Chapter 24

I didn't know how Jude would react to suddenly having more family, but he did so much better than I'd ever expected. Actually, so did Owen.

Both of them quickly adapted to family outings—dinners with the Hamiltons, cousins' playdates with Seth's and Oliver's kids, and then, eventually, I started adding my own family to the mix. I started by inviting Reagan over for a sleepover, and she and Jude actually seemed to find a lot to talk about, even if Asher Wainwright's New York set crime-themed podcast seemed to be a frequent topic once Owen was in bed.

I'd even started listening to it too so I had some idea what they were talking about, though I never liked when Asher discussed some of the more grisly crimes, unlike the two of them.

The next ones to join us were Honey and Christian after they opted to skip the medium-sized wedding they'd been planning and eloped in a small church upstate. Eloped like Oliver and Sage, minus the Elvis impersonator to marry them. Their wedding was actually in a rustic church deep in the woods some distance from here, which I'd found interesting since neither of them were practicing members of any religion.

But hey, whatever made them happy, right?

I didn't think eloping was a bad thing on a number of scores, especially considering our large family. Jude had pumped my brother on information for eloping although my brother had very sternly informed him that when and if my day came with him, I wanted an actual wedding.

Had I told my brother that? No. Had I ever even mentioned a wedding at any point to any of the members of my family? No freaking way. But somehow Christian claimed to know my secret wishes.

I didn't even know my secret wishes, but supposedly, he did.

At least Fergus had settled in quite nicely into his new home after the holiday. He definitely liked seeing my family members when they came over for dinners and such, but he was enjoying all the attention he got from Owen. Even Jude had turned out to be a cat lover, which was also a plus.

One thing I knew as the summer wore on was that I was gaining weight at a rapid clip that didn't match what I was eating. Oh, I was eating more for sure, and I spent a truly noteworthy amount of time baking treats for us.

For Jude and Owen, for sure, but as July bled into August, I was the one consuming most of them, encouraged by Jude. He'd started plying me with protein too, since he'd finally bought a grill and now he was proudly calling himself the grill-master. Claimed if he ever stopped snapping up local real estate with Xavier and Gavin that he could have his own grilling show on the local cable access television channel.

To which I smiled and nodded, thinking of the many burned burgers and dogs I'd choked down until he'd found his rhythm.

In late August, we had a big dinner for both the available members of my family and his father and his girlfriend, Cookie, with the towering pink hair. This was the first time his father had been at a family dinner, though he and Jude had spent some time getting to know each other at dinners with his brothers—one of which I'd missed because of a stomach bug that was now occurring daily.

I couldn't claim to be surprised, because after the first time we'd had sex with no protection, Jude had then made it his mission in life to fuck me bare at every possible opportunity. He'd claimed we could use condoms whenever I wanted, but by then, I'd understood what he wanted, and I didn't really have a problem with it myself.

I was young, yes, and I'd never anticipated any of this, but my own mother had given birth the first time at twenty-two. She'd gone on to have four more children afterward. Her and my dad were still happily married.

By this point, people in town were used to the idea of Jude and I together, and Mrs. Gunderson, town busybody, had even pushed baby clothes my way last week while we were shopping at Ladybug Treasures. That was the combo store for clothes and housewares from Kinleigh's Attic and her husband August's handcrafted furniture, mostly of the baby variety. I'd flailed and laughed but Jude had taken the onesie she'd flung at me and asked her who she was shopping for.

Turned out she had a new grandbaby on the way. Number 3, no less.

Jude had almost entirely lost his early grumpiness and general lack of manners and was now a true ambassador of small-town life.

Wonders never ceased.

This Friday night, we were having many people over at one time, and I was exhausted. I'd made a couple trays of harvest cupcakes that were hidden in the butler's pantry because I had a pair of sweet tooths in this house. I tried a new casserole recipe that I was not entirely sure would feed our horde. Hopefully the couple of rotisserie chickens I'd picked up would fill the gaps—oh, and couldn't forget the handful of pregnancy tests I'd picked up at the same time.

I'd made a very careful list, after all.

I was rushing about trying to ensure no one would starve when Jude came in all suited up, looking like pure sex, fresh from a high stakes meeting with Gavin and Xavier about some property that they were leveraging mega moolah on to put in an offer.

