Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family 7)

“You’re late for the peparations,” Elena adds.

“Preparations,” Blake and I say at the same time. “Come on, let’s all go out, then.”

Elena walks to Blake, holding her arms up. Blake lifts her without being asked to. I all but melt into a puddle when he kisses her temple. Not one to be left behind, Mia holds her arms up too. Blake easily scoops her up as well. Oh my, he looks utterly irresistible with a girl in each arm. Not only because his muscles bulge slightly from the effort, though that’s a valid point too, but because he looks delicious enough to lick and climb. But what makes him most irresistible is the tenderness in him as he listens and talks to the girls.

He’s still holding them as we stride down the corridor that leads to the living room. Pippa meets us halfway, looking flushed.

“Here you are. You scared ten years off my life. How many times did I tell you not to disappear on me, girls?”

“Sorry, Mommy,” Mia says.

“We went to get Uncle Blake and Miss Clara,” Elena adds. Blake lowers the girls, and they each take their mother’s hand. “They were kissing, like you and Daddy.” Elena puckers her lips, and Mia mirrors her action. Blake laughs, Pippa smiles triumphantly, and I feel my cheeks burning.

“They’re great matchmaking assistants,” I comment, not quite able to hide my own smile.

“Ah, not quite yet. They’re barely reporting,” Pippa says, l

owering herself on her haunches and kissing each of the girls’ foreheads. “But I have plenty of time to train them.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Clara

When we step into the living room minutes later, Summer, Nadine, Ava, and Mrs. Bennett are hard at work setting up the decorations. Lots to do, and I can’t wait to jump into it.

“Where are all the men?” I ask.

“Outside,” Mrs. Bennett answers. “In charge of the grill.”

“On that note,” Blake says, “I’m going to join them.”

He smiles at me right before he heads out, and my heart soars. Silly heart. It has no business butting into all of this.

“How can I help? How much time do we have?”

Summer gestures to me to come join her. She’s currently pumping up balloons. I sit on the floor next to her.

“We have two hours until the party starts officially,” Summer says. “Landon just texted me. They’ll arrive on time.”

Summer mentioned during the drive that some of their cousins, Landon included, would be here.

“Can you give me a rundown of how many sides there are to the clan? I tried to keep track of everyone named Bennett at Alice’s wedding, but it was impossible. Then there were all those people related to you who aren’t called Bennett.”

Summer nods. “Well, Dad was the oldest of a family of five. They each had many kids—that’s the Bennett part of the clan. Mom came from a family of four. Everyone had many kids. We have good genes. Shame not to pass them on.”

“My head spins. I need a family tree.”

“Most of the time, so do I, especially at weddings. But only Landon and his sister Valentina will be here today from the Connor clan. They’re cousins from Mom’s side. You probably met them at Alice’s wedding, but don’t worry if you don’t remember them. I think they’re bringing a friend too.”

Two hours later, my fingers are numb, and the room looks unrecognizable. We have covered every coffee table as well as the large table in the dining area with Avengers-themed plastic tablecloths. Balloons hang so tightly together from the ceiling, it looks like it’s made of balloons. There are also figurines tall enough to reach up to my waist scattered around the room, depicting characters from the superhero franchise.

When Landon, Valentina, and their friend arrive, everyone steps inside.

“I can’t believe this,” Blake says, appearing at my side. “Can a three-year-old actually appreciate all this?”

“Well, a three-year-old’s party is as much for the adults as for the kid, I’ll say. And I can appreciate all of this.”

“You’re a complicated creature.”