Richard would pretend to hate the attention, but secretly, I knew he would love every single second of it. There were still times he had difficulty believing the life he lived now, compared to the life he’d led before we were married. The cold, aloof, angry man who cared about no one and nothing but himself was now only a distant memory. The loving husband, the protective, gentle father whom he had grown into, was like night and day compared to the old him. I knew there were moments he still questioned his right to enjoy such happiness, but he embraced it wholeheartedly.
I studied him as he slumbered. His jawline was still strong, his body fit. The lines around his eyes were from laughter, the creases that appeared by his mouth from smiles. The silver at his temples and woven through his dark hair only made him more appealing, adding an air of distinguishment to his features. His intense hazel eyes were still bright and intelligent, but these days held a gentleness and warmth he had lacked when I first met him. He carried himself well, and I still thought he was the sexiest man I had ever known. I loved him with all my heart, and our life was a good one. The thought of how empty my world would be without him made me tighten my fingers on his arm that rested on the seat between us.
He shifted, his eyes opening, meeting my gaze. “I feel you staring, my Katy. Ogling me while I sleep. Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll take you up front and we’ll join the mile-high club.”
I smothered my laughter. I leaned close and pressed my mouth to his.
“As if. Go fuck yourself, VanRyan,” I teased against his lips.
I felt his smile as he cupped my head, kissing me back. He loved my “signature expression,” as he called it. Unlike the first time I’d snarled it at him, it was now used without any rancor, instead thrown out when we teased back and forth.
“I would rather fuck you,” he murmured quietly into my ear.
“You did that already last night. Keep it in your pants until we’re alone at the house.” I smacked his chest and he laughed, capturing my hand, kissing it, and pressing it to his chest.
“Okay, my fierce little Katy. Whatever you say.”
The flight attendant stopped to offer us refreshments. I shook my head, but Richard asked for coffee and water, not even noticing the frank appraisal she gave him. Despite his past, he’d never given me a moment’s doubt our entire marriage. It was as if he only ever saw me, which was the same way I felt about him. He turned back to me, smiling. “We’ll see our girl soon.”
“Gracie or Heather?” I asked, knowing whom he was talking about.
“Kylie,” he insisted. “See what Jaxson has done to her now. Grandpa will have to correct it, I’m sure.”
“Jaxson is a wonderful father.”
He snorted. “Don’t tell him that. His head is big enough.”
I laughed. “Remind you of anyone?”
He winked, flipping down his tray as the coffee and water were delivered.
“Thank you,” he said politely.
“Anything else?” the attendant asked.
“No, this is great. The coffee is for me. The water is for my wife. I know she’ll be thirsty soon and not want to bother you.”
“Aren’t you the sweetest?” she asked.
He shrugged. “It’s my job to look after her.”
I smiled at him because he was right. I was a bit thirsty, and he knew. He always knew.
“You take the best care of me,” I agreed.
He grinned, boyish and handsome. The attendant almost melted, then she moved away no doubt to tell the other women what he had just said. They’d all be staring soon.
“Another admirer,” I muttered.
He picked up his coffee. “When you got it, you got it.”
I had to laugh.
The arrogance hadn’t changed much. He simply hid it better, and it was balanced with humility. He wore it well.
3
RICHARD
Maddox waited by the security door, a wide grin on his face when he saw us. I was greeted with our usual backslapping and a manly hug. Katy got a kiss on the cheek and a much longer hug.
When my son-in-law Jaxson appeared, I chuckled and accepted his handshake, looking around.
“No Gracie or Kylie?” I asked, surprised. “No bride-to-be? Where are my girls?”
He looked at Katy with a wink, bending low to press a kiss to her cheek. She cupped his face, smiling at him. “So handsome. Isn’t he handsome, Richard?”
I sniffed. “If you like that sort, I suppose.”
He elbowed me. “Gracie does. Gracie likes me a lot.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Twice last night.”
“Jesus, TMI, Jaxson. That’s my daughter.”
“Just working on more grandkids for you, Pops.”
I shook my head, ignoring Maddox’s laughter.
“The girls are at home. Kylie had a bit of a fever, so Gracie didn’t want to bring her.”
“Fever? Is she all right?”
“It’s a cold. Someone always has a cold in day care. She has the sniffles.”
I fell into step with him, Maddox and Katy in front of us. “Did you try Children’s Tylenol?”
“Yes, Richard. It helped, and she’ll be fine.”
Katy glanced over her shoulder. “Jaxson is perfectly capable of caring for our granddaughter.”
“I’m just checking.” I lowered my voice. “Cold compresses help with fever too.”
“Thanks, Richard.”
We waited for the limo to do its circle of the airport. A pair of women passed us, eyeing us up as they went by. “Wow,” one muttered. “A father-son combo. I’d do that. What a sandwich they’d make.”
“He’s not my son,” I responded, shocked. “I’m too young to be his father.”
Jaxson nudged me. “Come on, Dad. Stop denying it.”
“He’s married to my daughter! And I’m married,” I called out, insulted. “Happily married. We’re not available to be your sandwich!”
They burst into laughter, and I looked at Katy askance. She was laughing and so was Maddox.
“Rude,” I muttered. “Just rude. I’m not that old.” Then I grabbed Jaxson in a headlock. “And you’re an ass.”
He was laughing too, easily escaping my moves. “Chip off the old block. And at least my bread is fresher.”
And suddenly, I was laughing too.
It was good to be back in the Port Albany house and among people I considered family. The houses were grouped together on land BAM had purchased, planning to build a resort there. Except Aiden and Bentley couldn’t give it up, having fallen in love with the spot. Even Maddox, the confirmed urban dweller, wasn’t immune to its charms. They accumulated more real estate surrounding the first pieces they had purchased, then built their own complex. What started out as summer getaways turned into a bustling little community. They expanded their investment in the area, revitalizing it, and now ABC Corp ran several businesses around town and in the outlying areas. The winery, the hotel, rental properties—all managed by some of the BAM children, including two of my own. Both Gracie and Heather worked for ABC. A large number of family members lived in the private community. Others, like me, came and went as life dictated, but the place held a special part of my heart.