“At least you won’t have to worry about hearing Simon and Margo.”

  “How do you know? Some women enjoy sex right up to giving birth.”

  “Yes, but he wouldn’t be dumb enough to risk that here. Isn’t that a sure way to push a woman into labor? Not that I’d know, since you had a C-section way in advance. But I had thoughts if necessary. Assuming you could’ve managed it. You weren’t as…mobile then as you normally are.”

  “There’s an understatement. It does seem kind of risky, coming all the way out here when she’s so close to her due date. Relatively speaking anyway. I’m amazed her doctor even let her fly.”

  “They probably slipped her some green and made lots of promises. They have that midwife chick traveling with them just in case. Luckily, we’re only here for a few days.”

  “Yeah. There’s a storm coming up from—”

  “Storms take forever to move. We’ll be gone before anything gets here. Besides, don’t most of them spin themselves out over the ocean?”

  “Have you been talking to Ian? He was saying the same thing earlier. Or is that the typical male response?” Lila kicked him lightly with her bare foot. Then pale pink toenails skimmed up the inside of his leg and he nearly forgot to argue.

  She was an evil woman, his Li.

  “Do I talk to Ian?”

  “No, but you should, because he’s not going anywhere. Simon invited him here, remember?” Lila’s voice was gentle, and even that rankled. He did not need handling when it came to Simon’s newly discovered little brother.

  He didn’t need handling period, unless it was of a naked nature. Then he didn’t mind.

  “More like Margo invited him here. Let’s be real. Simon may be tolerating him more now, but do you really think he’d invite the guy on a vacation?”

  “Yeah. They’re finding their way.” Lila rubbed his back. “I know that’s hard for you. You don’t have to pretend with me.”

  “Who’s pretending?”

  “You. Always. Tough guy.”

  He took a breath. “Yeah, okay, it kinda sucks for me. I mean, it shouldn’t. I’m happy for Simon, now that it looks like Ian isn’t a dick. Jury’s still out, since I don’t fully trust the guy.”

  “But you’re used to having Simon all to yourself.”

  “That sounds kinky in ways I don’t want to think about.” Yet it was kinda true.

  Mostly true.

  “First, you had to share him with his wife. Now a brother and a baby. Growing up’s rough.”

  The amusement in her voice made him poke her in the side. “You’re funny. Pretty sure I have a wife and some kids too.”

  Kids he already missed desperately, and they’d been on the island for under a day. He’d already called them twice at their grandmother’s. It was fairly pathetic. Especially since Avery—their clingiest child—had acted as if she was too busy to talk to him, even if it was mostly baby-style babble.

  But that was neither here nor there.

  “You do, and it still shocks me. And I’m the wife who gave birth to the kids.”

  He rolled over onto his back and flung his arms out wide, draping his hand over her belly. “When did I forget how to just loaf? I don’t know what to do with myself without the sounds of screaming over glue and sudden tears. What have I become?”

  “A dad.” Lila rolled over and lifted up the hem of his nearly threadbare Megadeth T-shirt to kiss his stomach. “That’s probably the sweetest thing you’ve ever said, by the way.”

  “Is it increasing your interest in having quiet sex with me?”

  She chuckled, but she didn’t look at his face. He lifted his head from the pillow, frowning at her focus on his belly.

  “Your workouts are doing their job, hmm?”

  “The job of nearly killing me daily?”

  Or every other day, since he couldn’t keep up with freaking Deacon, Oblivion’s bassist. That beast could spend three hours in the gym and not break a sweat.

  Nick? Not so much. But he’d built up a lot of his endurance over the past six months or so, and he’d kept it up even after Simon had started skipping more often than he showed for obvious reasons. His and Margo’s world had been rocked in more ways than one.

  “The results are paying off.” Lila drew her pale pink nail around his navel and pulled down his shorts a fraction. His cock sprung up like it was a damn spring. “You’re so ripped.”

