“We should say hi to the birthday girl,” Cash said as he waved hello to Jane.
He and Jen drifted away from the women, passing several men Cash knew from the base. He said a few hellos, then caught sight of Dylan and Jackson near the swing set, holding paper plates and munching on appetizers. Ryan and Matt stood a few feet away, beers in their hands, heads bent in deep conversation. He looked around in search of Seth, but their resident badass was MIA. No surprise there—Seth’s dislike of kids was no secret. No doubt he’d already come by to drop off a gift, said a quick hello and hightailed it home.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” Jane said when they approached.
Baby Sadie made a delighted gurgling sound as her big blue eyes focused on the new arrivals.
“Hey there,” Jen crooned, leaning in to kiss Sadie’s forehead. “Happy birthday, cutie.”
“Gah!”
Jane grinned. “That means thank-you.” She shifted Sadie to her other hip and gestured to the food table behind her. “We decided not to barbeque—” she rolled her eyes, “—because Becker is scared the smoke from the grill will give our daughter cancer. But Holly prepared a whole bunch of yummy dishes—there’s like five different kinds of salad, mini sandwiches, appetizers and a bunch of other finger foods. So help yourself, okay?”
“Everything looks delicious,” Jen said, reaching for two plates. “Where is Holly, by the way?”
Jane wrinkled her brow. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since she set up the tables.”
Carson was noticeably absent too. Cash wasn’t sure if that was a good sign, or a bad one. As much as he didn’t want to imagine his lieutenant screwing around, he hoped Carson and Holly were inside getting it on somewhere. At least that would mean they were on their way to fixing the problems between them.
“I’m sure they’ll turn up soon,” Cash said, catching Jen’s frown. “Come on, let’s have something to eat.”
They spent the next twenty minutes chatting with Jane while they scarfed down some food. People drifted over to say hello, including Dylan and Jackson, the latter of whom Jen had yet to meet.
“So you’re the Texan,” she said, giving Jackson a thorough once-over.
Cash knew she liked what she saw. Women went wild for the smooth-talking Texan, with his wavy brown hair, whiskey-colored eyes and tall muscular frame. The guy lived in faded blue jeans, plaid shirts and combat boots, which made him appear laidback but at the same time tough.
Jackson winked. “And you are even more beautiful than everyone described, sugar.”
“What the hell, Texas?” Jane grumbled. “Why don’t you ever call me sugar?”
“Why don’t I call you sugar?” Jackson hooked a thumb behind her. “That’s why.”
Next thing Cash knew, Becker was barreling toward them, a surprising spring to his step. “There’s my little angel,” he said happily, in no way resembling the man who’d picked them up at the police station the other night. This Becker was relaxed and overjoyed, smiling broadly as he greeted his daughter.
Sadie wiggled in her mother’s arms and stuck out her chubby fists in Becker’s direction. “Gah!” she cried.
Becker gave everyone a brisk nod. “That means dad.” He promptly scooped Sadie out of Jane’s arms and tucked her against his powerful chest.
“It means everything,” Jane muttered under her breath. “It’s the only word she says.”
“Thanks for coming,” Becker told the men. He glanced at Jen. “You too, Jen. I’m sorry to hear about the troubles you’ve been having with your ex-boyfriend.”
She shrugged. “Thanks, but I think the trouble’s come to an end.”
Cash casually squeezed her arm before she could say more. He didn’t want her bringing up the fight at the bar and reigniting Becker’s anger.
“So the little princess is growing up,” Cash said, reaching out to touch one of Sadie’s tiny hands.
She immediately curled her whole fist around his index finger and squeezed. Man, the kid was strong. Then again, she was the offspring of Thomas Becker, so no surprise there.
“She sure is.” Becker planted an indulgent kiss on the tuft of red hair atop Sadie’s head. “And she’s smart as a whip. She—” He halted, his brown eyes narrowing as he gazed at something behind Cash. Then he made an annoyed sound and turned to glare at his wife. “Why the fu-fudge did you invite Steven?”
Jane was clearly braver than Cash and the others, because she didn’t cower under Becker’s hard stare. “It was the polite thing to do.”
“Polite? That lunatic nearly killed our child.”
Cash and Jen exchanged WTF looks, as did Dylan and Jackson.
“It was harmless fun, Beck!” Jane shot back.
“Who’s Steven?” Jen spoke up tentatively.
Becker jammed a finger across the backyard. Everyone followed his gaze, but the only person in their line of sight was a chubby blonde with a cherub-cheeked infant in her arms.
“Wait—Steven’s the baby?” Dylan said, looking confused.