Finally!

I couldn’t help but sigh in relief as I hung up with Ronan, who was on his way back from the private airstrip nearby. We’d finally gotten a break in the case. It wasn’t a huge one, but it was a decent start to figuring things out. Ever since the night we’d gotten Georgie back, Ronan had had some guys searching motels in the hopes of finding wherever the cowardly Kirk was holed up. They’d started with the motel where Georgie had been abducted from and then slowly worked their way out from there, showing Kirk’s picture to motel managers and staff. While they hadn’t actually found Kirk himself, they’d located the motel where he and Georgie had been staying, which’d been about ten miles from the location of Georgie’s kidnapping and Ben’s assault. The motel manager hadn’t seen Kirk return after that night, but he had kept all of the stuff from Kirk’s room in the hopes that if the man returned for the items, he could exchange them for the money Kirk still owed him.

Among Kirk’s possessions had been an old laptop computer, and on it had been multiple website searches on the pharmaceutical company the janitor who’d been the original owner of the storage unit had worked at. Ronan’s tech whiz, Daisy, was still going through the files on the laptop, as well as doing research on the janitor, but it was progress.

I couldn’t wait to tell Ben about it.

I already knew he was at Ronan’s cabin because Phoenix had sent me a text to let me know when I finished up the perimeter check. I was both excited and nervous to see Ben. I hadn’t had a chance to actually speak to him since the night before when I’d admitted my feelings to him. I was kicking myself for not telling him I loved him, but I’d never been great with flowery words and speeches, so I’d said exactly what I’d been feeling. I did love him, but sometimes it seemed like those words weren’t enough to convey how deep my need for him ran.

I’d say those three little words to him today because it was something he deserved to hear. I was terrified he might not feel the same way, but it wouldn’t stop me from making him understand that he and Georgie had become my entire world in a span of a few weeks. I knew people would say it was too fast, but I didn’t give a shit. I wasn’t risking losing Ben because of some nonexistent rule that said you couldn't possibly fall so deeply for someone so quickly.

As I made my way down the path toward Ronan’s cabin, I spotted Cain and Phoenix chatting. When I reached them and opened my mouth to ask where Georgie and Ben were, Phoenix put his finger to his lips to silence me, then motioned to the clearing.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Griff and Ben were sitting with Georgie on the ground. The two men were talking with each other as the little girl placed bugs all over their outstretched arms.

“What the hell?” I whispered so I wouldn’t disturb the trio.

“They’ve been at it for more than an hour,” Cain said. “It was awkward at first…”

“What was?” I asked.

“The talking,” Phoenix clarified.

Ben and Griff had talked? Like, really talked?

“Seems like they had a lot of heavy shit to get through, but they’ve found some common ground.”

Before I could ask what the common ground was, Ben and Griff shocked the hell out of me by suddenly bursting out laughing. Ben’s face became more and more animated as he spoke through his laugh.

“No really, I swear. Every time I got to the part where I was supposed to bring the candle into the dragon cave, instead of a dragon threatening my avatar, it was like this beautiful but creepy anime mermaid creature belching little puffs of pink smoke. I thought it was normal until I finally mentioned it to one of the developers.”

Griff leaned in and shook his head. “Dude, I’d heard that story of how Trista hacked her way into gaming animation, but I had no idea you were the one who noticed it. She’s like a goddess in the anime world.”

“Yeah, I know. And now the gaming world too. LPR is lucky as hell to have her. It’s been wild watching her career since then. I mean, have you seen Valkyrie Dawn?”

Griff nodded. “Sam and I play it after we put the baby down at night. The graphics are amazing. You know, I worked with her on a charity project last year.”

“No kidding?”

“Yeah. It was really cool. She’s really active with at-risk youth organizations in Philly, and I’m involved with them in San Francisco. We got two other illustrators together and created an ad campaign to run on social media platforms in eight urban markets.”

Ben stared at Griff with a kind of awe. “Really? That’s amazing.”

Just then, Georgie caught sight of me and climbed to her feet. “Mr. Kitty!” she yelled as she came running at me, crashing into my legs and hugging them tightly.

“You having fun out here?” I asked her, reaching down to pick her up and land a smacking kiss on her cheek. I carried her as I walked toward the men, who’d gone silent at my approach. They climbed to their feet. I pretended not to notice as Ben started picking various bugs off Griff’s body. Griff shuddered like he was just then noticing how many insects Georgie had placed on him. I smiled because it was proof that the two men had gotten deeply lost in their conversation.

