34. Callie

“Happy Birthday!”

It felt like years had passed since we started planning Sawyer’s birthday celebration, especially with everything that happened in the weeks in between. It was finally here and the party was in full swing. Drinks flowed, food was shared, and all presents were stacked under the trellis of the roof garden. The music carried through the late afternoon air, and the pink sky was slowly giving way to the darkness that thankfully brought down the sweltering temperatures.

“I’m gonna teach you how to get an extra cookie from Daddy,” Marie whispered. She was balanced in my lap, talking slowly to the growing bump on my belly. “We can get matching bikes and if we’re really lucky…” Marie glanced up at me, then leaned very close to my belly and spoke in a low, soft voice. “Maybe we’ll get a dog!”

“Do you want a pet?” I chuckled, running my fingers through her hair as she sat back up.

“Yes! But Dad always says no because we travel so much.”

“Hmm,” I mused softly. “You don’t travel anymore, though, do you? You like it here. You have a new home and you’re starting a new school next month. That sounds like you’re not going to travel anymore.”

Marie’s eyes lit up, then she slid from my lap and ran off into the crowd likely searching for her dad. I leaned back in my chair, sipped my iced lemonade, and smiled.

Life was good.

Not only was this Sawyer’s birthday party, but it was also a celebration for the official rebranding of Golden Dove. After one very short meeting in the elevator a few weeks ago, Kane and Sawyer decided to dissolve their companies and merge them into one brand new company that was controlled by them. This effectively cut Marcus out of the loop—and Sawyer’s life—and gave them both an equal share in this new brainchild—with Liam, of course.

And me. They carved out my own role for me to focus on what I am passionate about, making sure families were kept in the loop when it came to the end-of-life care of their loved ones. My leading role also focused on care and support for the sick and elderly. And with the patent for the Alzheimer’s drug and distribution still under Kane’s name, it became the start of a successful launch for Heaven’s Roost.

The last hurdle was the press swarming around Sawyer and my pregnancy, so Kane stepped up once more and publicly claimed my child as his. It was merely some misinformation, but my relationship, and my child, was with him. This killed all rumors that Sawyer had gotten an employee pregnant, and technically, it might even be true. We wouldn’t know until the baby was born, and by then, it wouldn’t matter.

We had a new company, I had a new job and life was finally on the right track.

“Hey chick!” Bianca slid into the seat across from me and tapped my knee. “How are you finding the heat?”

“I’m getting there,” I chuckled, chasing a few droplets of condensation down my glass. “Are you enjoying the party?”

“It’s amazing!” Bianca”s hair was tinsel-adorned, and her face was ablaze with excitement. Congratulations on the company launch! You know, if you ever need an assistant, please just give me a call. I mean, I love my job, but it’s kind of hard to be comfortable when you feel like you’re one phone call away from being fired again.”

Working alongside my best friend? I couldn’t ask for anything better.

“Well, why don’t you then?” I offered with a smile.

Bianca popped a cherry into her mouth, then frowned. “Why don’t I what?”

“Come and work with me. I’ll be honest. I don’t know how a lot of this works, but I’m pretty sure we could find something. I mean, think of all the people who will come into facilities like the one my mother is in with pets they can no longer care for. I think there could be something there.”

“You mean it? Don’t joke with me, chick!”

“Of course I mean it,” I laughed, leaning forward and clasping her hand. “I would love it if you would come and work with me.”

“Oh my god!” Bianca squealed and threw her arms around my shoulders in a tight hug. “This is amazing!”

Her cheers warmed my heart and brought a sweet tear to my eye that lasted until the night began to wind down and the cake was brought out. A chorus of Happy Birthday’s rose up

As I wandered the party, speaking and chatting with guests, I spotted Liam by the balcony, deep in conversation with Marie. Curious if it was about the dog, I walked closer.

“How do you feel about Callie sticking around with us for a lot longer?” Liam asked.

“She has to, silly,” Marie replied with a sigh. “How else will she have the baby? Do you want her to go to the moon?”

“No,” Liam chuckled. “But you know that I love her, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And I want to know how you feel about that.”

I stopped, suddenly aware I probably wasn’t supposed to hear this conversation.

“You were sad,” Marie said. “All the time. Even when you smiled, you were sad. Then we came here and now you’re happy. So I’m happy.”

Liam’s eyes sparkled with tears in the light, then he pulled Marie into a bear hug until she squealed for release.

“I love you, kiddo.”

“I love you too, now get off!”

With a soft chuckle, I turned away and ended up in Kane’s arms. He cupped my face with his palm and pulled me into a sweet, soft kiss.

“As of two minutes ago, the new logo for Harvest Roost has officially been placed on the building,” he grinned. “Now, we’re officially a home for everyone.”

“You’re so corny,” I chuckled.

Lips pressed against the back of my shoulder. I tilted my head and glimpsed Sawyer.

“Corner is good, though, right?” Sawyer asked, stepping around me so I didn’t have to crane my neck.

“Corny can be good,” I decided.

“I hear that as permission for dad jokes,” came Liam’s voice, and he appeared on my other side. Arms wound around me, lightly caging me in and we moved slowly in time to the music.

“How are you feeling?” Sawyer asked, kissing lazily along my upper arm.

“Oh you know,” I laughed. “Things were pretty dire for a moment with the patent thing and being kidnapped, and then having my baby announcement go viral before I’d even settled on what I was really going to do long term. But now?”

I gazed at each of them in turn.

“Now I have three men that I love by my side, an adorable little girl desperate to spend time with me, and a baby on the way, all while starting a fancy new role at this fancy new company. And the sex with each of them is so great that I’m thinking of starting a regular competition just so no one gets lazy.” I smiled so wide my jaw started to ache.

“I’ll win them all!” Sawyer said cheekily.

“So, I’d say I’m doing pretty fantastic.” Warmth enveloped me and my heart was the lightest it had ever been.

“Excellent,” Liam smirked, and he captured my lips in a slow kiss.

“I have some extra good news, which is perfect for my birthday,” Sawyer said.

“Oh?” I lifted one brow. A surprise?

“PRISM went into liquidation after their terrible fumble with false patents. Eli will be spending a lot of time behind some iron bars and is no longer a stain in the world.”

“Oh my god, that’s amazing!” I laughed loudly and pulled Sawyer in for a deep kiss by his collar. He met me with a grunt and a teasing flash of tongue before we broke apart. Multiple hands slid over my abdomen, caressing the growing bump and my heart soared.

Eli was the last nail that needed to be dealt with. Now that he would be spending his years behind bars, he was no longer a threat. Liam was staying in New York to be part of our family. Sawyer was no longer tied down to his terrible father, and Kane was in charge of his own company, built on his own ideals, where he could use his own money for his own goals.

We were all going to love my little baby and Marie with all our hearts. I was safe, loved, and protected.

Together, we were going to make the world a little brighter, one family at a time.

I hope you enjoyed reading this story. My next new release, “His to Protect” is now available. Grab your copy HERE!