Hard to Handle (Love in the Balance 2)

Aiden had come with her to her mother’s Christmas Eve dinner last night. It was the first time he’d met her mother and stepfather, her sister, and Trey. Sadie was a nervous wreck, despite having mended things with Celeste last month.

Celeste’s pregnancy had been a rough one, and that had brought out Sadie’s kind side. She saw Celeste several times a week, either to bring her food or magazines, or just to sit and talk to her about things they should have resolved long ago.

Yes, she and Celeste were a-okay…it was Aiden she’d worried about around Trey. She shouldn’t have worried. Aiden had glided into her mother’s house and greeted her family like he’d known them for years.

When he met Trey, he pulled Sadie flush against his side and rubbed her arm as he talked to her ex, simultaneously calming her and letting Trey know unequivocally that Sadie was his. Not that Aiden needed to claim her, but she’d appreciated his protection—so much she pulled him into a back bedroom after dessert and made out with him for several minutes.

“I’ve never been this happy,” Sadie told Crickitt, belatedly responding to her statement. Aiden meandered into the living room from the direction of the kitchen and suddenly Sadie was even happier. Crickitt excused herself as Aiden ambled his way over to Sadie and stopped in front of her.

His hair was getting longer, just brushing his jaw. A piece fell over his cheek and he moved it aside. “Hello, beautiful.” He embraced her, resting his hands on her hips the way he always had. They fit there like she was made for him. She’d begun to believe maybe she was.

“Hi.” She held her mug out of the way. Aiden took it from her hands, setting it aside. “I love you,” she told him.

There went his dimple. “I love you.”

She beamed, no doubt lit up like the decked out Christmas tree standing behind him. She couldn’t get enough of Aiden. Couldn’t get sick of him no matter how hard she tried. Once she’d flipped the switch and allowed herself to love him, it had become impossible to flip it the other direction. She was his, through and through. There was no going back.

She never wanted to.

“One week,” Aiden whispered in her ear before pressing a kiss to her neck. “And then you’ll be mine. We can finally have sex legally.”

Sadie laughed at his joke. Their wedding wasn’t going to rival the royals, but it wasn’t going to be at the courthouse, either. They’d settled on something in between, something that suited both of them. A small church Aiden and his family used to attend would perform the ceremony, with the reception being held at Shane and Crickitt’s house in Osborn.

Sadie couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Aiden Downey.

She stroked the scruff quickly turning into beard on his face. How did he look mouthwatering clean-shaven or hairy? Long ponytail, or short hair? Oh, right, she realized as he grinned down at her. The dimple. She stroked her hands down his arms. The biceps weren’t hurting matters, either.

“I’m ready,” she breathed, trailing her hands up his body and linking her fingers around his neck. The ends of his hair tickled her wrists.

“And then,” he snuggled her closer and whispered, “babies.”

Sadie’s breath caught.

Aiden’s fixed smile remained in place. “You’re freaking out,” he observed.

“No, I’m not.” Yes, she was.

“Yes, you are.”

She bit her lip. “A little.”

“Why don’t we start with one baby, and then work our way into multiples?” Aiden stroked her back as he held her, his face growing serious. “You are going to be an amazing mother, Sadie.” Then he kissed her, and she melted into him, pretty sure he could talk her into absolutely anything.

“Come on, you guys.” Shane’s exasperated voice lifted through the living room.

Aiden’s lips left hers. “Go away,” he told Shane, not taking his eyes off Sadie’s.

“Gift exchange time.”

Sadie pulled her hands away from Aiden’s neck and clapped. “Oh! I have the best gift! You’ll want to end up with mine,” she assured Aiden.

“No, you want mine,” Shane told Aiden. “It’s an island,” he deadpanned.

“Yuppie.”

“Hippie.” Shane drained his scotch glass and grimaced. “Come on, Aid, your dad’s making me drink this, and you should have to, too.”

“Right behind you,” Aiden told him.

Shane wandered into the den, calling, “Yeah, yeah,” over his shoulder.