“Yes. Uncle Griff helped me find where the baby ducks live.”

I met Griff’s eyes and nodded in appreciation. “Lucky girl,” I said to Georgie. “Can you show me?”

After I set her down, I stepped up to pull Ben into my arms for a quick hug and kiss. His arms locked around me even tighter than Georgie’s had, and his face mashed into my neck.

“Everything okay, sweetheart?” I murmured into his hair.

I felt him nod. He kept his voice low so only I could hear. “It’s perfect. You were right. Thank you.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him how much I loved him, but I didn’t want to turn his fragile beginning with Griff into a moment between the two of us.

“Mr. Kitty, over here!” Georgie called from near the high reeds at the edge of the pond that was just beyond the opposite side of the clearing. I wondered if any mama duck would allow her ducklings to stick around very long after that, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they had. As I walked over to join her, I overheard Ben thanking Griff for offering us the use of the vineyard.

“It’s been so good for Georgie,” he said. “She seems so much more at home here than I’ve ever seen her before.”

There was a beat of silence before Griff’s heartfelt response came. “I need you to know how much I love having you both here, Ben. If it was up to me, you’d move here and stay forever.”

Ben didn’t respond, so I turned back to see whether Griff’s words had upset him. I tried to be discreet as Griff shifted awkwardly on his feet and Ben looked a little lost. But then Ben stepped forward and threw his arms around Griff, causing him to look both relieved and in awe. Then Griff squeezed Ben tightly, and I could tell he was saying something to his brother that had Ben nodding.

I’d clearly missed a lot in the couple hours I’d been away. I turned to give all my attention to Georgie, who was going on and on about the ducklings that were paddling happily around the pond with their watchful mother. But I couldn’t help but sneak glances at the two brothers every now and again as they talked. And when Ben would look my way and flash me a heart-stopping smile, I felt it everywhere. I knew in my gut that even if Ben wasn’t ready to say those three little words to me yet, he felt them.

That was enough… for now.

“Mr Kitty, who’s Peggie Sass?” Georgie asked as she held my hand. Since her other hand was wrapped around her ever-important Spider-Man dolls and Ben and Griff were talking so animatedly that they were waving their hands around, I’d somehow ended up carrying Princess Kitty’s purse.

I shuddered at the thought.

“Not a clue, ladybug,” I said.

“She’s a type of character from one of the video games I worked on,” Ben said. “Do you remember the one with the flying horses and their wizards?”

Georgie nodded and asked a few more questions, then lost interest and began admiring the clouds above us. I was pleasantly surprised when she released my hand and went to walk next to Griff so she could point out all the shapes she saw.

“You’re not carrying a bomb,” Ben said.

I looked at him and saw him grinning at the way I was holding Princess Kitty as far from my body as I could.

“SHE. IS. A. TARANTULA,” I said slowly, punctuating every single syllable.

Ben laughed and the sound washed over me like the gentlest of waterfalls. “Do you want me to take her?”

“No. She’s part of the family, so she and I are just going to need to work it out,” I declared.

Ben’s expression went all soft and gooey when I mentioned family. To my surprise, he slipped around to my other side and picked up my free hand. He pressed against my side as we walked, and I actually forgot about the furry demon I was carrying.

“Good day?” I asked. Georgie and Griff had fallen behind a little so they weren’t privy to our conversation.

“The best.”

The calmness in Ben’s voice made my heart flip-flop in my chest.

“He and I have a lot to work out, but…”

“But what?” I urged as I gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

It took him a moment to answer. “I have a big brother, Reese.”

The way he said the words made it clear he was still in disbelief over that fact.

“Baby, you have a lot of big brothers… and sisters,” I said. “And nieces and nephews and dogs. Look.” I motioned toward the lodge and saw a host of Marians sitting on the patio. Despite the ugly words Ben had thrown at them the previous day, not one of the family members looked at him with any kind of condemnation or recrimination. But I could tell Ben was expecting it because he tensed next to me when he saw all the people.

I was about to tell him everything would be okay when the ferocious old bat with the big purse separated herself from the group and made a beeline for us. “Aunt Tilly!” someone called, but the woman was on a mission.

Before she could reach Ben, Georgie suddenly stepped between us and Aunt Tilly and put her hands on her hips. “You be nice to Benji!” the little girl announced. “Or you can’t be a fweak with the rest of the family!”

Tilly stopped and stared at the little spitfire before carefully lowering to her knees until she was at the same height as Georgie.

