40. Reagan

Chapter 40

Reagan

G raham’s cane taps against the floor like a metronome as he slowly walks around the living room, his strength slowly returning. I can see the pride in Penn’s eyes as he watches his brother make progress. He’s been goading him the last few weeks since Graham took his first steps. A grin spreads across my face, and I can’t help but share their excitement. We weren’t sure if he was going to make it and now the biggest issue is who stole his cane, which is usually my husband.

“Look at you, Graham,” I say with genuine admiration. I’m so thankful that he’s going to be okay, even if he’s surlier than he was before the accident.

“Where’s my phone?” he clips out, his voice rough as he ignores me. I don’t take it personally. That’s just his baseline. He hates everyone and everything, but feels responsible for all of us too. “Feels good to be on my feet again,” he finally adds, before glaring at Penn. “If you have my phone, I’m going to skewer you in the eyeball with this cane.”

“I have a few techniques for eyeball skewering if you want them,” he chimes in, clapping his brother on the shoulder playfully, and then he takes off down the hall, because he absolutely has Graham’s phone.

As much as I’d love to linger in this moment of triumph, there’s a family dinner to prepare for, and the house is buzzing with activity. I leave Graham to plot my husband’s death and head deeper into the spacious house.

Laughter echoes through the house, mixing with the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen. The rich aroma of roasted garlic wafts through the air, making my stomach rumble in anticipation. It seems everyone is eager for tonight, and I can’t blame them.

“Everything smells amazing,” I comment, looking over at Oakley with a sincere smile. “Think you could teach Penn how to cook?”

“Hey now,” Penn replies, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know that I’ve been practicing my culinary arts just for you.”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow, thoroughly amused. “Well, then I can’t wait to taste the fruits of your labor.”

“Trust me, you won’t be disappointed by my fruits,” he says confidently, winking at me.

“Let me know what night that’s gonna be because I’m gonna be busy watching paint dry,” Ramsey blurts out, looking up from what I can only assume is Graham’s phone because he’s holding it up and taking pictures of himself with his tongue sticking out and his middle finger is up.

I can’t help but let out a laugh, shaking my head because if Graham burns the house down while we sleep, and I survive, I’ll have to say he was pushed beyond his limits.

Oakley stands at the stove, laughter shaking her shoulders as she expertly flips a golden-brown chunk of meat. Reese, my sweet sister, hovers nearby, eagerly holding out a plate for Oakley’s pot roast? I really have no idea what she’s making.

“Hey Rae,” Reese greets me with a bright smile. “Oakley’s teaching me how to make her Mississippi pot roast.”

“Is that so?” I reply, flashing a grin at Oakley. “Well, it smells like heaven.”

“Come here, I’ll show you.” Oakley jerks her head in a come-hither motion because her hands are full.

Watching as Reese carefully places the finished meat on a serving platter, I say, “I’ll leave the cooking to the experts for now.”

As I lean against the counter, I notice Ramsey handing Graham’s phone over to my husband, and his gaze focused intently on Reese. She seems oblivious to his attention, but there’s no mistaking the hint of a blush creeping up his neck.

“Reagan?” Oakley’s voice snaps me back to the present. “Could you pass me the pepper, please? It’s to your left.”

“Sure,” I say, handing her the pepper grinder, but my thoughts remain on Ramsey and Reese. I thought maybe he’d have lost interest by now, as guys his age usually do, but there’s something in the way he looks at my sister that tells me that was just wishful fucking thinking on my part.

“Hey,” Penn calls out from behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and planting a soft kiss on my neck. “Ready to eat? The table’s already set.”

Instead of answering, I tilt my head to give Penn better access to my neck. Everyone starts clearing out into the dining room, but we just stand there, and I can’t help but lean into his chest. I watch as Penn hands off the phone back to Ramsey who is shadowing Reese as they migrate through the doorway .

“What are you two doing to his phone?” I ask as Penn’s hand grasps mine and then leads me out of the kitchen.

“Mostly taking dick pics and sending them to his contact list.” Penn shrugs as if it’s the most normal thing in the world and I honestly just have no words.

“Ramsey, okay, but why the fuck are you sending people your dick?” I raise my eyebrow at him while folding my arms across my chest. “Maybe I’ll take a couple of tit pics and send those out, hmm?”

“Over my dead fucking body and even then, good goddamn luck, because if I’m dying, you’re fucking coming with me.” He growls out while dragging me the rest of the way to the formal table.

Ramsey is holding the side of his head wincing and Reese is checking him over trying to hold her laughter in check. If I had to guess, Graham boxed him on the side of the head and took his phone back.

Graham mutters under his breath, not even bothering to glance up from his phone.

From across the room, I hear Lincoln’s deep voice, dripping with sarcasm. “None of the dicks on your phone are mine.”

“Of course not,” Penn replies, matching his brother’s sarcastic tone. “No one can zoom in enough to see it clearly.”

“Someone’s got jokes,” Lincoln says, rolling his eyes. “I forgot how much you delight in pushing my buttons.”

“Someone has to keep you on your toes, brother,” Penn retorts, flashing a cocky grin.

“Is this what passes for entertainment in the Blackwood household?” I interject, smirking at their playful banter. “You two really need to find better hobbies that don’t involve unsolicited dick pics.”

“Hey now, Reagan,” Lincoln chimes in, feigning offense. “There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly rivalry between siblings.”