But he still came in the kitchen, following his nose to what smelled so damn good—my cooling peanut butter and chocolate chip cupcakes, as well as a batch of chocolate chip cookies for the fussier children that would be in attendance. Of course, he immediately spotted my bag of pregnancy tests tossed on one of the stools.

He turned to look at me with such unabashed glee that if I'd had the power to immediately produce a baby right there for him before dinner, I would've done it. Even with Owen eating batter off the mixer's paddle where he was sitting cross-legged on the rooster rug I'd bought on a whim after purchasing said tests.

"Really? Really?" Jude asked.

"I haven't taken them yet, so no. Owen, you have frosting all over your face, and people will be here soon."

His father swooped him up off the floor and kissed both of his frosting-spattered cheeks, making Owen giggle wildly. And then he put his frosting-covered hands on his father's suit, laughing as if it was the greatest game ever.

Since Jude was still grinning, little boy chocolate handprints aside, I had to assume it was. And then he moved over to me and he started to hug and kiss me too while he still held onto Owen, and then we were all covered in frosting and kisses.

All of us were laughing like fools, Jude included.

Then the rarely used back door opened and two very good-looking men walked through as if knocking was an option. One looked as if he'd just walked out of an ad for Ralph Lauren complete with windswept blond hair and trim, navy slacks paired with a—goodness, was that a cashmere sweater? It was a perfect sky blue that matched his eyes, pushed up at his forearms to show off tanned skin. The other man wore black on black in a crisp suit that was obviously tailored to his tall, athletic build.

Both were wearing matching expressions of incredulity at Jude's current state covered in frosting and yet still kissing his son and me. The kisses were aimed in every direction at once, and Owen and I just stood there and let him do as he would.

It was hard to even consider diverting that much joy.

"Who are you and what the hell happened to our friend Jude?" the blond man asked.

"Don't mind this one and his complete lack of manners." The dark-haired man raised one eyebrow as he leaned against the kitchen island with an easy smile. Green eyes with attractive crinkles at the corners were steady and kind. "We've heard a lot about you, Maddie."

At a loss, I hiked Owen onto my hip. "I've heard some stories of my own."

The blond man's gaze darted all around the kitchen and attached dining room. "And yet you still don't invite us to your very impressive abode. We had no choice but to crash the party." Finally, he focused back on us. "He kept telling us he was too busy to host us."

"We've been wrapped up in quite a few family functions," I said as I swapped Owen to my other hip. The peanut of a little boy I'd met that first day was definitely growing by the day.

"Embarrassed by us, J?" the blond guy asked. "Here we were basically your first known family in town. Friend families count too. You even got to meet my sister, Luna, back in the day."

I had to laugh. "A sister? We're going to start having to rent halls to have family dinners."

"Especially since Jude figured out how to use his di?—"

"You need to shut up." The dark-haired one shoved the blond man to the other side of the island. "I'm Gavin. Since our partner can't wipe that smug smile off his face long enough to introduce us."

"Rudely keeping the lovely Maddie all to yourself. For shame." The blond guy gave me a dazzling smile, and then he snaked a hand out to the cooling rack of cookies. "I'm Xavier, by the way. The attractive and charming one." He waggled his eyebrows before he took a big bite of a cookie.

"Those aren't cool yet," I warned but it was too late, and I couldn't stifle a giggle at his surprised face.

"Milk?" Xavier asked as he tried to breathe through his obvious discomfort.

Jude rolled his eyes and went to the fridge, coming back with a tall glass that he pushed toward Xavier.

Xavier took a gulp and sighed as he finished chewing. "Those are excellent cookies."

"Thank you." I swayed with Owen automatically, his bright smile now hidden in my neck. "It's nice to finally put faces to names."

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Jude asked as he curled an arm around my hip to gather us close.

Gavin peered down at the cupcakes. "May I?"

"No," Jude said with a growl.

"Yes, you may." I answered and elbowed Jude.

"Thanks." Gavin selected a cupcake, and he touched the side to gauge the temperature, unlike his impetuous friend.

I pushed the leftover chocolate ganache toward him that had a thin spatula sticking out of it.

He gave me a grateful smile and proceeded to swipe a dollop of the rich chocolate on top. "These smell heavenly, Maddie."

