Page 33 of Solitary Man

I shook my head. In pain. Frustrated as hell. And happier than I’d ever been in my life.

I couldn’t wait to get her somewhere so I could have her again.

“Wow, you look kind of grumpy,” she said, sounding far too happy about it.

I growled again, and she laughed.

It was even better than her giggle.

I still had another thirty minutes trapped in here with my sexy wife until we reached Beau’s place. With her scent filling the cockpit, driving me to distraction. With her laughter ringing in my ears, and her sweet smiles constantly aimed my way.

I wasn’t sure I’d survive it.

But at least I’d die happy.

8

Riley

Sunday night was family dinner night for the Smiths. Apparently, they alternated between Hank’s and Beau’s houses, since they lived close, and this week Beau and Freya were hosting.

I sat at the huge dinner table, crowded with Cash’s family. Cash on one side, three-year-old Conner on the other, and one-year-old Charlotte on my lap.

Given that I had never experienced anything like this in my life, I was feeling more than a little overwhelmed.

Hank and Beau were huge like their cousin. Their wives, Birdie and Freya, who had welcomed me with open arms, had loaded the table with enough food for an army, which wasn’t far from the truth since Hank and Birdie had twins, two sets—Emmy and Beth, aged six, and Jake and Oliver, aged two. And Beau and Freya had Conner, Five, and yes, one-year-old twins as well—Charlotte and Baxter.

Charlotte was squirming like crazy in my lap, and I looked around, unsure what to do. I glanced at Cash, who was holding her twin. Baxter was fast asleep. Everyone was eating—or trying to, in my case—while they chatted and passed plates of food.

Hank and Beau sat to Cash’s left at one end of the table, and the three men were talking, though that was probably a stretch. Beau talked and Hank and Cash did a lot of grunting. Obviously, a family trait. The kids didn’t stay in their seats; they shifted around, constantly climbing on and off laps—and no one seemed bothered by all the moving about. Soon, the food that I thought we’d never get through was almost gone.

So yes, overwhelmed was an understatement.

“Let me take that little monster,” Beau said, standing and lifting his daughter from my lap. “You need to eat.” He turned and looked at his wife. “Can you get me a beer, Bear?”

Bear?

She flipped him off but handed him one. “Prepare for payback,” she said and smiled sweetly, but there was no missing the promise of revenge.

Cash turned to me and frowned down at my plate. Why didn’t that surprise me? He was always worried about me eating enough, even though I certainly didn’t look like I was starving.

I smiled at Beau. “Your daughter is adorable.”

“She also never sleeps.”

“Try having four that don’t sleep,” Hank said, as Jake and Oliver climbed their father like little spider monkeys. Hank steadied them while they stood on his solid thighs, one with his arms wrapped around Hank’s neck, the other trying to hang off the arm supporting him.

Hank made a growling sound and stood suddenly. The boys squealed, giggling with delight as he carried them to the living room. He ended up on the floor, his boys climbing all over him laughing hysterically. The other kids piled in, and soon Beau joined in, a pile of giant men and giggling children.

I could see now why Cash wanted kids of his own. He didn’t say much, but there was no missing how much he loved his family.

“Okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “I mean, it’s a lot to take in. This only child spent most of her time alone. But this is nice and…noisy.”

“Yep,” he said, his gaze softening as he chuckled. “Eat, Riley. You haven’t had much all day.”

I filled my fork with roast meat and potatoes. “Do you come here a lot?”