"Sorry.” She brushes my cheek. “But we can't go home. I've been waiting all day for this."
"This? Working yourself to exhaustion cleaning up the kitchen?"
"No! Our duties are done. Now the women get to relax and get to the fun stuff."
"If we go home, I promise you we'll get to the fun stuff naked." I roll my hips against hers.
"Haven't you been paying attention at all today? Tonight is the best part."
"Babe, I was busy frying turkeys and being bossed around by Mom."
She purses her lips and squints her eyes. "Excellent point. You missed most of it. This is our reward for days of preparation and cooking. Annie's making her famous martinis, and we're doing the girly stuff. Talk about babies, plan our Southern Home Holiday Light tour tomorrow night, which your mother has strong opinions about, and probably discussing the no-longer-a-secret shower on Saturday."
This last part is news to me. According to Ashlyn, who volunteered to help Renee with the shower, it was still top secret. "Who squealed?"
"Pierce made a compelling argument about surprising his wife. He was persuasive."
I nod, understanding exactly what she means.
"So, you go join the men outside and do manly things like watch football, drink beer, and hope we don't get highly inebriated."
"Highly inebriated is welcome."
"Did you forget you invited my brothers to stay with us?"
"Why does that matter?"
"We can't have sex with my brothers in the house." She lowers her voice to an almost inaudible level. "It isn't happening."
"Why the hell not?"
"Really, Miller?"
"I'll call the Brasher and get them in a room right now."
"Too late, they already dumped their stuff. Maybe next time you'll think about your loose-lipped invitations."
"We'll see." I lean in to kiss her, not willing to argue about this when there's a chance she'll pull an attitude and make me hard.
"I love your games."
"You're gonna love how I get creative soon."
"You held out on me for over a week. I think you'll be okay for a few nights." Her eyes shine and she chews on her bottom lip.
"Princess, you better join the hen party and drink Annie's martinis before I drag you out of here and give your dad a reason to shoot me."
She smiles wide. "And you better join the guys before you miss all the good gossip."
"We don't gossip."
"Mmhmm, that's not what I hear. Besides, I think they're waiting for you." She squeezes my hand and kisses the underside of my jaw before sliding out of my hold and going toward the dining room.
Ashlyn was right. When I get to the backyard, everyone is under the cabana with their eyes trained on me. I grab a beer and sit next to Evin, thinking he's the safest bet. "What's up?"
"Nothing yet, you're the star of this year's show."
"Hardly."
"Just wait."
As if on cue, Dozer clears his throat. "I suspect next year Janie will go all out to top this."
"I'm sure she'll have help." I take a swig of beer, unsure where he's going.
"I'm no woman, but Janie thinks it's important to share all sorts of stories with me. At first, it didn't make much sense, but today I saw the importance of these families being together. It was an honor to be a part of it."
His sincerity hits me hard. "You're always welcome."
"I suspect Christmas will be the same with a newborn in the mix."
"Probably."
"Janie and I talked about it. Austin and Andrew agreed. We're willing to give you Christmas this year, too. But, boy, next year you have to get used to sharing holidays."
"We'll work it out."
"With that being said," Dozer pauses, taking a sip of his drink. "Did the additional design changes delay, or are you going to have my baby girl's house finished by Christmas?"
Ashlyn used more of her extra budget to add to her dining room, which required bumping out a wall. The electricians had to rewire a few things. His expression tells me he probably knows this. "It'll be cutting it close. The changes didn't add much of a delay, but we lost about four days. Andi and I are rearranging some jobs to get extra help. Once the drywall is in and it's safe, Ashlyn is ready to get started, too."
"What materials you have on hand right now?"
"Everything, but it's Kendrick's policy to give employees this weekend with family. I planned to get some stuff done, but won't have a crew until Monday."
"Wrong, you have a crew right here." He throws his thumb to his sons.
"I appreciate that, but the same goes for you. This is a weekend for family."
He slices his eyes to my dad, who dips his chin in some kind of agreement.
"You guys into this?"
"Son, have you heard Ashlyn and Janie talking this week?"
I shake my head. "I'm usually at work. I know they have plans each day."
"Well, let me fill you in. Tomorrow, those women are going Black Friday shopping. Why the hell people do that shit with the internet available is a mystery to me, but they're going. Then tomorrow night, we're all being dragged to some historical holiday shit. Saturday, the girls are doing a baby shower. I'm not here to shop and I'm sure as hell not here to sit in a hotel room when there's work to get done."
"What the hell is she shopping for? We've had so many deliveries in the last three weeks that we had to stack them in the office."
"Considering she let go of ninety percent of her old things and everything she owns fits in your garage, there's no telling."
"So instead of enjoying the time off, you want to work?"
"Miller, for years I was forced to stay quiet while my daughter changed into another woman. She was almost a stranger. I would have done anything to get a glimpse of the girl she once was. Now she's back, and if she wants to be in her home for Christmas, I'll do whatever I can to make that happen."
"Us too," Andrew
