“I don’t know. I like hanging with Dean. He’s a good guy,” her brother said. “But he may choose to pair off.”
River had no more opened his mouth when the cop began chatting up a pretty, blushing redhead Raine had noticed recently around the club.
“The only other person I know who will stay beyond the dinner and dancing is Pike, and he’s an asshole.”
“Aww, you’re just being kind.” Pike clapped her brother on the shoulder. “Didn’t you say I was a massive, bleeding douche canoe last week?”
“I actually said worse.” River refused to look at the DM.
“Just because I told you to get your shit together.”
“I don’t need you in my fucking ear.”
“If you’re going to play here, you have to play right.”
Oh, so River had been hanging around and checking out the scene? She sent her brother a speculative stare.
He turned a dull shade of red. “I’ll leave. Besides, if you three are going to scene here tonight, I’d rather not watch.”
“No.” Hammer approached Raine from behind and slipped an arm around her waist. “We’re leaving.”
She whirled to face him. “We are?”
“Indeed,” Liam said as he brought her a glass of water. “Hammer and I have decided we’re going to have a proper honeymoon. River, Pike, bugger off. We’d like to talk to our bride.”
Their faces were priceless. Each dutifully hugged her and shook her men’s hands before turning away, bickering the moment they took a step.
“What are they arguing about?” Raine asked.
“Not what, who,” Liam drawled. “And it’s going to be a battle, but bloody fun to watch.”
Raine was learning—fast—not to discount her Irishman when he had a feeling about something. Even though his mother was a continent away, he continued to tap into whatever gift she’d passed down to him with some really interesting results.
Hammer laughed as he watched River and Pike make their way across the dungeon, toward the bar. “After the shit your brother gave us, that would be poetic justice.”
“But once the children came, they’d be dumb and dumber. I don’t know which one is more clueless about babies,” she drawled.
That had Macen and Liam laughing even harder.
“‘It’s a baby-sized baby,’” Hammer chortled. “That was so damn funny.”
“Not when I thought Gwyneth had really brought me a son. But now? Fucking hysterical.”
Raine had heard this story and she just shook her head. “Maybe I should make that dumber and dumbest.”
“Undoubtedly.” Liam shook his head. “And you want to know where we’re taking you for a honeymoon, don’t you, love?”
She grinned. “Now that you mention it, I do. But what about the girls? Are we bringing them?”
“Nope.” Hammer shook his head and withdrew some plane tickets from his coat. “We’re whisking you to where you say you’ve always wanted to go: Paris. And after this trip, you’ll need a new safeword.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth as a thousand feelings all barraged her—shock, thrill, gratitude. Love. “Really?”
“We leave tomorrow.”
“But who will stay with the twins? I’m breastfeeding and—”
“Shh.” Liam pressed a finger to her lips. “My sisters are staying. And, of course, Vivian can’t wait to sit with the girls for a spell. The rest we’ll work out. We’ll only go for a few days this time, but we deserve a wee break to enjoy one another after everything we’ve done to reach this point.”
Raine couldn’t argue with his logic, so she didn’t try. She would miss her daughters terribly. Her men would, too. But they had to remember to invest time in their relationship to keep it healthy and flourishing. And what better time to start than their honeymoon?
“I’m excited!” She clapped.
“Next time we’ll take a family trip and visit Ireland. But for now… My sisters have packed for you. Don’t expect many clothes in your suitcase, love,” Liam drawled.
“That suits me, precious.” Hammer’s eyes darkened.
Yeah, that suited her, too. She laughed, so happy she thought she might burst. “Darn…”
Just one thing would make her happier.
She looked at Liam in question. He gave her an indulgent smile and a nod.
With an excited little hop, Raine bounced over to him and peppered kisses all over his face.
“What the hell?” Hammer groused. “Where’s mine?”
When she turned to him, she wore a grin so bright it almost hurt her cheeks. “Right here.” She kissed him softly before she took his hand and led it to her belly. “And right here.”
Macen didn’t say anything for a long moment, just sent her a puzzled frown. “I don’t…”
Raine bit her lip and looked at Liam. His expression told her to be patient, that all would be well.
Suddenly, Hammer’s hazel eyes went wide. He jerked his stare from her abdomen back up to her face. “You’re pregnant again?”
“Yeah. I wanted to give you a child, too. It’s the only thing I can give you that you can’t give yourself. Liam and I have been talking about it for a few weeks and started cooking up an idea…”