Chapter 26

26

Reed

I can't take my mind off the attempted burglary. It's been quiet ever since, with nothing suspicious going on, but it still irks me. We checked the safes, the drawers, and every place that holds something valuable. Reed was right; the guy didn't take anything. But the fact that he had the audacity, the fact that he got into our house, makes me wonder what the hell he wanted.

People around here know us. We're not ostentatious or troublemakers, but they're all aware of our military history. You don't break into our house and expect to survive a confrontation if we're home.

"Did you see Dakota's bridal gown?" Chelsea asks me.

We're in the kitchen, watching the kids while Archer and Maddox handle a few business issues. Dakota is working a bar shift, though I've made it clear, more than once, that she doesn't need to work anymore. But Chelsea suggested that I leave her be. An independent woman will always strive to keep herself busy, to better herself, and to prove that she doesn't need a man to survive. Or, in this case, three men. I get it. It takes a long time to get used to the good life, especially when you're accustomed to fighting for every scrap.

"No, I didn't," I reply as I load Trevor and Maisie's plates with my signature chicken lasagna. They love it. "I'm pretty sure it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."

"Meh, it's not like it's a real wedding," Chelsea scoffs, and I see the hint of sadness in her eyes. "The dress is beautiful, though. She went for a design that really brings out her best features."

"Trevor, can I have the salt, please?" Maisie asks our boy.

He smiles and gingerly grinds some directly onto her plate. "Here you go."

"Thank you!"

Chelsea can't help but giggle, her eyes glassy as she watches the kids interact. "They're getting along so much better, aren't they?" she whispers as she comes over to the counter beside me.

"Yeah. I wouldn't call it a miracle, but it's a good thing," I reply. "Maisie does have a way of conquering even the moodiest folks."

"Trev didn't stand a chance in front of all that sweetness."

"He's warmed up to her and then some."

We watch them eat and exchange a few words in the process, completely oblivious to our presence.

"Is it? A good thing?" she asks after a long pause.

"What do you mean?"

She pulls away from the counter and motions for me to follow her closer to the back door, out of the children's earshot. "I mean, Reed, we both know you're marrying Dakota so she can get her inheritance. And it is truly commendable; you have my respect and admiration."

"But?"

"But despite how well your relationship with her is going, I'm sure you and your brothers agree that it's way too soon to get married, like, for-real married."

"It's a tad more complex than that, Chelsea."

She shakes her head slowly. "For you three, for Dakota, maybe. I realize there's the option of divorce afterward. Whether your relationship tanks later is entirely up to you. But Trevor and Maisie are part of this charade also. How do you think they'll feel if it falls apart? They think their parents are getting married for real."

The words hit me like a punch in the gut. My brothers and I did consider this, but truth be told, we've been so pleased to see Trevor opening up and being so sweet to Maisie that we left everything else on the back burner, at least until after the wedding.

I would've liked nothing more than to sign a check and hand it over to Dakota to resolve every issue in her life, but she would never have accepted it. Her pride and her self-sufficiency are not designed for that.

Besides, we've only been together for a few months.

It's happening fast, really fast, and in the wrong order. But Chelsea has a point. The kids shouldn't be a part of our shenanigans. I give her a reassuring nod and a soft smile. "Trevor and Maisie are getting along better and better. Trust me, we would never do anything to ruin that. No matter what happens between us and Dakota, we'll make sure that the kids are never separated."

"I really hope you mean that," Chelsea sighs.

I follow her gaze and watch Trevor as he helps Maisie cut into the lasagna with her kiddie knife and fork. It's so cute, so innocent, and I could melt right here, right now, dammit. "Trevor has big brother material in him, that's for sure. His parents were, in fact, trying for another when they…" I trail off, my throat feeling tight.

"You guys are great fathers. I need you to know that. Despite his mood swings and sadness, Trevor is aware that you all love him and want to keep him safe."

"Did he tell you that?"

"No, but I can see it. You should be able to see it, too. Think about it. He's not getting in trouble in school anymore. He's opening up and getting closer to Maisie. He's accepting help when offered. It's because of you, Reed, Archer, and Maddox. You're all so patient with him, and I have a feeling it will soon be rewarded. The mere fact that he's getting cozy with Maisie speaks volumes."

I give her a surprised look. "You think?"

"Yeah. He's getting ready to come out of his shell. And the three of you had better be ready when that day comes. He will reach for you, and you need to catch him and welcome him, assuming you still want to adopt him."

"Absolutely, yes. I never thought I'd feel this way about someone else's child, to be honest," I say, keeping my voice down. "Archer, Maddox, and I… we had our doubts at first. We figured we would just foster him until we found some distant relative or a suitable adoptive family. But as the months went by, Trevor became a part of us, a fundamental part of each of us. We could never let him go now. We love him too much."

"Then make sure he knows that, and always do right by him."

I am genuinely glad to see him and Dakota's daughter bonding so well. I am also wary of the risks here. Chelsea's words will haunt me for a while, and I will have to address them with my brothers, as well.

We need to have a clear strategy for what happens after the wedding.

It may solely be on paper, but Archer, Maddox, and I do need to agree on a few things—including how we feel about Dakota. We're not just marrying her so she can get her inheritance.

On the evening before the wedding, we put the kids to sleep in their respective rooms and retreat to my bedroom for the night. I can tell Dakota is tenser than usual, and I'm not the only one. The lovemaking is spectacular as always, and my body is as light as a feather after we claim her. Yet once we rest, I see it. The sadness, the flicker of doubt in her eyes as she stares up at the ceiling.

Archer turns her over and wraps her in his arms. "What's going on with you?" he asks her.

"Oh, just pre-wedding jitters, I suppose," she replies too quickly for my comfort.

She's been acting differently, not in a dramatic fashion, but just enough for us to notice. We keep blaming the wedding, yet we can tell there's more to it. And given that she has already kept her share of secrets from us if only to protect herself and her ego, I can't help but wonder what else she is keeping a secret. Whatever it is, it's festering inside of her. It threatens to spoil her mood. Dakota tries to be upbeat and fresh every single day yet there are moments when I can tell she's struggling.

"I hate to say this again, but you do know you can talk to us, right?" I say, planting a kiss on her lips while Archer holds her close. "We've been down this road before. Keeping things to yourself didn't do you any good."

"I'm okay, I promise," she insists with a warm, tired smile. "I really am just nervous about the wedding and everything it entails. Once it's over, I think it'll be a huge load off my chest. And not just mine."

"It's all taken care of," Archer says. "There's nothing for you to worry about."

Silence falls heavy over the room. I want to tell her that it's going to be a perfect day for us, whether we're ready or not. I want to tell her that we're not just doing it to help her, that we are, in fact, hoping to make this work in the long term. Maybe someday we'll give her that big wedding that she deserves, or at least something that feels more heartfelt for her.

"It's going to be all right," Archer whispers in her ear, his hands working their way up her naked body. "One way or another, I promise everything is going to fall into its rightful place."

"You sound mighty sure of yourself," she gasps when he finds her hot, wet core.

Her curves seem a tad more inviting as of late. Fuller, warmer, almost as though they're the result of an artist's brush strokes. The table lamp casts a soft, golden glow over her Rubenesque figure, beckoning me closer as I find myself starving for her again. Soon enough, Maddox joins us as we feast on our woman's body once more.