Evidently, Gavin really was the one with manners.

He pushed the bowl back toward me. "Looks like the little guy was already into the icing."

I laughed and grabbed a towel to wipe away the leftover chocolate on Owen's fingers. "Someone has their father's sweet tooth."

"Chocolate!" Owen said bravely before hiding his face in my hair once more. So much for my clean hair for our guests.

"The rest seems to be on you, J." Carefully, Gavin peeled the wrapper off his cupcake. He proceeded to split the cupcake horizontally, and then he set the bottom on top of the icing to create a little sandwich before he took a very neat bite.

The two men couldn't be more different.

Xavier was already trying his luck with another cookie.

Jude shook his head and moved to the sink to wash his hands. "If you wanted cupcakes and cookies, you could have just asked. Or hey, even better, go to the bakery in town."

"So touchy." Xavier plucked a napkin out of the rooster holder on the island. "We busted our ass all day to get that loan with Max, and then you didn't sign one of the papers."

"Sh—crap." Jude glanced at Owen then he raked his fingers through his hair. "I can't believe I did that."

"I can. You were a little distracted. Could this be why?" Xavier plucked up my bag of pregnancy tests while I screeched and made a grab for it.

Jude snatched it away from him and gave him a look that could've frozen the whole lake.

Instead of looking repentant, Xavier just grinned. "Another one bites the dust in the Cove."

"Not that it's any of your business, but I haven't taken the tests yet." The doorbell rang. "Great, now everyone is arriving early." I handed Owen to Jude.

"Our family doesn't ring the bell," Jude said and followed me to the door.

Evidently, his partners didn't either.

I peered through the skinny window and threw a startled glance at Jude. "Is that your sister?" I'd only seen a handful of photos of her so I couldn't be sure.

Jude frowned and swung open the door. "Sydney!"

She probably would have looked bedraggled if she was a normal woman. Her red hair was disheveled around her shoulders, half of it clipped back with strands that had fallen forward. There wasn't a whole lot of familial similarities, which wasn't as surprising now that we knew about Jude's true parentage.

Sydney Keller was undeniably gorgeous, making me feel frumpy after hours of running around. She wore a knee-length black pencil skirt with heeled boots in black leather and a crimson sleeveless shirt that matched her wide, unsmiling mouth.

What was it with the glossy, magazine-ready people showing up at my house?

I swallowed hard. Okay, not my house—though it felt like it after the summer spent with Jude and Owen.

Sydney pulled off warm brown sunglasses, and her startling golden eyes narrowed on me. "Who are you?"

Jude gave Owen a kiss on his forehead and handed him off to me. We were playing hot potato with our kid today, that was for sure.

My stomach flipped. Our kid…

I nuzzled Owen, who was currently gripping the ends of my hair in his still-sticky fingers as he hid his face in my neck. He certainly felt like our child. And a pregnancy test was calling my name from the kitchen.

I wasn't sure why it was stealing my breath all of a sudden. Just everything was zooming down on me all at once. I didn't really have any words at the moment, but I tried to smile through my uncertainty.

Jude stepped across the threshold to lift his sister into a crushing hug. "I didn't know you were coming in today."

Her already huge eyes got even wider as she awkwardly patted Jude's shoulder. "What's gotten into you?"

Her demeanor reminded me of when Jude first came to town. How standoffish and stiff he'd been with Owen. Never with me, though. That little tidbit helped as nerves started bubbling in my belly.

Jude stepped back next to me and gave his sister a sheepish smile. "A lot has changed since we last saw each other." He slipped an arm around me. "This is Maddie."

One slim auburn brow rose. "The nanny?"

I glanced at Jude, but he was too focused on his sister. Didn't he tell her about me?

"We have lots to talk about. If you'd reply to a phone call or a text more than once a month…"

"I know." Sydney gave me a tight smile then aimed a worried glance at Owen.

I frowned. He was a kid, not radioactive.

She cleared her throat. "Mother made it impossible for me to get away before the Christmas line was locked in."

"But it's summer," I blurted.

"Yes, I'd be happy to explain it all if I could come in."

"Sorry. Come in, come in." Jude ruffled Owen's hair. "Owen, this is your Aunt Sydney."

