For what seems like hours—instead of thirty seconds, max—I sit with my spine uncomfortably straight, staring up at Cilla. With her hands on her hips, and her lips curved into a smug grin, I wonder what she’s thinking. Or what’s going to come out of her mouth next. Eventually, I narrow my eyes and make the first move. “I don’t suppose you care that I hate being called Pepper?” I demand.
“Why would I?” She steps around our chairs and chooses the seat on the opposite side of Kylie, who snorts in response. “Don’t be a bitch, Ky,” Cilla snaps before leaning forward so she can look at me. “Besides, Sienna, it’s not like the Pepper thing is an insult. She happens to be my favorite Avenger.”
I start to speak, but my future sister-in-law beats me to the punch. “Pepper’s not an Avenger, so what the hell do you want?”
The other brunette twirls a long strand of her ponytail around her finger and bites her bottom lip. At last, she shrugs. “I’m hiding from someone.” She grins sheepishly. “Apparently, my … friend doesn’t have as much appeal when the beer goggles come off.”
“If you can put them back on, will you go away?” Kylie teases. “Quick, Sienna, give her your drink and find a bartender.”
“Red?” Butterflies swarm my stomach when Lucas calls out my name, and I look to my left to see him approaching the pool area. He glances from me to Cilla and then to his sister, narrowing his hazel eyes to slits. “Is everything alright?”
“Relax, relax. I come in peace, bearing good tidings or whatever it is.” Cilla lifts her hands defensively and flutters her lashes together. “Even I draw the line at ruining Christmas.”
Wow. Maybe my mom can learn a thing or two from rock music’s most unpredictable songstress.
“Cilla, there’s not a goddamn part of you that’s peaceful,” Lucas points out, and she gives a husky chuckle. I’m not exactly sure he meant that as a compliment, but she’s smiling when she tilts her head to one side.
“I’m avoiding Tyler,” she admits.
His full lips part in a silent “Oh,” but he nods in understanding. “Now it makes sense why you’re out here.”
Tyler. I let the name ping around my head for a few seconds, then I face her with a wide stare as soon as I realize she’s talking about Your Toxic Sequel’s tour manager. Pressing her lips together, she jerks her head to each side. “Kylie, Pepper,” she warns, her voice dangerously low. “If you say one fucking word about it…”
Lucas snorts. “Ah, Cilla, calm down.” He motions me to him, and I get up from my seat to join him. Her gaze trails over us, and a flash of jealousy crosses her blue-green eyes before she looks away. Lucas drops his lips to my ear. “Red, there’s a few people I want you to meet before we go back to our hotel.”
“You’re not leaving already, are you?” Kylie wrinkles her nose and then shoots a look toward Cilla. “If she’s bothering you, I swear I can get rid of her. I mean, there’s a pool right over there...”
Cilla doesn’t respond, and I wonder if she’s losing her taloned touch. She had no problem chiming in with snarky responses when I tagged along on their joint tour this summer.
“We have plans,” he eventually informs his sister.
“And here I was thinking we’d celebrate Christmas like all those TV families. Thanks for letting me down, asshole.” Letting out a dramatic breath, she starts to get up, prompting Lucas and I both to step forward to help her. She grips the edges of her seat and blows a blue streaked strand of hair from her eyes. “You both realize that I’m not that knocked up, right?”
When Cilla mutters something that sounds like “I can’t tell,” I give Kylie a little smile. “Maybe I just wanted a reason to touch your stomach,” I say as we walk back toward the house and she throws her head back, laughing.
“Touch it anytime you want but be careful.” She leans forward, glancing around me to give her brother a meaningful look. “It might be in the water.”
At her mention of me ending up pregnant, I feel my face redden, and even though I’m staring straight ahead, I can see his grin out the corner of my eye. Her words have definitely brought up a good point, though. Lucas and I have never actually sat down to talk about kids in our future, and it’s obviously one of those important subjects that needs to be approached before the “I do’s” are said.
I’m deep in my thoughts for the remainder of our time at the party, but when we’re in the car on the way back to the hotel, I turn to him and immediately blurt out what’s on mind.
His grin from earlier returns, and I feel the pit of my stomach clench. Damn, the way he’s looking at me always manages to screw with my senses. “Hell, yes, I want children with you, Sienna.” He touches my thigh and strokes his thumb over my smooth skin, causing my breath to catch. “Was there ever a doubt in your mind?”
“No. Yes, I—”
His hand moves a little higher, his fingers hooking under the fabric between my legs, and I squeeze my legs around his wrist. “Do you want a baby with me, Red?”
“Yes.” It comes out almost pleadingly, and I quickly correct myself. “After the wedding, I mean. After—”
Lucas’ knuckles brush my clit, and I grip either side of the leather seat. “I know what you mean,” he says, and I can feel his stare burning into the side of my face. “So, in the meantime, I’m going to spend every second I can getting as much of you as possible.”
He strokes my center a little harder, and I bite down on my tongue. “Starting now?” I say at last, sounding like I’m seconds away from floating away.
He chuckles, and I feel the car accelerate, feel his fingers move faster too. “That’s the plan.”