Dance With The Devil (Devil's Riders 4)

I tiptoed out of the room and shut the door. The loft was huge, with new walls going up constantly. I loved the industrial look of it. We were even talking about expanding to the floor below us, with a big, dramatic staircase. It would need a massive baby gate of course, but it would be nice to have the kids and our bedroom on a ‘quiet floor’ away from the action. Jack owned the whole building so we could do whatever we wanted with the place .

I had to admit, it was a lot of fun .

He’d already built all kinds of things for me, never mind the kids. They had a playhouse in the corner that was built to look like a tree house, complete with trees and a study area underneath it .

Not that they were doing homework yet, but my husband liked to plan ahead. He was the most amazing father. He doted on our children, even the ones that were still inside me !

He’d already built me a dining room table for ten, a chaise lounge, a hand-carved rocking chair, and a custom walk-in closet that would make any girl alive green with envy .

As for me, I made him a lot of babies .

Not to say that was all I did. I kept busy with mom stuff. I was also working part-time as a physical therapist and giving ballet classes at the local dance school twice a week .

“They are not that bad .”

I poked his chest as he pulled me into his arms and gave me a long, slow, deep kiss. I sighed, melting against him. He really was as big and as hard as a redwood, but a lot more fun to climb .

“No, they aren’t. They do take after their feisty mother however .”

I gave him an indignant look .

“What does that mean, exactly ?”

“It means they are wonderful. And creative. And full of energy and mischief. And they keep me on my toes wondering what they will get into next .”

Well, he had a point. I smiled and let him kiss me again .

“Come upstairs .”

“To the roof ?”

He nodded, taking my hand .

“It’s beautiful out .”

“But the baby …”

“I already brought the baby monitor up .”

I sighed happily. He really was the best dad. Our youngest (or soon to be middle child) was still under two. I worried constantly .

I followed Jack up the interior stairwell to the roof deck. He’d built a small room up there to house the top of the stairs. It was also an amazing place to sit and read on rainy days .

I’d done most of my studying up there, sitting in the little nook on a pillow with a cup of tea. And the deck itself was now childproofed, with unclimbable walls that were way past what the kids could manage .

Heck, I wasn’t sure I could have tackled climbing over them myself. Like I said, my husband thought of everything. He always went the extra mile, and then some .

Especially when it came to keeping his family safe .

When I stepped outside, my eyes lit up .

He’d transformed the deck. Thousands of twinkling Christmas lights were everywhere. And in the center of the deck was a plaid wool blanket we used for picnics .

In fact, my special wicker picnic basket was also up there, along with a bottle of something fizzy looking and two champagne flutes .

“It’s non alchoholic sparkling apple cider .”

“You thought of everything !”

He kissed my hand and helped lower me to the pillows he’d thoughtfully put on the blanket. He knew that my butt bones hurt if I sat on anything hard for too long. It was a remnant from my days as a dancer .

I didn’t have a lot of extra cushioning down there. Though, I did have to say, I was getting a teeny bit more with each baby. Maybe if I had a couple more I’d end up with the hourglass shape I’d always dreamed of .

He opened the basket and I clapped my hands with glee. I saw potato chips in there. I snickered when I saw that they were the fancy organic brand, which was more my thing and not Jack’s at all. There were also pickled tomatoes, still in the jar. And what looked like chocolate coconut ice cream .

I loved dipping potato chips in ice cream .

He knew me so well. The compromise he’d found with organic junk food made me sigh dreamily. Jack wasn’t just the best dad .

He was the best husband .

Now, when I cooked for Jack and the kids, it was healthy stuff. I’d never been a big junk food person. But with this pregnancy, I was craving all kinds of weird stuff .

And my amazing husband had put it all together for me .