Page 46 of Adrian

I know they’re right. And the sensors are all set to send alerts if a car or truck crosses onto our land. No one will be able to approach undetected. Plus, I have no reason to believe anyone from Blair’s family would try to sneak in. I expect them to arrive civilly and demand she return, scolding her like a naughty child. It just ain’t happening.

“Unca Adrian?” a small voice says while grabbing onto my leg.

I reach down and scoop Eve into my arms. “Hey there, squirt.”

She giggles and tugs on my beard. “Can I still come to your house since you have a wife?” she asks, eyes wide. She’s barely over two, but she has the vocabulary and comprehension of someone older. She’s wise beyond her years. I’d say she’s an old soul.

“Of course you can still come to my house. Did you know Aunt Blair used your bubble bath?”

She giggles again. “She did not.”

“Yes, she did. Would I lie to you?”

She shakes her head, her blond pigtails flying around. Then she kisses my beard and wraps her tiny arms around me, holding on as tightly as she can.

Rubbing her back, I glance up to find my wife watching us. She has a hand over her heart, and I’m pretty sure tears glisten in the corners of her eyes. She’s so beautiful, and she owns my soul.

“I love your family,” Blair tells me as we lounge in the bathtub after dinner. We ended up staying almost two hours, which made me twitchy, but she was so happy I couldn’t bring myself to drag her away.

I’m convinced that she’s going to thrive on the chaos that accompanies a large family. In her childhood home, there were always people around her. She wasn’t alone, but those were employees, housekeepers, tutors, and friends of her parents. She didn’t have siblings or cousins to play with, and my wife was never truly young.

I trail a finger along her shoulder. “I’m glad, baby. We’re stuck with them.”

“They’re so kind even though I’m an outsider, and they probably think I’m pretentious.”

“They do not. None of them are judgmental. Are you judging Hannah and Rebekah for coming from poverty and having no education?”

Blair twists her head to glare at me. “Certainly not.”

“Then why would they judge you for being born into a different family dynamic?”

She sighs. “I guess so. Emma’s research is fascinating. She knows so much about the flora around here and all over the world.”

“I figured the two of you would have a lot to talk about since you’re both science-y.”

Blair giggles. “Science-y…”

“What else would you call it?” I tease as I slide my hand to her belly. I touch her here a lot, wondering if there’s a baby growing inside her and when I might notice. Obviously not for weeks, but I still have the urge to palm her stomach as if it brings me closer to our child.

“Yeah, I guess science-y works. And Jaclyn. As an attorney, she’s pretty badass, too.”

“She definitely is.”

“And Cheri. I can’t imagine what it must be like inside her head. So many stories. I can’t wait to read one of her books.”

“I’m sure she’ll let you have one.” I kiss my wife’s neck. In some ways, it seems like we’ve been together for years, and then I remind myself I met her two days ago. This will be our third night together. We got married yesterday. It’s mindboggling. I’m a fucking lucky asshole.

We click, and that’s more apparent with every passing hour. We already finish each other’s sentences. I can read her moods pretty well. I can guess what’s bothering her.

I know my wife really likes me to cook for her and is nervous about entering the kitchen for fear she will disappoint me with her own cooking. In exchange, she jumps up to clean after we eat, but I haven’t let her do that, either. I want her to feel pampered. It’s not the same as the type of pampering she experienced in her childhood. Those people were paid to cook and clean for her. I’m her husband. I’m doing it from a place of love. I want to do things for her because it makes her smile. I want to please her.

After a few moments of silence, Blair says, “You’re so good with your nieces.”

“They are adorable. I love them to pieces.”

“You’re going to be a great dad,” she murmurs.

I drag my fingers up and down her arms, giving her goosebumps. “You’re going to be a great mom, too, baby.”