“Xia.”
“No.” I place my finger on his lips. “No more.
Placing his head on my belly, he wraps an arm around me. “I love you, Xia.” No man has ever loved me like this. I’d be a fool to let him slip away.
“I love you, too, Shayne.” I run my fingers through his hair. Among the ashes of times bygone, we’re building our future.
***
Shayne
I wrap my arm around Xia’s waist as she sits down on my lap. The impromptu grill lunch is the perfect chance for us to mingle in a chill environment. It’s insane how much of a baby boom has swept through. Skull and Ruthie have two-year-old twins, Wizard’s boy, Vegas, is pushing four and Neve is pregnant with another one. Blue and Shadow’s daughter is barely a year, and she’s got another on the way.
I think he’s making up for lost time. After three years in jail, and a life of being cock blocked from Blue by her vindictive older sister, Calla, I can see where Shadow is coming from. It’s the year of babies. Due dates are staggered, but there’s no arguing that the diapers and formula will be flowing.
None of us had it easy in love, did we? I glance over at Bolton and Whitney and wonder if there’s a romance brewing between them. Her cheeks seem redder than they should be and he’s got a sly smile going. That’ll be interesting. Young love rarely ends well, and she’s in Virginia while he’s here in Cali. Add the fact that he’s going to pledge after he gets his degree and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
I sneak a look at Blanche and Freeze. She’s sitting on his lap sideways, and he has his hand planted firmly on her belly. Another one bites the dust. I bet money it won’t be long until they announce their second pregnancy.
“There’s a lot of baby baking going on around here,” Xia whispers.
I snicker. “I was just noticing the same thing
.”
“Is that an unspoken rule you’ve yet to mention?”
“No. If you notice, there’s a huge gap between the last kid born, Bolton, and now this new batch. We tend to remain bachelors longer than most men.”
“Humph.”
“Why, are you getting baby fever?” The thought of a miniature version of her doesn’t scare me the way I thought it would.
“Nope. Do you want kids?” she inquires.
“Sure, one day, but I’m in no rush.”
She sighs. “Good.
“Were you worried about my answer?”
“A little bit. There are some key things we haven’t talked to each other about.”
“We’ll get to them. I’m not your father. I’m not going to give you ultimatums based on my perceptions about women. We’re in this together. That means both our opinions matter.”
She wraps her arm around my neck and turns into me. “I like the way you think, Mr. Spencer.”
I kiss her lips. “Let’s keep it that way.”
“Hey, ladies. We have some alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the house for us. You know the men frown on girly drinks,” D’Rose says.
“I think that’s my cue for girl time.” Xi stands. I kiss the back of her hand, and she smiles down at me before joining the woman heading to the kitchen for the lemonade and peach sangria Dixie Rose made this morning after breakfast. We’d spent the day catching up with my brother and his wife.
The door closes behind them, and the brothers converge on me.
“Damn, boy, you like to make a grand entrance, don’t you?” Shadow asks.
I laugh. “Me? Naaah.”