Good morning, handsome,” I whispered in Ryan’s ear as he stretched. “Happy birthday!”

He groaned and mumbled, “Don’t remind me.”

I shifted into his arms as he tucked me into his side. “What’s wrong?”

“Just another year older. I found a few gray hairs yesterday,” Ax complained before kissing my cheek. “I have to head to the office early so I can be back here and ready for dinner tonight.”

“Emily and Fletch are going to watch Mikey for us. I’m going to go over there before you get home to drop him off so I can have you all to myself for a few hours.” I told the lie through gritted teeth. Ryan had made me promise I wasn’t going to throw him a party, but he would love it once it was actually happening. It was starting to get to the end of weather cool enough for bonfires, so it was perfect timing.

I sat in bed watching Ryan trim up his beard and brush his teeth. I knew it was weird, but I loved watching him make a complete mess of himself. Whiskers all over the place, suds of toothpaste dripping into his facial hair—it was adorable.

I stopped him as he started to button up his dark blue dress shirt. “You have a few minutes before you have to be in.”

He shot me a knowing glance, before letting the shirt fall to the floor. “I always have time for you, babe.”

He pulled my silk teddy up over my head, letting his fingertips roll over my breast and down my stomach.

Getting on his knees, he pulled my legs up over his. Putting his fingers to my lips, he watched as I sucked on them gently. He quickly pushed two fingers into me as I arched my back.

“Gah, that feels so good,” I moaned as he gently got me ready for him.

“And it’s only the beginning,” he responded while rolling the head of his dick over my clit.

Thrusting into me, he pulled on my hip bones perfectly. I grabbed my tits as they bounced with every pump.

Locking eyes, Ryan winked at me as a huge smile spread on his lips.

“What?” I asked with a giggle.

“You’re just so fucking sexy. I can’t stand it sometimes,” he replied before leaning down to kiss me.

We rode out our orgasms together wrapped in the love and passion we had for each other. It was simple and perfect and completely ours. There was no better sex than with someone that truly loved you and, in that moment, I completely understood that.

After getting cleaned up and dressed again, Ax shot me his panty melting smile, the one that made me weak in the knees.

“Happy birthday,” I teased.

“Thank you, beautiful. All right, now I really do have to get the heck out of here. I’m heading out.” With a quick peck, he was out the door.

After getting Mikey up, feeding him his breakfast, and giving him a quick bath, I sprang into action. I wanted everything to be perfect. I cleaned the entire house, did all the laundry, and spent forever digging through my closet trying to find the perfect dress for the night. Laying out a light teal sundress Ryan had bought me for Christmas with my favorite boots on the ground next to them, I felt ready for the day.

My cell buzzed in my pocket as I played with Dozer on the back porch.

“Hey, girl! What’s going on?” I asked as I answered the call from Raine.

“We’re on the road!” I squealed with excitement.

“Awesome. Remember this is a surprise. Ryan doesn’t know about the party at all.”

I could hear Ryder yell into the phone. “I promise to not spoil it.”

“Thanks guys, see y’all tonight. Is Bear on his way too?”

“Just got off the phone with Scarlett, I think they are an hour or so behind us.”

“Perfect.”

“Hey, Ryan?” Nate tapped on my open office door as he made his way in.

“What’s up?” I asked, holding my hand out and offering him a seat.

“Are you good?” He made his way into the small office.

“Yeah, man. We’re fine. Was there something else?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, standing in the middle of the room. “I hate asking but is there any way I could get my check a few days early?”

I pulled my checkbook out from the drawer, starting to make one out to my brother-in-law. “Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Everything all right?”

He finally sat down, bouncing his knee as he diverted his gaze to the picture of Cassidy holding Mikey in the hospital room on the day he was born. “Yeah, just got some bills that need to be paid sooner rather than later.”

I ripped the check out and handed it over to him. “You know if you need money, you can come to me. That’s what family is for.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. Just couldn’t wait for the end of the week, ya know?”

I leaned back, trying to read his body language. There was something he wasn’t telling me, and that made me nervous. “Totally get it. Don’t sweat it.”

I followed Nate into the storeroom, seeing the Renegades’ crates still where we had moved them the week before.

“Fuck, why the hell haven’t these been picked up?” I asked, more to myself than to him.

“No one showed the other morning for the scheduled time,” he responded with a shrug. “Want me to make some calls?”

I dug my ringing cellphone out of my pocket. “No. I’ll get to the bottom of this later.”

“Excited for tonight?” Emily asked as I set Mikey’s car seat down next to the couch.

I nodded with a huge smile spreading on my face. “I just hope Ryan isn’t mad about it.”

“How could he be?” Fletch asked as he walked in with Annie in his arms.

“He’s just been all bah humbug about the whole birthday thing. He asked me to keep it low key, and he thinks we’re just going to dinner.” Keeping secrets from Ryan made me uneasy whether it was for a surprise party or not.

“Trust me, once he’s there with all of his friends with a beer in hand, he’ll be glad you went behind his back. It’s for his own damn good. That boy works way too hard to not cut loose for at least one night.” Fletch set Annie down and she jumped into my lap.

“Can I come to the party, Aunt Cass? Please?” she asked, bouncing a little and holding the tiny white and rainbow unicorn rubber duck I had gotten her.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I hugged her to me.

“Lilly is coming over soon to play with you and Mikey, remember,” Emily responded.

“Yay!”

Crisis averted.

“Ryan is going to be home soon. I’m gonna head out and meet him there. See y’all in a bit?” I kneeled down, kissing Mikey on the forehead.

“Yeah, we’re picking up a keg for Nate and then we’ll be on our way.” Fletch walked me to the door.

Ryan and I pulled up to the house at the same time.

“Mikey all set?” Ryan asked as he hooked his arm around my neck before kissing me.

“Mmmhmmm. Fletch really seems to like having him around.”

Tank trotted next to us as we made our way inside. “They’re going to be knocked up again before we know it.” Ryan chuckled to himself as he filled Tank’s water and food bowls in the kitchen.

“Baby fever isn’t just a chick thing,” I responded.

Grabbing me, Ryan put his hands on my stomach. “What about you? Want another bun in this oven?” he teased.

“Not when you put it like that.” I laughed, playfully shoving him away.

“Aw, come on babe. Don’t you want a whole bunch of screaming kids running around this place, wreaking havoc? Could be fun.”

“I love our family just the way it is,” I replied, starting to head up the stairs.

“As do I,” Ryan cooed as he smacked my ass, following me.

After quickly getting ready, we were off.

“Can we stop at my parents’ place? I have to drop off this paperwork with Nate really quick.” I held up a manila envelope full of bullshit documents as Ryan put his truck in gear.

With an eyebrow raise, he put his hand on my knee. “Of course, babe.”