  Nick’s eyebrows rose. “Are you getting aroused right now by my eight-pack? Hot damn.” Maybe he’d start hitting the gym daily.

  If Saint Deacon could handle it, so could he.

  Plus, he had a whole case of Icy Hot at home.

  “Let’s not get hasty. More like a six-pack.” Lila caught her tongue between her teeth as she lowered her head and pushed down his shorts another inch. “But that quiet sex is sounding better and better.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He wove his fingers through her soft, thick hair, magically loosening her tidy little bun so that the apple-scented strands fell down around her shoulders. The tips skimmed his stomach and he went from interested to rock hard. “So let’s get down to doing it and stop talking about it.” He nudged her head down toward his groin, and she went willingly, licking her slick pink lips. “Before—”

  A knock sounded at the door and it swung open before he could so much as shout.

  Simon threw up an arm to bar his eyes. “Jesus, man, can’t you control yourself?”

  Lila rolled her eyes and casually tugged up his shorts. She hadn’t even gotten them all the way down yet, for God’s sake. So much for building up the moment. “You saw nothing.”

  “Nothing he hasn’t seen before anyway.”

  “Yeah, Christ, I’ve had to see you parading around naked plenty over the years. But that was before I became a father.”

  “You mean of the cloth? Because not sure why else that would cause you to blush and clutch your pearls. Also, need I remind you we’re in our room?” Nick sat up and pushed his hands through his hair. “What do you want? Is your wife in labor yet?”

  Simon blinked. “No. Why would you say that?”

  “Hello, Murphy’s law. Isolated part of the island, house full of inept people who wouldn’t have the foggiest how to birth a child, incoming disastrous weather. It’s a Lifetime movie of the week waiting to happen.”

  Lila leaned over and covered his mouth. “What Nicholas meant to ask was how is Margo feeling?”

  “She’s fine. A little tired, but that’s to be expected. I can’t remember. Were you exhausted toward the end?” Simon asked Li.

  “I was exhausted all seven and a half months.” She smiled wryly. “Yet here we are, wanting more. Am I masochist?”

  “No, you just know you won’t land on the twins part of the lottery wheel twice in a row so it has to be better.” Nick grinned evilly at his best friend. “Maybe Margo is really having twins. Sometimes one hides on the sonogram, and then surprise!”

  Simon swallowed audibly. “Nah. We saw in there. Not enough room for two.”

  “Oh, you never know. You’d be surprised how…elastic a woman’s uterus is.”

  “And you know precisely nothing about it, so stop tormenting the poor guy.” Lila pinched his thigh.

  “We’re about to have an early dinner. But if you’re not hungry, stay up here and do what you do.” Simon’s eyebrows waggled.

  Nick might’ve even believed he was back in full Simon mode if not for the panicked sheen to his eyes. Ah, the threat of twins was enough to bring any new father to his knees.

  It had surely worked on him.

  “Thank you for the enthusiastic blessing, but you’re a boner-killer if ever I’ve seen one.” Nick rose and held out a hand to Li. “Coming?”

  “Not tonight obviously,” she muttered, making him grin.

  “The night’s not over yet, Dragon Lady.” He patted her ass as she moved in front of him to walk out of their suite.

  Maybe this vacation wouldn’t suck after all.

  Three

  Simon

  Simon scrubbed his palm down the leg of his cargos. If he had his way, he’d still be in his board shorts…or better yet, naked. He wasn’t really used to people in the church beyond Margo.

  Oh, they’d had people to visit before, but it still felt crowded. No matter how many additions he put on the place, he still liked it best when it was just the loft and Margo. Jazz and Gray had been too entrenched in toddler Christmas to make the trip. Then Harper and Deacon had backed out of the trip thanks to an overbooking of Harper’s catering business. Simon had been a little sad they couldn’t make it only because he thought the whole band needed some proper bonding time after the shitstorm of the last few months. For fuck’s sake, more like the last year.