The chilly air Sydney brought in with her warmed slightly when she smiled at Owen. "You're even more handsome than the pictures your father has sent me."

Owen jammed his thumb in his mouth as he tried to burrow into my skin.

"He's a little shy with new people."

"Of course." Her tiger eyes were somehow warm and cold at the same time. And altogether distant.

"Any bags? You're staying here, right?"

"I…can. I assumed I'd stay at the Sherman. I think that was the name of the hotel in town."

"We have five bedrooms in this house. You're staying here."

"All right. For now. My bags are in the car."

"I'll go grab them." He brushed a kiss at my temple and disappeared out the door.

"You're just in time for dinner. I'm sure we can add another seat to the table, no problem."

"Oh, I'm really tired."

"Jude will want to introduce you to his family."

She lifted her chin and those eyes went flat. Like a wall came right up between us.

Then I realized what I said. She was his family—and from what he'd told me, they'd been each other's everything for most of their lives. "I?—"

"It's fine. I'm aware we have half siblings in town. Jude has told me about that."

I had a very bad feeling he didn't tell her everything just yet. On a lot of levels.

Rather than reply, I hurried back through the foyer down the hall into the kitchen, noting that the sound of her boots seemed so loud on the hardwood floors. I set Owen down when he wiggled for freedom. He took off through the kitchen, and I picked up the pace to make sure he didn't get into something.

He bypassed Xavier and Gavin for the sitting room we spent the most time in. He went right for his iPad and plopped his behind in the beanbag chair his father had gotten him and clutched Spot under one arm as he lost himself in his favorite game. Fergus, our cat, climbed up to burrow into the crook of his other arm.

I hurried back into the kitchen to entertain Jude's guests. "It's a busy day today. Gavin, Xavier, this is Sydney."

" The Sydney?" Xavier grinned and came around the kitchen island where he'd demolished another three cookies while we'd been gone. He held out his hand. "Finally. We expected you at least a month ago."

"We?" Sydney glanced down at his hand, then she crossed her arms. "And why is that?"

Xavier's grin widened. "Spicy." He glanced over his shoulder at Gavin. "You owe me fifty bucks."

Gavin's cheeks reddened above his trim beard. "You are an ass."

Xavier laughed. "We had a little bet going if you'd be like your ice queen mother or the complete opposite."

"Is that right? How unfortunate."

"Icy and spicy. Even better." Xavier moved in closer, then he slipped by her without touching her as he went for the fridge. "Got a beer in here, Mads?"

I blinked. Mads? Then my chest warmed. I'd never had a cool nickname. I'd always just been Maddie or the full Madison. "Bottom shelf."

He bent down and slipped two bottles from the drawer. Owen had been getting curious with the fridge, and we'd already had an accident with glass on the floor. He was terribly independent, but that made me love him all the more.

Xavier snicked off the top of two bottles and pitched them into the recycler. "Worry not, little one." He tapped my nose. "Families always have a little strife in the beginning. You should have seen the scenes between me and Luna."

I frowned. "I'm not worried."

"That line between your brows says otherwise." He went around me to the other side of the island and slid a bottle toward Gavin.

"Can I get you a glass of wine, Sydney? Or we have seltzer, water, and an abundance of juice boxes."

"Wine would be lovely."

I slipped into the butler's pantry for the stash of wine we had for dinner. She looked like a crisp white wine kind of girl. I let out a gusty sigh. I had been too until recently. I slipped a hand over my middle. The tests were just a final yes, but I knew already.

My pants fit differently, and I was going to need new bras very soon. Not to mention my super sensitive breasts.

You couldn't get much more obvious than that. No matter how many baked goods I'd been eating.

I poured a glass for Sydney and brought it back into the kitchen. She was standing beside the kitchen island, her arms still crossed.

Gavin and Xavier sat across from her, saying nothing. Just as she was making absolutely no effort to speak to them. I wasn't sure how sparks could still be flying in complete silence, but they were. Somehow.

Fabulous.

"Here you go!" I gave her a wide smile as I set the glass in front of her, just before I noticed the bag full of tests sitting directly beside the glass.

Sydney looked down and into the bag, then those tiger eyes locked with mine. She lifted a test out of the bag and held it up just as Jude came through the door. "What the hell is this?"