“Yes!” Lily says. “You can match me and Mommy.” She shows her nails off to her aunts. It feels so damn good to have a family that is always growing.
“You’re the birthday girl,” Juno says, taking one of the chairs.
“How are you going to do your hair, sweetie?” Lux asks Lily.
She taps her finger on her lips like she’s thinking.
“I’m going to run and check on a few things. You got this for a little?” I ask.
“Yep,” both Juno and Lux say.
“Mommy, tell Aurora and Summer to come out please,” she begs, wanting her girl cousins out here with her. They might be cousins, but they are also best friends.
When I walk inside, I give a round of hugs before sending the girls out back. The twins take the rest of the boys back to their room to hang out. I start making sure everything is in place. The party planner has done a wonderful job getting everything Lily asked for.
I smile as I look through the gift bags that have each girl's name on them. Lily put in a personalized hand-written note to each girl. I start back to the kitchen when the doorbell rings, and I open the front door. The party doesn’t start for another hour or so. I think they’re still setting up the tea in the garden.
“Hi,” I say to the man standing at the door. He looks a bit young.
I glance behind him to see if he’s got a kid with him. I only see a white truck. I thought I knew all the parents of the handful of girls coming over. I suppose he could be an older brother.
“Well, hello there.” A smile spreads across his face.
“Are you here for the party?” I ask when he doesn't say more.
“I can be.” He takes a step closer. “You have beautiful hair. Has anyone ever told you that?”
He reaches his hand out about to touch me. Before I can smack his hand away, Luca’s own hand wraps around the young man’s wrist. I swear he can pop out of anywhere if there is a man too close to me. It’s a bit freaky and adorable too.
“You don’t see the ring on her fucking finger?” He throws the man back with such force he stumbles backward. “You don’t reach out and touch a woman. Drop the extra chairs off your truck and get the fuck out of here.”
Luca doesn’t give him a chance to respond. He slams the door shut.
“Hi,” I chirp, giving him a giant smile. He narrows his eyes on me. That’s all it takes, and my body starts to heat. My Luca can be a very jealous man.
If you would have told me years ago that would be something I loved about a man, I would have laughed my ass off. It’s not that way with my husband. I shamelessly get off on it. Sometimes I might even lure his jealousy out.
“I can’t leave you alone for five minutes. You little ass is supposed to be out back getting pampered.”
“Are you saying I don’t look all done?” I take a step back.
“I didn’t say that,” he growls, grabbing me around the waist. “I’ll show you how fucking sexy I think you are.” I don't get a chance to respond. Luca goes full possessive caveman on me, which I knew was coming.
I let out a small scream as he throws me over his shoulder, carrying me up the stairs and into our bedroom. He tosses me down on the bed.
“If you want to wear that dress today, you better get it off or it’s going to be a cleaning rag.”
“You wouldn’t.” I sit up on my elbows, not giving a crap about the dress. I have a dozen others. I pretend to be annoyed and make no movement to take the dress off.
“I would.” He pounces. In one hard pull he’s ripping the dress easily. “By the time I’m done with you, you’ll need another spa appointment.”
“Promises, promises,” I say, knowing he loves a challenge.
“You know not to toy with me,” he warns, his breathing growing heavy. I love how after all these years and three kids we still can’t keep our hands off each other.
My Luca is relentless in the things he wants in life. I have no doubt he’ll live up to this one and all the others.
* * *
THE END!