  But the miracle of his band was the future looked truly bright for the first time in a long time. Both on the future album that was already percolating between all of them and the families they were creating. They’d have plenty of time to bond over babies and future babies if Nick and Lila had anything to say about it.

  To be honest, all of the women in Oblivion were looking for another baby added to their family roster. Simon just didn’t think he and Margo were ever going to be on the same page. Now?

  Life was pretty damn strange.

  He headed down the stairs to the main living space. The kitchen held the Bickerson’s, otherwise known as his brother and Zoe. They were forever sniping at each other.

  “Have you ever made guacamole?”

  “No.”

  “Then get away from the blender, pal.”

  “I’m a master.”

  Zoe hip checked him out of the way. “Maybe if it was a margarita. She said to use this.” She handed him a large masher thing that was slightly horrifying.

  “What is that?” Ian took it and turned it upside down.

  She turned it around again so the handle was in the palm of his hand. “Potato masher.”

  “For avocados?”

  She sighed and plucked it out of his hand. “Never mind. Just go wash the tomatoes.”

  “I can help.” Ian peered over her shoulder to watch, but it was mostly so he could cop a feel.

  Simon rolled his eyes and tried not to smile. He knew that trick and used it often. “How’s it going in here?”

  Zoe smiled and elbowed Ian back. “We’ve only had to call Harper twice to ask questions.”

  “Why? We had someone bring food in.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Wait, how did you know to call her?”

  Zoe pointed to the chalk board with large letters:

  We don’t know the answer, call Harper.

  Love, Margo & Lila

  Well, at least they wouldn’t burn the place down. “Carry on.”

  Simon hoped shitty guacamole was the least of their problems. On his way through the living room he caught Lila and Nick laughing about something. From the blush staining Li’s cheeks, it was probably something rude.

  Shocker.

  It was good to see everyone laughing again. There definitely hadn’t been much to smile about in the last few months. The nightmares had faded for the most part. His, surprisingly, hadn’t lasted long on the actual kidnapping. Jerry had gotten exactly what he deserved.

  Unfortunately, so had his mother.

  No, he was mostly a basketcase about Margo and the baby getting through the actual pregnancy now. He thought the trip to the island would chill them both out.

  He’d even brought their midwife, Nora, with them.

  Obsess much?

  Nah.

  On his way to the back door, he spotted her wide sun hat on the hook. He grabbed it and closed the door behind him.

  She was standing on the edge of the garden, her white and navy sundress billowing around her long legs as she looked out at the ocean. There was a path down to the beach from the back of our property.

  They’d bought the next property over when one of our neighbors decided to sell. Now the church had been extended to an L-shape and we finally had direct access to the beach.

  “Hey, hot mama. You forgot this.” He knew not to sneak up and surprise her. So many things had changed for them in so little time.

  She turned toward him with a huge smile, her dark hair was a little shorter now. She said she didn’t want to deal with all of it while nursing a baby.

  Nursing.

  God, how was this his life?

  A year ago the only boob talk he cared about was when and where he could get his mouth on his wife’s breast. Not the various creams and ointments she needed to prevent cracking.

  Sweet Jesus.

  She took the hat and tossed it on her beach bag with the tall water bottle sticking out. At least she was drinking her water, even if she wasn’t paying attention to her skin at the moment.

  He moved behind her, linking his fingers over her belly. His little girl gave a hearty kick the moment he touched Margo.

  “She is using my ribs for soccer practice.”

  He rubbed the spot lightly. “Settle down in there. You don’t get to kick until after the spicy guac.” He grinned into Margo’s neck. “How are you feeling?”

  She leaned back against him. “Good. Couldn’t get comfortable on the couch I used to love.”

  “We debauched that couch many a night.”

  Margo laughed and elbowed him. “Do not tell Li that.”

