about it. I went into her area to find the stapler-remover because she was always taking it and forgetting to return it, that I found the notepad under a stack of papers. Once I had the evidence in my hand, it was hard for her to refute. I took great relish in letting her go.”
“Wow. That’s crazy,” Penny said. “Sometimes women can be really catty when it comes to other women. But, in a way, she brought you two together.”
“True,” Shannon agreed, smiling. “I wish her the best but I’d never work with her again.”
“Well, of course not, you can’t trust her farther than you can throw her!”
Shannon and Penny laughed and the conversation moved back to wedding details, which was a perfect excuse for Dillon and Nolan to excuse themselves without getting an earful.
As Dillon and Nolan enjoyed a little Irish whiskey in the study, Nolan said, “I never thought I’d find anything remotely close to what you and Penny have.”
Dillon lifted his glass in salute, agreeing, “We’re lucky men.”
Nolan savored his whiskey, adding reflectively, “Do you think there’s someone out there for Vince?”
“I hope so,” Dillon answered but his tone said he shared Nolan’s fears about their brother. “If anyone needs someone to help heal the pain from the past…it’s Vince.”
Nolan nodded. Perhaps it wasn’t in the cards for Vince, but he sincerely hoped so. Now that he had Shannon and Aubrey in his life, he realized what he’d been missing.
He wanted that for Vince, too.
“Little brother, he has to follow his own path,” Dillon said, shrugging. “If I’ve learned anything, if it’s meant to be…it will find a way.”
Simple but sage advice.
“Let’s hope fate is kind to Vince, too,” he said, lifting his glass and Dillon did the same.
“Here’s to hope.”
They both drank and sighed with contentment.
Life was good — and Nolan knew he was one lucky son-of-a-bitch.
“So fatherhood…” Dillon asked, his nerves showing. “How is it?”
In this Nolan had no trouble beaming from ear to ear, saying, “Brother, it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. You’re going to love it.”
Nolan couldn’t wait to add to their brood, but he’d made a deal with Shannon — no more babies until after the wedding.
Anytime after that was fair game.
He smiled at the thought.
Making babies with Shannon…he couldn’t wait.
And this time around, he wasn’t going to miss a single minute.