Once she’d finally believed I wanted only her, I hadn’t wanted to wait to get married, so our engagement had been very short. Since she’d already had a big wedding with Maxime, we had a small ceremony with our family and friends one afternoon by the lake. It was simple and beautiful. Her da had walked her down the aisle, and Brock and Brady had been my best men, while Ming and Cass shared maid of honor duties.
As we fini
shed up the final touches of the dishes we’d prepared in our fantastic kitchen, I pulled my beautiful wife in for a deep kiss.
“Mmmmm,” she murmured against my lips, nibbling lightly before pulling back to look up at me.
“That’s a promise of what’s to come later,” I said, running the tip of my finger along her nose, following the pattern of her freckles. “We’ve got a baby to make, after all.”
Bronagh flushed with pleasure, and I knew it was partly at the thought of getting pregnant, but mostly because she was thinking about all the things we would do to each other later.
My wife was a fucking sex addict, and I loved every second of it.
The doorbell rang, and our friends began to arrive. Everyone came out to celebrate Brady’s latest accomplishment, and I loved the fact that our home was filled with the laughter of children, love of family, and comfort of great friends.
I noticed Ming watching Brady, who was too busy watching Natalie to notice Bronagh’s best friend’s stare.
Natalie had finally left her loser husband, and was in the process of getting a divorce. She was back at Jake’s and getting on her feet, but still looked like a scared rabbit most of the time. I knew by looking at her that she’d bring out the protective side of my brother, but the way Ming was clocking his movements made me curious. I’d have to ask Bronagh about that later.
Later that evening, as I was sitting out on the porch, sharing a beer with my brother’s I turned to Brock and said, “Thanks.”
“For what?” he asked casually as he leaned back into the cushions, his long legs stretched out before him.
“For always being there. For making all of this possible for us.” I gestured around the yard, then waved my hand between Brady and I. “You’re the best role model a guy could have, and you supported us in all things, and kicked us in the ass when we needed it.”
Brock was silent, and I could tell my words had affected him and he was trying to maintain his composure.
“I feel like I owe who I am today, to you,” I admitted, getting choked up myself, but needing to tell my brother what he meant to me.
“That goes both ways, Bren,” Brock said when he was able to speak. “I’m so proud of you both.”
He clapped a hand on my knee, and another on Brady’s, then settled back in to finish his beer.
My brothers and I didn’t say anything else. We didn’t need to.
When it was time to say goodnight, I held Brock and Brady a little tighter than usual, then ushered them out the door.
I needed to grab my wife and make good on my promise.