Chuckling, Noah says, “You don’t miss much, sis. You never did.”
Carla is like a sister to me and has been since I first became involved with Noah. I love seeing the teasing imp come out in her, which reminds me of the man she married, my brother, Sebastian. They’re well suited. Until he showed interest in Carla, I’d never known my brother to be so besotted with a woman. She well and truly caught him—hook, line and sinker.
Noah
After spending all day being social, all I want is to go back to Ramon’s cabin and chill out with him on the back porch. The hot tub sounds even better right about now. I’m not even bothered if we don’t have sex. It will be good to just lie in bed and hold each other in the quiet. I only need words from Ramon when I let myself over think, and need reassuring.
But after our break in the office of the barn, I’m feeling pretty good, and confident in our relationship. Even Carla disturbing us before Ramon could return the blowjob hasn’t dimmed how happy I am.
Walking toward Ramon now, he stands with his brother, Lucien, and Sabrina, Lucien’s wife. My heart fills with love for him.
All through the dinner and speeches, Ramon sat beside me, and I’m sure by the time the meal was finished, everyone in the marquee, or at least in the close vicinity to us, had figured out our relationship. Nothing was said. Mateo had looked surprised, but had shaken his head with a smirk on his face.
It had made me feel ten feet tall to know that Ramon had switched the seating up so that we could sit together.
Reaching my target, Ramon turns and smiles. His hand goes to my back in a gentle caress before he removes it and carries on talking to his brother. I pay no attention to what they’re talking about as I look around the marquee.
Lucien’s wife, Sabrina, is just as pregnant as Lily and is glowing with happiness. Lucien is obviously besotted with his wife, and hardly lets her go anywhere without him.
“How are you enjoying being back in Lexington?” I ask, as she directs her smile to me.
This is the first time I’ve really had chance to talk to her. Oh, I’ve met Lucien a few times but Sabrina has always been back at the apartment, resting with her mom for company.
“I’m missing the house in Denver to be honest. But we’ll be heading back soon.”
Lucien wraps his arm around her shoulders and tugs her close. “We’ll be heading back out there as soon as our baby puts in an appearance.” He kisses Sabrina on the forehead. “I want Sabrina to have family around her when she gives birth.”
“That’s understandable,” Ramon adds. “I’m glad you’re doing that…saves us money as well,” he smirks.
“On your niece or nephew?” Lucien queries, knowing good and well what Ramon meant.
“Your child will be spoiled by his or her uncles. Which you knew already.” Ramon places his hand on Sabrina’s belly and gently rubs. “I can’t wait to meet this one, and Michael’s third.”
“Michael’s third what?” Michael asks as he walks up.
“Baby? You’re not usually so slow. What’s going on?” Lucien questions Michael.
Michael has practically been glued to his wife’s side all day, so for him to suddenly appear without Lily, and with a frown on his face, even has me worried and he isn’t my brother.
“We need to talk,” he admits.
“I think I’ll go inside and leave you four alone.” Sabrina gives Lucien a quick kiss before heading toward the house.
Before Sabrina makes it inside, Lucien demands, “Talk.”
“Always so impatient,” Michael mumbles, still distracted. “A name has come to mind.” He rubs at his temples. “Brendan Griffin.”
I catch Ramon flinch as the name is mentioned, but he doesn’t give any other outward sign that the name has affected him in any way.
“Griffin Construction,” Michael continues, “is the only one to benefit from the McKenzie name being dragged through the mud in the newspapers.”
“Why now?” Lucien asks, “Why have you suddenly thought about them when the shit on the site has been happening for a while?”
“I’ve just been reading the business section in Friday’s paper, and saw the name. I may be wrong, but they’ve been our competition for a while now. Always undercutting our bids, and there have been a few times when we’ve had to go in to finish a job that they started, which has obviously pissed them off. It’s worth thinking about,” Michael finishes.
“Do any of you know him?” I ask, curious. I can’t help wondering what the look was that came over Ramon when the Griffin name was first mentioned.
“Not personally…although I think Ramon went to college with his son…um…Andrew,” Lucien offers. “He died about eight to ten years ago.”