Mila stood in front of the mirror at her old condo in the city.

She caught sight of me looking at her and arched a brow.

“Just admiring your…outfit,” I said with a faint grin.

She wore a short, sassy skirt, tights, and a black bra. Nothing else.

“I don’t want to get make-up on my sweater,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t bring that many changes of clothes.”

We’d flown back here to have dinner with Raye and her boyfriend and Michelle, Jake and little Brant, Jake and Michelle’s son.

He was a month old today and Jake had called us a couple days ago, asking when we might be back in town.

Michelle is going stir-crazy and wants to talk to some adults…other than me, he’d said with laughter in his voice.

So here we were, taking a weekend away from the island to spend with family.

I leaned against the door frame, watching as Mila dusted something on her cheeks before picking up a tube of lipstick. Her eyes met mine in the mirror once more. “You should go…I don’t know…comb your hair,” she said.

I skimmed a hand back over my ruthlessly short cut. “There.”

She just laughed. “Go on, shoo.”

“You trying to get rid of me?” I asked.

“I’m trying to keep from being late.” She turned around, watching me as she applied her lipstick.

How women could do that without looking in the mirror amazed me.

Once she was done, she capped the tube and put it down.

“Why would we be late?” I let my gaze drift over her.

“Because of that,” she said, pointing at me. “I see how you’re looking at me. Now…go. I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”

I had been contemplating pushing her skirt up over her hips. Instead, I left and made my way into the kitchen.

Mila joined me a few minutes later, carrying a pair of boots in her hand. I watched as she sat down to tug them on. “What are you going to do with this place?”

She shrugged. “I’m still trying to decide. I might just keep it, so we have a place to stay when we come visit everybody.” She grinned at me. “Or if I get the urge to go on a shopping spree.”

One thing she didn’t like about the island—she couldn’t shop until she dropped. I didn’t see that as a bad thing, but then again, I wasn’t exactly into fashion.

She zipped her second boot, then stood up. “We can go!”

I moved over to her and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “You look beautiful.”

Her eyes softened, and she reached for me, but before she could tug me closer, I backed away. I winked at her. “We don’t want to be late, remember?”

* * *

We weren’t but Raye and Kane were.

We’d been standing around the kitchen, nibbling on some food Michelle had put out—canapes—she’d told me. Seemed like a fancy word for appetizers.

I didn’t care what they were called really, as long as they were edible. One in particular—I couldn’t get enough of. I’d already downed half a dozen of the little crackers piled high with spicy shrimp and avocado.

I was eying the last one when the buzzer went off, announcing Raye and Kane’s arrival.

As Jake went to let them in, I glanced at Mila.

She only had eyes for Brant, cooing down at him while he looked around with that wide, unfocused gaze of a newborn.

“Hey!” Raye rushed in. “Sorry we’re late!” She homed in on Mila and the baby. “There’s my guy!”

She passed her coat off to Jake, then washed her hands before turning to Mila, reaching out. “Gimme!”

Mila clutched him a little closer and pressed her nose to his head. “I hardly ever see him.”

I glanced at Kane. “I think we’ve been forgotten.”

The big man crooked a grin at me as he accepted a beer from Michelle. “Looks like.”

We settled against the counter, watching as the women cooed over the baby for a little while. Jake and Michelle finished up the food and soon we were sitting down in the dining room.

Brant had fallen asleep and Michelle retreated to put him down for a little while as we ate.

“What, can’t he have spicy…” I studied the food spread out in front of us. “Is that Szechuan chicken? No fried rice?”

“Very funny.” Michelle poked me in the shoulder as she returned to take her seat. “He’s still on very much a liquid diet.”

“How is nursing going?” Raye asked.

Immediately, Kane and I found something else to discuss and we kept at it as the food was passed around and we helped ourselves. I’d learned that Kane’s family was as big—and as boisterous—as mine, although he seemed closer to his mom and siblings than I was with my parents and various brothers and sisters. I was working on that, though, and usually called them at least once a week.

“Boys, we’re done discussing nipples and boobs,” Mila said, her voice dry.

My face heated and I grabbed the bottle of beer from the table. “How about a toast?” I suggested.

Everybody raised their beer bottle or glass of wine.

Michelle cocked her head, studying me. “What are we drinking to?”

I glanced at Mila and found myself grinning. “Us. Let’s drink to us.”

“Here, here,” Jake said.

“To us…and to my first glass of wine in forever,” Michelle added, grinning broadly. She winked at Raye and said, “We’ve been working on getting Brant to take a bottle and for the next twenty-four hours, feeding him is Jake’s responsibility.”

We clinked our drinks together, then drank.

Mila reached under the table and took my hand, squeezing lightly.

I squeezed back as I put my beer down.

“So, when are you two tying the knot?” Raye asked as she scooped up a bite of rice and chicken.

Mila and I looked at each other, then grinned.

“Actually…” Mila said, drawing the word out. “That’s one of the reasons we’re in town. We’re going to pick out my engagement ring.”

Gasps, laughter and applause broke out. I glanced at Mila and squeezed her hand once more, then leaned over to kiss her. She hummed softly as I drew back.

“Come on,” Jake said. “Let’s eat before these two decide they need to get a room.”

Once more, laughter echoed around the table.

As Mila laughed, I settled more comfortably into my chair and reached for my drink, silently lifting it in toast once more.

To us…to family. To the rest of our lives.

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