“Especially when it’s so easy to get a rise out of Lincoln because he’s a little sensitive about his tinkle tassel,” Penn adds, winking at me.

“Alright, you two,” I say, shaking my head in amusement.

“I promise to save all my dick pics for you from now on,” Penn assures me, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. His touch sends a thrill down my spine, making it difficult to focus on anything but the heat of his body against mine.

“What a gentleman,” I say, laughing.

Mischief glints in Jeremiah’s eyes as he sneaks up behind Oakley, who’s carrying a steaming bowl of mashed potatoes to the table. I watch, stifling a grin, as he leans in to steal a kiss. But Oakley is quicker than he anticipated; she swats him away with a playful smirk.

“I worked hard on these, Jeremiah Blackwood!” she playfully chastises him, her voice lilting in amusement. “But you can be the taste tester.” She picks up a clean spoon off the table and scoops out a heaping amount.

Jeremiah takes a bite, groaning at how good it tastes. “That’s fucking good,” Jeremiah drawls, raising an eyebrow and smirking right back at her. “Is that all I get a taste of?”

“Oh, my God!” Oakley replies coyly, setting the bowl on the table with a flourish, her face flushing beet red.

The warmth of Penn’s breath washes over me as he leans closer, whispering in my ear, “It runs in the family. When will I get to taste my wife?” The way his voice wraps around those two words sends a shiver down my spine. His lips find the spot on my neck where he branded me with his ring, marking me as his own. I can’t help but let out a soft, barely audible moan.

“Easy there, hellfire,” he teases, his fingers dancing lightly across my thigh under the table. I shoot him a playful glare, and he just grins, that wicked smile of his lighting up his face. “We might have to skip dinner, because I don’t think any of them would be up for the show I’d put on.”

“Behave yourself, psycho,” I warn him, trying to maintain some semblance of self-control amidst the charged atmosphere. He chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair, but his eyes never leave mine.

“I always behave around you, baby,” he says, feigning innocence. But the mischievous glint in his eyes tells me all I need to know about his intentions.

As I reluctantly tear my gaze away from Penn, I notice Ramsey helping Reese with her chair. He gently pulls it out for her, waiting patiently until she’s comfortably seated before sliding it closer to the table. The simple act of chivalry makes my heart swell with warmth. It seems like my little sister has him wrapped around her finger, and I don’t think she even realizes it.

“Thank you, Ramsey,” Reese says with a sweet smile, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. He returns her smile and nods, his dark hair falling into his eyes.

“Alright, everyone,” Oakley calls out, her voice ringing clear above the chatter. “Let’s get this dinner started!”

“Finally!” Lincoln exclaims, rubbing his hands together in delight. “I’m starving.”

“Patience is a virtue, or whatever the ten commandments say,” Penn teases him, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling my chair closer. “Isn’t that right, my wife?”

“Oh yes, because you are so patient and virtuous. And that is not one of the ten commandments, you blasphemous fucker,” I say with a smirk, leaning into his embrace. His touch sends shivers down my spine, and I find myself lost in his eyes for a moment before remembering where we are.

“I agree, I am,” Penn says, and everyone laughs except Graham who holds his phone up with a scowl.

“You sent Dad your fucking dick from my phone?” Graham snaps. Penn cackles, leaning back in his chair and letting his whole body bounce with the movement.

Ramsey reaches out and covers Reese’s eyes, which I’m grateful for, but I squint and say, “Your dick isn’t pierced.”

This makes Iris gasp and Lincoln start belly laughing because apparently his dick is pierced and he also lied about not taking any pictures on Graham’s phone.

“You’re sleeping on the couch tonight,” Iris tells Lincoln.

“Uh oh, the siblings are fighting,” Penn chimes in, which makes Lincoln kick him under the table. They’re technically step-siblings who barely knew each other before their parents married, but my husband likes to refer to them as brother and sister.

“We should pitch a tent in the backyard and make them sleep outside until they know how to behave,” Iris suggests, and Oakley and I hum in agreement because we’ve got a nice little girl power pod going on between the three of us. We love our respective Blackwood brothers, but we have to stand together, or they’ll go off the rails and take us with them.

“I wish I could see Robert’s face when he opens it,” Penn snickers. He’s gonna be so pissed.

“It’s all fun and games until Dad shows up to castrate us,” Jeremiah clears his throat, drawing our attention.

“I’m not that fucking lucky for him to show up and take the three of you out back and shoot you,” Graham adds, lowering his phone to the table and grabbing the bowl of mashed potatoes.

“Alright, everyone, dig in!” Oakley announces, beaming as she passes the first plate with the meat around.

“Oakley, this looks amazing,” Reese gushes, her eyes widening at the array of delicious food before her. “I can’t wait to try everything!”

“Thank you,” Oakley replies with a warm smile. “I’m glad you’re here, sweetheart.”

As we chat and laugh while passing around dishes, I feel Penn’s fingers gently graze my thigh beneath the table. I bite my lip to suppress a moan. He grins wickedly, clearly enjoying the effect he has on me.

“Something got you hot and bothered, Mrs. Blackwood?” Penn whispers in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “You okay there?”

“Perfectly fine,” I reply through gritted teeth, trying to maintain my composure as his fingers continue their teasing exploration.

“Good,” he murmurs with a smirk, leaning in to press a soft kiss on my neck. “Just making sure.”

And as we sit around this table, I know that I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything in the world.