I thumb through the files and toss the file through the air. He catches it easily and reads through the contents, his smile growing wilder with each page. "Fuck me, you're taking a chance here."
"Kinda like you took a chance with Evin, buying a run-down bakery?"
"Yeah, that kind of chance. I'm in on this, from the beginning. We'll have it constructed by late spring."
"Counting on it."
My cell rings and I answer with a smile, "Princess."
"Evin is joining us tonight," she huffs.
"I heard."
"He's going to take hostage of the baby, like always."
Her voice carries through the line, and Pierce chuckles, shaking his head.
"It'll be family night. The kids will love it."
"Yes, they will. I'm at the store now to get the stuff for dinner."
"Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you at home."
“See you soon.”
"Hey, Ashlyn?"
"Yes?"
"We could have our own baby and lock ourselves away so you don't have to share."
She shrieks, hanging up, and my smile grows wider.
"Good one." Pierce eyes me approvingly as he stands. "What do you want me to deal with?"
I pass over a handful of folders and he leaves with a quick wave.
With him taking most of my afternoon work, I make the executive decision to head on over to Ashlyn's and do another walk through the property next door.
If all goes well, and they accept the offer, the house will be mine on Christmas.
Then the rest of my plan can finally fall into place.
•—•—•—•—•
"Oh shit," Cole blurts out.
I twist from the chair to correct him on his language and hear Evin's loud hiss. My eyes fly out the front window to see what they are focused on.
"Fuck me." I'm on my feet and at the door in under a second.
Connie is storming up the front steps, her gaze locked on Ashlyn, who is swaying and feeding a bundled up Dev on Pierce's porch swing. Runner goes crazy, pacing in front of the door.
I point to Cole. "You stay here."
He nods, looking out the window, not happy to see his mom.
Evin joins me, stepping onto the porch and keeping Runner behind.
"What do you mean they're not here?" Connie seethes.
"I mean we are home with the children while they attend the Brasher holiday party. I'm assuming by the resemblance that you are Maya and Cole's mother." It's hard to miss the venom in Ashlyn's tone at the word mother.
"Why do my children need babysitters when I can take them anytime? And who the hell are you?"
"Connie, what are you doing here?" I control my voice, knowing Cole is in earshot range.
"My name is Ashlyn Rhodes," Ashlyn carries on, overriding my question.
Connie's eyes sling between Evin and me, then back to Ashlyn with recognition. "You're Miller's new piece?"
Ashlyn flashes her a sickeningly sweet smile, hustling the baby a little so he's fully on display. "If by the term piece, you mean girlfriend, then yes."
"What are you doing here?" I repeat, my jaw ticking. "Your ass is to be nowhere near this house. Thought I made that clear when I kicked you out in January."
"I'm here because of this." She waves an envelope in the air theatrically.
"Please tell me that's transfer papers and you're moving to Alaska," Evin throws in low enough that it doesn't travel through the door.
Connie narrows her eyes, heat and hatred building in her glare. "Shut up, you jackass."
He chuckles in amusement. "Just saying."
"You have less than a minute to explain yourself."
"This is between Pierce and me."
"Well, as Ashlyn told you, he's not here. So leave."
"I want to see my kids."
"Maya's in the shower and Cole's busy. I'll tell them to call you if they want."
"Screw that."
Ashlyn puts the bottle on the side table and shifts Dev to her shoulder, patting him softly. He gives a little coo and nuzzles. All eyes go to them and Ashlyn huddles him closer.
"You need help, Princess?"
"I've got him."
Connie looks back to me, the fury now blazing. "Of course you step in when Darby has a baby."
"Stepped in thirteen years ago, too."
"I don't remember you lifting a finger."
"That's because you're a bitch. Pierce knew he had help."
She doesn’t have time to spout back when lights flash at the head of the driveway and Darby's Range Rover pulls up, stopping mid-way. Pierce is out of the car, his eyes violent with outrage. He glances at me as he helps Darby out of the truck.
Ashlyn blows out a breath, bringing my attention to her. She's locked on the scene as Pierce takes Darby's hand and comes toward us. I'm not a woman, but I'd swear there's a look that passes between Darby and Ashlyn.
Satisfaction? Camaraderie? Sisterhood?
There's no time to process it because when he's close enough, Pierce grates out his greeting on an unsteady growl. "There better be a good fucking reason your ass is on my family porch at this time of night."
He guides Darby up the stairs, steering her far from Connie before he takes her to the swing. He only breaks his stare to look down at his son and run a hand over his knit-covered head. "Hey, buddy," he whispers gently, then returns his fury to Connie.
Darby inches close to Ashlyn, too, not taking the baby, but bending to kiss his cheek.
"I'm waiting for an answer," Pierce clips.
"This bullshit, Pierce." She hurls the envelope at him. “You want to keep this so-called peace between us, you and your wife need to step back in line. Otherwise, the truce is over."
He rips the contents out of the envelope, letting it fly to the ground, and an air settles over everyone. There's no mistaking the electric blue cardstock that Annie ordered the instant Devin had a name.
Darby inhales sharply, but Pierce lets out a loud and satisfied bark of laughter. Evin and I join in.
"I didn't send that," Darby rushes to defend herself.
"Sure you didn't, bitch."
All laughter dies, and Runner chooses that second to go crazy behind the door—barking, scratching, and growling to get out.
"Listen to me closely and hear what I'm saying. You don't
