“We’re here.”
Gemma turned away from trying to figure him out to look at the large white farmhouse they were approaching. She didn’t quite know what to think of the range of cars lined up in the front yard. Pickup trucks, SUVs, a bright red M6, and a shiny black Mercedes S600. If a TV crew jumped out and told her they were filming her for a surprise show, Gemma wouldn’t even blink. The whole scene was just too strange.
The door opened and people poured out of the farmhouse. She could identify his mother and father because of the gray streaking their hair, and she spotted Katelyn Jacks standing tall in the back, but the rest were a clump of people hurrying down the wide wood steps toward them.
Cy parked the truck and hurried to open Gemma’s door for her. Before she could ask who everyone was, a beautiful woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a miniskirt flung herself into his arms. Jeez, could women not help throwing themselves at him? Okay, who was she kidding? Under different circumstances she would, too, although she doubted she’d be able to get through the line of starlets waiting at his apartment to even get the chance.
Gemma cringed when he placed a kiss on her cheek and set her back on the ground. “Hey, sweetheart. Let me introduce you to Gemma Perry.” Cy put his arm around the pretty woman and smiled his genuine smile at her. “Gemma, this is Paige Parker, my sister. And that man over there in the black cowboy hat is her husband, Cole.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Cole tipped his hat and came to join them.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Paige said. “Usually when Cy comes home, it’s to nurse some kind of injury. He’s never brought a woman home before.” Paige openly checked her out and Gemma suddenly felt even more self- conscious than normal as she felt all eyes on her. She instinctively clutched Fred closer to her.
“And these are my parents, Marcy and Jake Davies.” Cy shook his father’s hand and then wrapped his mom in a tight hug as she laughed.
Marcy clapped her hands and everyone quieted down. “You must be exhausted from traveling. Let me make this quick and then get you some breakfast while Cy tells us what this is all about.” Cy’s mother slipped her hand onto Gemma’s arm, gave Fred a scratch behind his ears, and propelled them toward the stairs.
“This is Miles and his wife, Morgan.” Gemma shook hands and introduced herself to the very tall, serious- looking man and his wife who had the darkest hair she’d ever seen. “And this is Pierce and his fiancee, Tammy.” Gemma smiled at the petite blonde practically bounding forward to meet her.
“It’s so nice to meet you. We
“And this is Cade, his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Sophie,” Marcy continued as she marched Gemma closer and closer to the house. The little redhead clung to her mother’s red hair and giggled as Gemma said hello to them both. Cade, in a Keeneston High School t-shirt and athletic shorts, smiled down at his wife and daughter after shaking Gemma’s hand.
“And here she is,” Cy kissed his sister-in-law on the cheek and scooped Sophie up into his arms as she squealed in delight. “That’s right, I helped bring you into the world and that makes me your favorite uncle,” he cooed.
Annie shot Katelyn a look and they both rolled their eyes, “Yeah, you were a big help all right,” Katelyn laughed with her hand resting on a very small baby bump. “Hi. I’m Katelyn Davies and this is my husband, Marshall,” she said, gesturing to the man standing next to her with short brown hair and jeans that fit tight around well-muscled legs.
“I know you . . . er, I know of you. I’m an investigative reporter for
“Oh,” Katelyn said slowly as she looked straight at Cy.
“Don’t worry, sis, she’s not here for you. I take it everyone else is inside?”
“Yes,” Cy’s father said as he came to stand next to his son. All the brothers had inherited their father’s hazel eyes and tall frame while Cy and Pierce seemed to have lighter brown, almost blond hair, like their mother.
“You’re almost done with introductions. We’ll give you a quiz after breakfast,” Cy joked. Gemma just didn’t know how many more people she could remember, but she followed Marcy up the steps and into the large living room. There were plenty of chairs and couches to accommodate the whole family.
Pictures of all the kids throughout the years hung on the walls, and pictures of the grandkids were set on tables. On the far side of the room sat a man in jeans with his long legs stretched out in front of him and a baby on his lap. On the far end of the couch was a man in the most amazing black suit she’d ever seen. His black hair was slicked back behind his ears and he had his arm around a very pregnant woman whose dark brown, almost black, hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail. She had obviously been in conversation with another lady in a suit with her auburn hair pulled back into a French twist.
Marcy led her over to the couch first. “This is Mo and his wife, Dani.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Mo said as he stood and gave a slight bow over her hand. His low, Middle Eastern accent flowed over her and she found herself with a strange desire to curtsy.
“Please excuse me for not getting up, but I am huge. Once you get me down, it takes a crane to get me off the couch again. Hi. I’m Dani.” The woman in jeans and a maternity tank top held out one hand to shake while her other rested on her very pregnant belly.
“No worries. Wow, when are you due?” Gemma asked as she shook her hand.
“In about eight weeks.”
“Do you know if it’s a girl or a boy yet?” Gemma resisted the urge to reach out and rub the perfectly round belly. Okay, she could admit to herself she wanted a baby badly.
“No. We didn’t want to know, plus it’s a thing in his country. We instructed our doctor to tell us nothing. It’s going to be a surprise for us and all of Rahmi,” Dani smiled as she rubbed her tummy. Rahmi, what was it about that name that sounded familiar?
“Hi, Mo. Thanks for letting us land at your airport.” Cy stuck his hand out and shook Mo’s hand.
Airport, Rahmi, prince . . . ”You’re the Prince and Princess of Rahmi?” Gemma froze as she clapped her hand over her mouth. She didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Dani chuckled and Mo gave her an understanding smile. “We are. Although here we’re just Dani and Mo. We’re enjoying our last week in Kentucky before going to Rahmi for the rest of the year,” Mo told her as he sat back down and slipped his arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“And I hate that they have to leave next week, but her doctor is forcing them. Something about not flying too late in the pregnancy,” the pretty auburn-haired woman pouted playfully.
“The doctor left yesterday, in fact. He wanted to check out the palace and set up a delivery room and a recovery room for the baby. Unfortunately, he has my cell phone number. He’s worse than a mother hen,” Dani laughed.
Marcy smiled kindly but then got back got to the business of introductions. “This is Kenna Ashton and her husband, Will.”
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” Will said as Kenna smiled.
Cy reached around Gemma and with one large hand scooped the baby into his left arm. Sophie was still goo-gooing in his right. “And this handsome fellow is my nephew, Ryan. He’s Annie and Cade’s son, aren’t you, big boy?” Cy bounced him happily as both kids laughed gleefully at a man who was suddenly not looking so dark and dangerous anymore.
Cy reluctantly gave the babies back to their parents when he saw Ahmed quietly slip in through the door. Miles pushed himself off the dining room doorframe and quietly headed toward him as well. The silent show of support meant a lot to him.
Over the last twenty minutes, the group had naturally separated. The women were huddling around the couch talking about babies, and Gemma was filling in Paige about the changes to Los Angeles. It had been so many years since Paige had left there after fashion school. Cy practically forgot she had been there the first two years he was there. Of course, L.A. was so huge, he was never in any risk of actually seeing her. But that didn’t mean he didn’t check up on her.
“Ready?” Miles asked as he stopped next to him.
“I guess. I’m really not looking forward to this. You think Ma’s going to be mad?” Cy asked as he shot a glance at his sweet-looking mother.
