Chapter Thirty
***Autumn***
Iwasthelast person to breakfast the next morning. I woke up late, still in Griff’s bed, and dressed in one of his shirts before going out to find them. I was surprised to see the kids back already, even more surprised to find that my men had served their own breakfast and were taking care of the kids with no problem. I stopped in the doorway because I was definitely not dressed to hang out with the kids, but Con spotted me and grinned.
Griff looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Come here.”
I shook my head, sending my hair flying all around. “No, no. I need to go and get dressed.”
Zeke stood up and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me out onto the balcony and into his lap. “You’re dressed enough.”
“Autumn!” Caroline and Grace rushed over to give me hugs while Jones smiled at me from around a mouthful of pancakes.
I looked back and saw that Sir Fluffy Butt and Wiggles were back, too. “I’ve missed you guys. You’re back early, though. Should I be worried?”
Jones stood up and moved over to me. Leaning against my leg, he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and showed me. “There’s a kite flying show at the park this morning. We want to go, if it’s okay with you.”
I pretended to think about it while also shifting and making sure that I was completely covered. “Hmmm. A kite flying show? That sounds…awesome!”
Jones surprised me by throwing his arms around my neck and hugging me, for just a split second, before pulling away and looking at his dad. “I told you that Autumn would think it was a good idea!”
Griff reached out and ruffled Jones’ hair in the most affectionate way I’d ever seen him touch his son. He smiled at him and then patted his chest. “You were right. She’s got good taste, I guess.”
Jones beamed as he ate the rest of his breakfast, so proud and happy about having that moment with his dad, I could tell. Caroline and Grace were both equally as excited, hanging off of me and then their Uncle Zeke as they did everything but eat.
I tried to move off of Zeke’s lap multiple times, but he just wrapped his arm around my waist and held me tight. Looking over at Griff, I found him smiling at me. He looked relaxed and happy, just like Con sitting next to him. They all three seemed to be in good moods, and I blushed thinking about why that could be.
“Do you mind taking them to the park this morning?” Con took my foot and rubbed it while talking. “I know we kind of sprang it on you.”
I bit back a moan as he rubbed deeper. “It’ll be nice to go to the park and get some time out with the kids. Are you three coming along?”
Griff grunted. “Work.”
Zeke sighed against my ear, making me shiver. “Same. I need to go into the city. I’ve been putting off responsibilities lately, for some reason. Which means I need to play catch-up today.”
“I’m in the same boat.” Con took my other foot and ran his hand up my calf. “I’ll be back here tonight, though.”
I pulled my foot free and stood up. Taking the time to playfully tap each of them on the nose, I moved to stand behind Griff and leaned over his shoulder. “Well, I’m probably going to be super busy tonight. Don’t rush home on my account.”
Griff caught my arm when I tried to pull away and pulled me closer. “You’ll want to make time for us.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
“Have you forgotten already? Should I walk you to your room and remind you?” His voice was a teasing growl, but his eyes said he’d do it.
I let my lips brush over his ear as I whispered to him. “I loved waking up in your bed and pulling on your shirt. The only thing better would’ve been finding you next to me. I have needs in the morning, too, sweetheart.”
Griff was halfway out of his chair when Caroline patted his arm to get his attention. “Daddy, are you going to have another baby?”
I took a big step back and forced a smile. “I’m going to get changed and then we can get ready to go to the park! I’ll be right back, guys!”
Hurrying away from them, I almost ran to my room. I didn’t want to hear Griff’s answer, and I didn’t want to give myself time to think about what I might want him to say. It didn’t matter, anyway. The summer would end, and I’d go back home, and they’d go back to the city. That was the plan. I had no business caring about whether or not any of the men wanted more children.
I slumped on my bed and pouted for a few minutes, feeling sorry for myself, but that was silly. Standing back up, I pulled out a sundress from my closet and dressed for the day. I was living a life that not many people got to live. I was enjoying myself to the fullest with three men that I found world-shatteringly hot and I had never had a more thorough confidence boost. I just had to focus on the fun.
I pulled my hair into a messy bun and applied a bit of makeup before looking at myself in the mirror. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the woman in front of me. She was glowing. She was happy. She needed to cover up the love marks from her three men before people saw them.
I couldn’t help smiling as I took care of hiding the evidence of our night. I’d done something so wild that it would’ve been a hit on the erotica website I’d visited back before I lost my vibrator and had gotten bored with myself. I’d done something that I’d be able to think back on when I was Granny Lane’s age and still blush over it.
I slipped on my sandals and hurried out to find the kids waiting on me. They were dressed and sitting there, listening to Griff tell them something. I grinned when he looked back at me and his sentence trailed off.
“You look great.” He finally said with a lower voice. “Maybe I should skip work.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Go to work, Mr. Phoenix. The kids and I have a park to rampage.”
“Rampage?” Grace held her arms out to me for me to pick her up and planted a wet kiss on my cheek when I did. “I missed you, Autumn.”
Jones looked up at me and nodded. “Dad’s right. You look pretty.”
Griff chuckled and bent down to pull his son in for a hug. When he saw Caroline watching, he pulled her in, too. His voice was suspiciously moist when he pulled back and stood up. “You four have fun. Don’t rampage too much.”
I caught Griff’s hand and went in for my own hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
He stepped away and nodded quickly before heading downstairs. “Be good today.”
I nudged Jones and started chanting, “Rampage. Rampage. Rampage!”
All three kids had joined me by the time we got downstairs. Then, we chanted outside of Griff’s office for a few seconds for good measure before leaving.
I grabbed a few of the beach chairs from the storage room next to the garage and let one of the guards help me load them. The same man drove us to the park and blocked traffic while he helped us get out and unload, only driving away to park once we were set up.
It was a beautiful day with nothing but blue skies and sun, the wind just perfect for kites. The kids enjoyed the playground equipment while I watched. Everything was going well, until a thin shadow fell over me and I looked up to see Stacy glaring down at me with a manilla envelope in her hands.