“You know,” the older lady mused, setting her purse down and tapping her chin with an index finger. “You’re awfully strong and brave… I could use a friend like you. Someone who isn’t afraid to stand up for themselves and the people they love. Do you think maybe if I apologized to your brother, you might give me another chance?”

Georgie thought for a moment with her arms crossed in front of her chest. “You have to be nice to everyone. Benji and my teacher told me that. Even the babies at school know that.”

Tilly nodded. “You’re right, of course. So I guess that means you’re smart too. I’ll tell you what… I’ll promise to be nice if you promise to always be brave and smart like you are now. Deal?”

Georgie crinkled her forehead in confusion. “Duh.”

As Tilly leaned in to hug the little girl, I glanced at Ben and noticed his wide grin.

“Reese?”

I turned at the sound of the familiar voice and felt my chest constrict at the sight of my father walking toward us. He was flanked by both his lovers, and there were several Secret Service agents spread out around him. Ronan and his husband, Seth, were walking hand in hand just behind my father and his men, and Ronan and Seth’s kids were talking to their fathers, both using their voices and sign language in deference to the middle child, Nicole. Jamie broke away from the group and sprinted toward us.

“Georgie!” he called.

I didn’t really pay the kids any notice because I could hear gasps and whispers coming from behind me. It should have been my worst nightmare come to life, the unexpected arrival of my famous father. But instead, something inside of me seemed to settle into place.

I felt Ben’s fingers tighten around mine, then he tried to drop my hand, and I knew why.

We hadn’t been seen together outside the safety of the vineyard and the Marian family since the night we’d gone to the arcade. And I hadn’t handled the end of that public outing well. That had been several days ago, and while news of my date with another man hadn’t broken, I knew it was just a matter of time. Even now, the nosy guy with the phone was probably trying to find the highest bidder for his pictures and story.

I refused to release Ben and instead, tugged him forward when I went to close the distance between me and my father. I only let go of Ben’s hand so I could hug my dad. I heard a little rush of air leave his lungs as he hugged me back and his body relaxed considerably.

So he’d been nervous about seeing me again.

I supposed I couldn’t blame him. He and I had made great strides after I’d nearly lost him the night of the attack on the Fortier household, but I’d still been keeping him at arm’s length since then.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I continued to cling to him.

“Just wanted to see my boy,” my father murmured. When we put some space between us, he added, “I wanted to make sure you were okay with what happened when you were recognized and to tell you Jeannie and I have a plan.”

Jeannie was my dad’s publicist.

“She and I think that if I go public about me and Nash and Gage, it’ll take the attention off you. Nash and Gage are good with it, but I wanted to talk to you about it first.” My dad was practically rambling as his nerves came through. His gesture to protect me by exposing his relationship with two men at the same time made my throat feel like it was going to close up. I must have been too quiet because my dad quickly added, “Sorry, I know you don’t like surprises—”

“I didn’t like them,” I said. “A lot’s changed.” I reached for Ben’s hand as I held my father’s gaze. “Dad, I want you to meet Ben… my boyfriend. And the only one who’s going to give an interview about his personal life will be me… on my terms, not the press’s, okay?”

My father smiled widely, then reached out to pat me on the shoulder, his eyes bright with emotion. I nearly laughed at the thought that this was almost as big a moment for him as it was for me.

“Ben,” he said as he focused on a very nervous-looking Ben. “It’s truly a pleasure.”

“No… no sir, um, Mr. President, um sir… it’s mine… I mean, it’s nice to meet you. You have an amazing son.” Ben was so flustered that I nearly laughed. His cheeks were bright with color and he looked totally adorable as he fan-boyed over my dad. The old me would have been bothered by it, but like I’d told my father, a lot had changed.

“Um, I totally would have voted for you, but I would have only been like… shit, I guess, like, really young, so maybe not because I wouldn’t have known you from Adam. But I’d vote for you now because I’m old enough… I know I look really young, but I’m old enough and yeah, I’d vote for you because I’m… old enough.” Ben’s face exploded with color and then suddenly he blurted, “I’m in love with your son.”

I went completely still, as did pretty much everyone else except the kids.

“Oh, shit, Reese, I didn’t mean that,” Ben whispered.

My heart fell. “You didn’t?”

Ben’s eyes went wide. “What? Yes! Yes, of course I did! How could you think I didn’t?”

My father had discreetly taken a step back, but I barely noticed.

“Um, because you just said you didn’t,” I chided.

