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Ava kicked Gabby’s foot where she lay on her lounger. “What about you, darling sister? You’re awfully quiet there.” Ava gave her a dastardly smile. “Let’s hear all your secrets.”
Gabby smiled and drew her thumb and forefinger across her lips, zipping them shut.
Which made all the ladies laugh.
Kelsey swayed back and forth, Savannah sighing sweetly in her arms. “Oh my gosh, I think she’s smiling.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s just gas,” Paige said dryly.
“Then I guess that means I need another margarita,” Kelsey said with a laugh, handing Savannah to Cammie.
For a moment, she felt paralyzed. Gideon wandered over, Keegan in his arms, and brushed a kiss against Rosie’s ear. Matt came with him, standing behind Ari’s chair, his hand on her shoulder, her hair, her arm.
Evan arrived right behind them. “Like, would it be possible to hold one of my kids for a minute?”
Kelsey, who hadn’t yet left for her margarita refresh, said, “No, you can’t. Stop asking and go away.” With so many Mavericks around, the joke was that Paige and Evan never got to hold their own children.
Chucking Savannah under the chin, Kelsey grinned up at her older brother. “Don’t you think they look just like Tony and me?”
Holding Savannah, Cammie couldn’t see any resemblance at all. But then, she couldn’t see Evan or Paige in the babies either.
Kelsey threw an arm around Evan’s shoulders. “Come on, big brother, you can get me a margarita.”
With Savannah in her arms, Cammie couldn’t seem to let go, couldn’t pass the baby on to Tasha beside her. She’d never thought about being a mother. Her whole life had been consumed by Uncle Lochlan and her job. And Dane.
He’d joined the kids on the grass, where Rex was getting bossy with the big dogs. Picking up a soccer ball, Dane spun it on his finger, enticing Jorge and Noah into learning how to play soccer.
Gideon handed Keegan off to Rosie. “I’d better get over there and teach Jorge how to play the game. Or he’ll just learn the Harrington way.”
Ava shot him with a finger gun. “You wish.”
Gabby laughed. “Maybe Ava and I need to show them how to do things the right way.”
Matt held up his fingers in the sign of the cross. “Hell, no. We’re not letting you two near them.”
With a snort, Ava said, “You’re just afraid they’ll learn so many hot moves they’ll start beating you.”
Matt grabbed Evan’s arm. “We need to take charge.”
And the whole troop of Mavericks descended upon the field.
“They’ll never get over it.” Charlie laughed. “Almost getting beat down by two women.”
All the ladies laughed knowingly.
Bob headed out to the grass, too, and Susan called, “Just be careful of your back, Bob. And wear your sunscreen.”
Holding the sweet-smelling Savannah in her arms, Cammie watched as the men played with the boys.
Dane hunkered down to their level, explaining something about the game, the two boys listening avidly. Then he stood, dribbled the ball between his feet. Even from her lounger by the pool, Cammie heard Jorge say, “Let me try,” closely followed by Noah’s, “Me too. I want to pass the ball to Jorge.”
“They’re both so lovable.” Gabby pulled her silky blond hair on top of her head, holding it there for a moment to cool off her neck.
Both Rosie and Ari smiled.
But Cammie thought the truly lovable one was Dane.
He played with the boys, the Mavericks joining in, all of them just a bunch of big kids. Sometimes he stood on the sidelines, gabbing with one or two of the guys. He was so natural with everyone. Then they’d all rush back into the fray.
Savannah made a sound, and as Cammie looked down, she was sure that was a smile, not just gas. The baby was so tiny and so beautiful. She smelled like sweet milk and baby wash. Something clenched deep inside her, and a barely discernible need began to grow. It wasn’t just about the baby. It was more. It was this life she saw before her, a life that all these Mavericks had. Love, camaraderie, the ability to share all this love with one another.
Without thinking, she raised her gaze to Dane. All the guys were getting in their two cents, teaching Jorge and Noah this move and that play. But it was Dane the two boys looked to, Dane they listened to, perhaps because he was the new man in their sphere. He taught them with patience, gave them his undivided attention. As though he were a father.
He was so good with animals, babies, and small children.
And she wanted that. Maybe because she was alone now, because she’d lost Uncle Lochlan, because he no longer needed her, she had a sudden vision of a future she’d never before imagined. The truth was, she wanted the Maverick life. She wanted marriage and love and babies.
