After Carlotta hugged both Logan and Tara warmly, his son’s wife handed Lottie some of the drinks they’d brought for the party. The two women immediately went to the kitchen to chill the cans and bottles.
Logan sent him a speculative glance. “Still just looking at Carlotta?”
“Nope.” He grinned widely.
His son laughed. “I kind of got that impression. I wasn’t sure if we were going to have to leave the room quickly because you sure looked like you wanted to undress her right that instant.”
“I did. I still do. But I can wait. At least five minutes.”
“That long?” Logan drawled, then he laughed. “Good for you, Dad. I hope you two will be really happy.”
“I think we will. Time will tell, right?” He shrugged. “What about you? How long is your leave?”
Logan’s smile fell. “A few days. I’ve been promised a longer one in the spring. In the meantime, I’ve talked to Hunter. He’s going to let Tara stay here with Kata while I’m on active duty, and it’s a huge relief to me to know she’ll be with family, just in case.”
“That’s great. It’s perfect.”
“Almost. Yeah…”
Before Caleb could question his son on that comment, Kimber clattered in on a pair of towering black heels, carrying bags of chips and a couple of bowls of dip. Behind her, Deke entered with their son, Cal, balanced on one hip. He held a twelve-pack of beer in his free hand.
Cal lunged out of Deke’s arms to reach Caleb, and he grabbed his growing grandson, tossing him in the air just to hear the little boy giggle.
Kimber kissed his cheek, and Caleb marveled again at how beautiful she’d grown and how happy she looked. Never in a billion years would he have thought she and Deke would be good for one another, but they’d both seemed to flourish, their love almost a tangible thing.
“Good to see you, Dad.”
“You, too, little girl.” He smiled at his only daughter and tickled Cal again.
Deke paused behind his wife. “Kitten, am I icing the beer down in the kitchen?”
“Probably. Let’s go see.”
“Carlotta and Tara are in there, likely organizing everything to perfection.”
“Great. I’ll go join the estrogen party.” Kimber laughed.
Deke shuddered. “I’ll, um…stay out here and admire the Christmas tree. Damn, this place looks great. Much better than the day Tyler and I first walked in.”
Caleb nodded. “It was a lot of hard work, but worth it.”
The door opened again before Deke could reply. Tyler shouldered his way in. His son Seth started wriggling uncontrollably when he spotted Cal.
“Down,” Caleb’s grandson demanded, so he set the boy on his feet.
He skipped over to Seth and the two immediately took up with some stuffed trucks that Tyler handed down to the boys.
Tyler’s wife, Delaney, blew in with a little shiver a moment later, stripping off her coat to reveal her swelling belly under a lovely deep green dress. Seth was not quite two and would have a brother or sister to love shortly after his birthday.
With an indulgent grin, Tyler took her coat and draped it over the back of the sofa, then settled a hand over her belly. “Active tonight?”
“Yeah, our little sweet pea must know there’s a party.” Del laughed.
Logan tripped out from the kitchen and shook both Deke’s and Tyler’s hands, then looked at Del’s coat with a frown. “It’s not that cold.”
“According to you,” she returned. “Remember me? Thin Southern California blood here.”
They all had a laugh, and Delaney kissed Tyler before she drifted to the kitchen to join the other ladies. Her wedding ring winked on her left hand under the gleam of the recessed lighting. Their wedding had been rushed with another baby on the way, but it had been an intimate, joyous event shared by this close-knit bunch a few months ago.
The doorbell sounded a moment later, and Tyler turned to open the door. Jack Cole stepped in and greeted the other man with a hearty handshake. He had a blue diaper bag with soccer balls and teddy bears draped over his shoulder, and Caleb shook his head. He’d never thought he’d see the day when big bad Jack toted baby crap around and doted on a gorgeous redhead. Morgan Cole came in behind her husband, looking as lovely as always in a frilly black dress and showing a lot of cleavage. Their sleeping son, just a few months old, rested on a burp cloth laying over her shoulder.
Jack turned to take the baby from her and glowered at the amount of cleavage the dress showed.
“Jack, it’s not like I can help it. When I’m breastfeeding, boobs happen.”
“And only I’m supposed to see them,” he growled. “Remember that.” He pulled gently at the lavish ruby collar around her neck.
“You’re such a caveman.” She rolled her eyes, but the indulgent smile said that she didn’t mind his possessiveness a bit.
Caleb repressed a smile and headed toward the couple. “Hi, Jack. You look fabulous, Morgan. Really happy.”
“Thank you. Life is perfect today. My brother, Brandon, called me earlier. He and his girlfriend, Emberlin, got engaged last weekend. They’re going to come see us for New Year’s. You’re looking great yourself.”
He smiled. “Motherhood seems to agree with you.”
“Brice is an angel.” She grinned with so much pride at the infant in her husband’s arms. “He’s a great sleeper and a great eater.”
“And really great at wailing for his mom whenever dad thinks he might get lucky.”
Around Jack, most of the men laughed. Caleb nodded. “I remember those days…”
“Tell me they end soon,” Jack nearly begged.
“Sure,” Caleb quipped. “In about eighteen years.”
He covered baby Brice’s ears. “Fuck off, Colonel.”
“Same to you.” He laughed. “Beer’s in the kitchen.
“Thank god!” Jack turned to his wife. “You all right here, mon coeur?”
Morgan smiled fondly. “I’ll come with you. Maybe Del brought some sparkling cider.”
The pair drifted deeper into the house, and Caleb turned to glance into the kitchen at the collection of family and friends, all eating, drinking, laughing, enjoying. Carlotta stood at the center of much of it, pouring beverages, handing out napkins, holding babies… God, she looked perfect in his world.
A loud honking outside signaled the arrival of the food. Caleb jogged outside, as did Tyler, Deke, and Logan, to help Luc and Alyssa in with the incredible smelling dishes that made him want to grab a fork and dig in now. Whatever Luc cooked, Caleb couldn’t wait to eat.