  “Aww, come on. Just because they’re sitting on said couch right now? I shouldn’t mention just how skillfully you held onto the…oof.” He winced and wiggled behind her. “So that’s a no?”

  “How’d you guess?”

  He nipped her ear as a warm gust of air blew her dress up. He laughed as she shrieked and tried to keep it down over her rounded belly. Her hat took off across the garden.

  “Simon.”

  “Got it.” He chased after it to the edge of the path. He glanced down to the beach and swallowed. The white caps were looking a little fierce out there. He jogged back to her and picked up her bag. “Let’s get some food into you. Maybe Raine’s kicking up a storm because mama’s hungry.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him but took his hand. “That’s your worried face.”

  “That’s my face until this bambina makes a super safe arrival.” He patted her belly. “Stay in there and cook for a few more weeks, lemon drop.”

  Margo laughed. “Not such a lemon drop anymore.”

  Simon leaned in and brushed his mouth over hers. “Both of you are gorgeous.”

  “You haven’t even seen her yet.”

  “We’re two of the hottest people on the planet. Our baby is going to be gorgeous.”

  “May our baby have some of my humility, to combat your ego.”

  He turned her around and marched her gently toward the house. “You know this baby is going to be the most beautiful girl in the universe.”

  “Universe now?”

  “Yes. Skipped right over our solar system into intergalactic ethereal perfection.”

  “Put a little pressure on the kid.”

  He was such a dumbass. Margo’s mother was a perfectionist and obsessed with outward looks in all things. He caught Margo close and tucked his chin on her shoulder. “Her dad is less than perfect and this little girl will know how much she’s loved no matter what.”

  She lifted her hand to his hair. “You always know just what to say.”

  “You know that’s a lie and pregnancy hormones are making you soft on me.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Now, let’s go see if they burned down the house.”

  “They’re making glorified salsa. I’m sure Ian and Zoe are fine.”

  “They were using a potato masher to make guacamole. Not salsa, my beautiful wife. Do not disrespect the avocado.”

  “You only care about them because you’ve been making me eat avocado toast for weeks.”

  “It’s good for you. And I eat it too.”

  She rolled her eyes when he opened the door for her. “We’ll be calling the baby your little avocado by the rate I’m eating them.”

  He eased her through the doorway. “Lemon drop is way cuter.”

  “I’m too tired to argue.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay? Should I get Nora?”

  “I’m fine. Let that poor woman rest. She already checked me over three times today. All good, everyone’s doing fine, baby is cooking as she should.”

  “She’s not the first woman to birth a baby, Simon.” Lila met them in the hall with a large glass of tea. When Simon opened his mouth, Lila sighed. “Herbal.”

  Margo took the glass. “Thanks.”

  Simon eased her into their new dining room and down into a chair. Zoe was setting out a big bowl of guac. At least they’d managed to do that.

  “Well, she’s the only Kagan baby.”

  Zoe bobbled the bowl and it landed with a thunk. “Sorry.”

  Ian came up behind her and rubbed her back lightly, then mopped up the little spillover. “There we go, no harm done.”

  Zoe gave a bright smile. “Dinner’s ready.”

  Four

  Zoe

  Oh, God.

  I told Ian this was a bad idea. The first time we were on a family vacation should have been about Margo and the impending baby. Not me. Not us.

  And here I was the idiot who was so nervous that I couldn’t put down a freaking plate.

  I sat down and smoothed a napkin on my lap.

  Ian arched a brow at me and hid a smile behind a large chip loaded with our guacamole. Which was glorious thanks to Harper and a little YouTube action. Which we should have used in the first place.

  But that was neither here nor there. We used Harper’s damn video anyway. And now that I had an impending family, looks like I would be following the online cooking classes she was doing.

  Easy meals in thirty minutes? Rachel Ray didn’t have anything on Harper. She actually knew how to deal with rockstars and their crazy eating habits. A very cool idea she was doing with Tristan—my future…

 

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