I scowled at the autumn trees in the yard. Happy birthday to me. The big seven zero had arrived—to my utter dismay. I shouldn’t be tart about it. I didn’t feel seventy, but something about the number screwed with my mind.
I gazed up at the clouds. I thought of him every day and never stopped missing him.
But I was happy. My life was filled with love and a boatload of family, just as Matt had wanted.
Can you believe it, old man? I made it to another monumental birthday. You lucky bastard will forever be entombed in hotness, forever thirty-nine, forever my Knight. I know you would’ve welcomed wrinkles and a receding hairline. Someday we’ll be together again. Art says we can have a threesome, but I know how possessive you are. Maybe I can change your mind…
I giggled to myself. Matt would probably spank my bottom when I met him on the other side for talking so much about a threesome. It shouldn’t be a surprise. I’d always had a naughty, sinful side. Art had rejuvenated it when we’d gotten together. A threesome with the two loves of my life would be a fucking dream come true.
“Where’s my birthday girl?” Art exited the house and let the screen door slam shut. He sat next to me on the porch swing and put his arm around my shoulders. “I’ll replace that damn door tomorrow.” He kissed my head.
I smiled and curled into his arms. I hated that metal door because not one person held it to shut it properly—except me.
“Thank you, handsome.” I sighed, lacing my fingers with his. “It’s a gorgeous day.”
“As it should be on your birthday.”
“I don’t want to be seventy.”
“Why not? You’re hotter than the day I married you. When other women slow down and wear loose flowery shirts and those ugly slip-on shoes—”
“Clogs, Art.”
“Whatever. My woman, rocks fitted jeans and heels.” He brushed his finger across my chest. “And look at this cleavage poking out. Let’s go inside for a quickie,” he growled.
I laughed and raised my foot, flexing it to see the red heels he was talking about. “The kids will be here any minute. There’s no time for a quickie, silly man. And I’m only wearing these shoes because it’s my birthday, and you love it when I wear red heels.”
“And red lipstick.” He nibbled below my earlobe. “I’m getting turned on thinking about your red lips around my cock.”
“You’re so bad, Art.”
“And you’re gorgeous, Eve. The hottest Nana Sugar in all of Minnesota, in all of the world.” He pinched my chin to turn my face toward his and planted a kiss on my lips. “I only need thirty seconds these days, sweetness.”
“Stop it. Your tongue can still go all night.” Our sex life hadn’t slowed much in the last twenty-nine years. Art believed having an orgasm every day would keep us young and extend our lives. I’d be a fool to argue. “Honey, you woke me up in the best way. If you want to go again, don’t fall asleep on the recliner before nine.”
He captured my bottom lip between his teeth. “See? Still sassy and sexy. I’ll give it to you good tonight.”
“Wow. Okay.” A tremble rolled through me.
A truck horn blared. Then a second horn tooted. Utter chaos was about to ensue, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
I sat forward. “Sounds like Maddox and Markey are coming down the road.” They would be fifty in a couple of years and were as ornery as ever. I didn’t care. I was just glad Markey drove the distance with his family to celebrate my birthday with me. It was the best gift he could give me.
Art and I were blessed with four grandsons and three granddaughters. I loved them to pieces and couldn’t wait until the older ones gave me great-grandbabies. Maddox and Markey’s kids were a mix of teenagers and young adults.
“Yep, looking forward to a round of pool with the boys, and I guess we’ll let Knox join us.” Art’s salty tone used to be precious in the early days when Alexandra started dating Knox. That was several years ago. “He’s gonna hurt her one day; you just watch.”
I rolled my eyes. I’d had enough of my dear husband’s attitude toward our son-in-law. Alex was our oldest at twenty-eight, married to Knox, and they had a toddler and an infant. Our son, Phoenix, was twenty-six, single, and the enforcer of KLMC.
Alex and Nix had brightened my gloomy world, much like their father.
“She’ll always be your little girl, honey. Try to remember how much she loves Knox, and he is the father of our grandchildren.”
“I know, I know. I’ll try to be nice, but you know how I feel about her hooking up with a tattoo artist.”
“Art, you’re a tattoo artist, and they’re married.” Gracious this man.
“Yeah, well, he moved in and stole half my clients and my daughter.” He looked sidelong at me. “I don’t appreciate that, Eve. Not one bit. I might be able to look past it if he were a biker, but he’s not.”