Silent Night (Bad Boy Rockers 5.50)

“At first I thought they were bullshitting us, you know? But when the doc didn’t see the humor in it, we realized we really are having twins. It’s scary as fuck but I’m trying to be positive for Mara’s sake.” He rubs at his brow. “She keeps panicking at the thought of having to give birth to two babies, and wondering how she’s going to manage to look after two. I keep pointing out that she isn’t alone, and doesn’t just have me.”

“I’ve never known you to fail at anything,” I encourage. “You won’t fail now. You have this.”

“It’s just the shock. We went into the room to see one baby and saw two.” He grins. “We called around to the house to break the news to her mom. Her mom cried laughing and only managed to get herself under control when she saw Mara on the brink of tears.” He shrugs. “Apparently Mara wasn’t the easiest of babies, which is why Cindy has told us she’ll help, and that we only need to ask.”

“You’re not alone, Donovan, and we’re always here for you guys.”

“I appreciate that.” Donovan turns and smiles at Mara who looks to be glowing from her seat with Thalia and Callie. “What’s up with Reece? He hasn’t taken his eyes off the guy behind the bar.”

Moving toward the table with the girls, I whisper, “Robin starts working here tomorrow and he isn’t impressed. Apparently he knows what the guy behind the bar is going to be thinking about when he sees Robin. He’s being over-protective.”

“Should be interesting to watch. Robin is just as hardheaded as Mara.” Donovan lifts his wife and sits her down on his lap, his hands resting on her stomach while he nuzzles into her neck.

I don’t comment because I have a feeling that Callie will soon have something to say to her husband if he ignores her for much longer, but I can help distract her for a bit. “I thought we were here to practice.”

“We need to decide what songs we’re going to use first. Can’t rehearse otherwise,” Donovan drawls.

I pull up a chair beside Thalia, and rest my palm on her thigh as she wraps herself around my arm. I kiss her on the forehead. “We need to sing Hero, Tonight, and Fallen from the Sky. Those will be expected as they were our more popular songs, and then Christmas songs. Some that the kids can join in on. The concert is in the afternoon, so we need to mix it up so that we sing something for everyone.”

“I’m down with that,” Donovan agrees.

All eyes turn to Reece, who probably hasn’t heard a word I said.

Callie smacks him in the chest and he turns to her only to see all our eyes on him. “I hope you heard at least some of what I said because I’m not repeating it.”

Reece sighs. “I heard you and I’m good with that.” He cups Callie’s head in his palms and slaps a kiss to her lips. “Sorry, babe.” He kisses her again and stands. “Let’s go and sing.” One last kiss and whispered words and he jumps up on to the stage. He places his hands on his hips and grins.

Shaking my head, I kiss Thalia and move my ass to join Reece with Donovan on my heels.

“I think”—Reece wraps his arms around our shoulders—“that we should start off with Amazing Grace.”

“Um, you sure?” I glance at Thalia and back to Reece. “Thalia will probably kick my ass for making her cry.”

“Yeah, Mara cries at the drop of a hat right now.”

“You pussies.” Reece shakes his head. “Callie cries, but she always says it’s the good tears because it’s so beautiful.” Donovan and I stay silent, so he adds, “Help a guy out here?”

I glance to Donovan and meet his gaze. At Donovan’s nod, I agree, “Okay, but you owe us.”

Reece grins. “Let’s do it.”

Thalia

The minute the men spread out on the stage and face us, I just know what they are about to do as Jack holds my gaze. I reach out and grasp Callie and Mara’s hands. I feel them look at me before they face their guys…and then the first words of Amazing Grace leave their mouths, and I cry.

It’s one of my favorite songs and just hearing Deception sing it into the silence of the room really tugs at my heartstrings.

Other than a special request from friends to sing at the odd wedding or funeral, they never sing like this in public, and I so wish that they would because their voices are strong, sexy, and fill the room.

During the last few lines of the song, I stand and move in front of the stage with Jack’s eyes on my every step. He sits on the edge of the stage and places his hands on my hips as he finishes the song.

Seconds later, silence descends on Kix and Jack reaches up to wipe the tears from my face with his thumbs. “I love you, honey.” He smiles and tugs me into his arms.

I sniffle into his neck. “You knew that would make me cry,” I accuse.

“When I sing without being accompanied by music you never take your eyes from me. It makes me feel invincible…and hot.”

“Mmm. I love watching you.”