Surrender to Me (Boggy Creek Valley 4)

“Yeah. I know. I just hate that she’d dealt with this on her own for so long. She told me the other day she felt like she was alive again. That she could finally breathe. Every time I think about it, I want to kill that motherfucker.”

Aiden placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. “I know, dude. I know. Tell me how the wedding plans are coming.”

I smiled. That was clearly Aiden’s way of deflecting my anger into something he knew would make me happy.

“They’re good. We’re hoping for a late April or early May wedding.”

“I like that you guys are doing it in the gazebo.”

I took a drink of my beer. “Me too. It just feels like a dream sometimes, Aiden. I’d wanted Bella back in my life for so long and sometimes I have to pinch myself. I know it looks like we’re moving fast, but—”

“Dude, you don’t have to explain shit to me. You and Bella know how fast or slow you want to go. It’s not like you just met each other. You love her, she loves you, and you want to marry each other. Why wait?”

“Exactly,” I said, lifting my beer to tap his. The sound caused Ciara to jump a little, then let out a little sigh.

“This kid could sleep through a gun battle,” Aiden said, kissing the top of his daughter’s head. “How soon do you guys want to start a family?”

When I didn’t answer right away, I felt Aiden’s eyes on me. “Holy shit. Hunter?”

Turning, I looked at him and smiled.

“Bella’s pregnant?”

“She was supposed to start her period but hasn’t yet. Honestly, I’m not surprised. Every chance we get, we’re all over each other.”

Aiden grinned.

“We haven’t taken a test or anything. I’m not sure why. I think deep down, Bella’s a little scared.”

His grin turned to a frown. “Scared of what?”

I shrugged. “Maybe having what happened to Abby and Bishop happen to us? I think she’s just so happy that she’s waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under her. Like maybe deep down, she can’t believe we finally found our way back to each other.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Aiden said, “I’m not going to lie to you, I was a nervous wreck those first few months. Every time Willa made a face, I asked what was wrong. I think by the time she finally had the baby, Willa was ready to rip my balls off and shove them down my throat.”

I laughed. “We have an appointment in a couple of weeks.”

“Well, I don’t want to jump the gun, but I’m happy for you, Hunter.”

Our eyes met, and I felt tears prick the back of mine. “Thanks, Aiden. To be honest, deep inside, I never gave up hope…but there were times I wanted to. I wanted to forget and move on. I never could, though.”

“A love like that doesn’t fade away easily. Trust me, I know. I was in love with Willa for as long as I can remember.” He smiled and glanced at his baby before looking back up. “Now we just have to get Kyle settled.”

“And Adam.”

Aiden rolled his eyes. “He’s in Boston and married to his damn job.”

Laughing, I turned and saw Bella and Willa heading back in. Ben was in Bella’s arms, and I felt the strangest warmth spread across my chest as I watched her talking to him while they walked. Ben was bundled up in his winter coat, laughing at something Bella said.

“Wait until it’s your own child in her arms. It does something weird to you. Like a fire racing through your entire body while your heart feels like it’s about to combust in your chest.”

I rubbed at my heart and simply nodded.

My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket. “His ears must have been burning. It’s Kyle,” I said as I swiped across the phone. “Hey, what’s up?”

“He’s back from Europe.”

My heart felt like it paused in my chest. “When?”

“Last night. The PI said he got home around eleven, then went out to some night club and came home with a woman who left early this morning.”

As Aiden walked toward the front door to meet Bella, Willa, and Ben, I started for my new office upstairs.

Ever since I’d found out where Colby Wilkins lived, I’d had someone watching his every move. He’d left for a business trip to Europe almost two weeks ago, and I’d been waiting for him to return.

Shutting the door to my office, I heard Jack bark on the other side. He’d gone out with Bella and Willa, and must have come back inside when they did. I opened the door and let him in.

“I’m going up there,” I said to Kyle, trying to keep my voice calm. I sat behind the desk and swiveled my chair around, staring out the window at nothing.