“I’ll come with you.” Torque grabbed the diaper bag by Allison’s feet, and they disappeared into the house.
“Did you ever think you’d see the day when Torque would volunteer to change diapers and just sit there while his Old Lady breastfed his kid?” Rachel asked.
Mia shook her head. “You know him better than I do. Though he is finally warming to me.”
“Having Tank softened him,” Darcy said. “Don’t let him hear me say that, but it’s true.”
Mia’s brown eyes shined with happiness. “I can’t wait to see Colt hold our daughter in his arms. There’s something so beautiful about seeing a burly, tatted man cradling an infant.”
Rachel sighed. “Yeah, I can’t wait to see Reap do the same thing with ours.”
“I need a refill,” I said suddenly. “Does anyone need anything?”
“I’m good,” Mia said.
“Me too,” Rachel added.
I escaped the family and father talk, but their conversation hit me deep. They were all so happily settled down with wild and dangerous men, yet it was clear they wouldn’t have chosen anything different. My childhood life had been nothing but fights between my parents, and then my father left. Listening to Mia and the other Old Ladies talk about their men made me realize how much I wanted the same thing. A loving partnership, a family, people I could count on. The insight walloped me hard and fast. I hadn’t expected it.
“Hey, darlin’,” Boxer crooned, sidling up next to me.
Startled, I jumped a bit and sloshed a few drops of wine over the side of the cup onto my hand.
“Sorry.” Boxer took my fingers and brought them to his lips, and with his tongue, lapped up the wine.
My insides heated from the look of promise in his eyes.
“You okay?” he asked, not releasing my hand.
I nodded.
He stared at me for a moment and then he said, “I challenge you to a game of cornhole.”
“You like your games.”
“Some of them.”
I knew we weren’t talking about cornhole.
“You sure you want to challenge me to a lawn game? I’m from Watch Hill. Lawn games are a big deal where I’m from.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
Chapter 25
Boxer tosseda beanbag and it landed in the hole. He flashed me an arrogant grin. “Are you having a good time?”
I nodded and then stepped up to throw my beanbag. “Everyone’s been wonderful.”
“Have they squeezed you for information yet?”
“No, they’re saving that for later. When the sun goes down, the kids are conked out, and the menfolk are elsewhere, I’m pretty sure that’s when they’re gonna grill me.”
He tossed his second beanbag, sending it close, but it didn’t fall in. “You sure you’re okay?”
I swallowed, wishing I’d brought my glass of wine with me. “Yeah, it’s just…”
“What?”