“No, yes, no! God, I mean, yes, I meant it, but I didn’t mean to blurt it out in front of everyone. I wanted to tell you first.”

Ben covered his face with his hands, then walked into me and put his forehead against my chest. “Shit, I’m sorry, I completely messed that up.”

I tipped his chin up and urged him to drop his hands. “It was perfect,” I whispered. “Just like you. I love you too.” I kissed him deeply and Ben instantly responded to my hungry mouth. He wound his arms around my neck, but it wasn’t until someone cleared their throat that I remembered where we were and that I was making out with my boyfriend in front of my father.

And my boyfriend’s little sister.

And his entire big-ass family.

And weird, inappropriate, filterless, sex-crazed Aunt Tilly who chose that moment to thrust her hand between us to get Ben’s attention.

“Um, yeah?” he said.

“You bagged the president’s kid?” she asked.

“Um, yeah?” Ben responded.

Aunt Tilly eyed him up and down, then nodded in approval. “You’ll do,” she said. “I knew you were a Marian!” The woman stuck her long finger under my nose. “You treat our boy good, you hear? Or you’ll have me and the ladywives to deal with.” She jutted her finger at Irene and Granny who nodded and tried to send me what were probably supposed to be threatening looks.

“And you,” Aunt Tilly said as she turned on my father. “I didn’t vote for you,” she declared.

“Aunt Tilly!” someone hissed.

My father laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Mpfh,” she said with narrowed eyes. “I’m not much for those overly polite manners either, but then again I guess most people imagine it comes part and parcel with glad-handing sycophants and kissing babies. I’ll have you know, my partner is a senator and doesn’t pull that ‘ma’am’ crap with me.”

I saw my father’s boyfriend, Nash, smile at that, which earned him a cool look from the old woman. “You got something to say, jailbait?”

“No ma’am, definitely not,” he responded.

“Ma’am again,” she tsked. “Condescending piece of… as if I’m a thousand years old. He one of them?” she asked my father, thumbing toward Nash.

“Allow me to introduce my own partners. This is Jonathan Nash and Gage Fortier. And I assume you’ve already met my son, Reese.” He shot me an expression of such pride, it stopped me in my tracks.

“Of course I have. He’s one of mine,” Tilly said with a sniff.

Granny marched up, her white curls bouncing in a halo around her head. “Plus, we’ve seen him naked.”

“Thanks for that, Granny,” Griff said, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. “I think this calls for a nice, stiff drink. Who’s with me?”

“Griffin Marian,” Tilly said, “I thought you’d never ask. Lead the way and make mine a double.”

My dad patted me on the shoulder again as he moved past me and fell into conversation with Aunt Tilly as Griff began making the introductions.

“Looks like this job’s been helping you get back on your feet,” Gage said with a smile as he approached me.

“Or off them,” Nash snickered.

Gage punched him in the arm, then hugged me. “You look good, Reese.” His gaze fell to my arms. I hadn’t even noticed I’d left the sleeves rolled up, exposing the burn scars. Ben and I shared a look and then Ben rubbed his hand up and down my back. I made the introductions and Ben was in the middle of saying how nice it was to meet my father’s partners when Georgie came running up to us and thrust Princess Kitty’s purse into my hands. I nearly dropped the thing because the big spider began trying to climb up the plastic wall.

“Mr. Kitty, can you watch Princess? Jamie and I are gonna go show his sisters the ducks!”

Georgie took off at a dead run before I could even answer. I tried to hand the purse to Ben, but he shook his head at me. “You and Princess are turning over a new leaf in your relationship, right? Wouldn’t want to come between that.” His eyes danced with laughter.

Well, two could play that game.

“You’re right, babe.” I looked at Nash and Gage. “Better keep an eye on this one… he’s got this strange fantasy about former presidents, and he’s got some kind of weird bet going on with his brother about landing a kiss on you-know-who.”

Predictably, Gage smiled, but the hot-headed, notoriously jealous Nash turned cool eyes on Ben. “That so?” he said as he pushed back the edges of his jacket enough to show the handgun he kept in a shoulder holster.

“Jesus, Reese!” Ben said.

I gave Ben a quick peck and then turned to catch up to everyone else, smiling when I heard Ben call my name again, his voice suspiciously high. I shot him a glance over my shoulder and grinned when I noticed Nash deep in conversation with my man. Ben’s expression promised retribution.

Bring it on, I mouthed with a smirk.

God, I loved that guy.