Edge (Gentry Boys #7) (23 page)

There was a rustling sound and Conway appeared, dragging our king sized mattress. 

“What are you doing?”

He dropped it in the middle of the living room floor and flopped on top of it.  “Come here.” 

I knelt primly beside him.  “I didn’t realize you were serious about christening the living room floor today.” 

He stretched out and released a deep groan.  “God, this feels good.” 

“I haven’t even touched you yet.” 

“You will,” he said cheerfully and patted the space right next to him.  “Now lay down with me.” 

Whenever I got next to him everything in my body knew it.  This time was no different.  I snuggled close to him expectantly but he just took my hand. 

“What does this remind you of?” he asked, staring at the ceiling.  

I stared too.  “It reminds me that popcorn ceilings went out of style for a reason.” 

He nudged me.  “Smartass.  I meant the beach.” 

I smiled, closed my eyes and was transported to a place of salt spray and cool breezes, to a nervously intoxicating feeling that I was in the company of a man who might change everything. 

“The beach,” I sighed.  I opened my eyes and stared at taupe walls.  “Although I will say that the view was considerably better that day.”

He sat up and studied me.  “Actually, the view is incomparable from where I sit.”

I touched his face.  “Conway Gentry, sometimes you are so charming I’m afraid it ought to be illegal.” 

He played with the top button of my loose maternity shirt.  “Only sometimes?” he asked casually as he undid that button, and then another.

“Most of the time,” I amended, starting to fidget as my pulse rose while Conway calmly continued opening my shirt. 

“Like right now?” he whispered as he reached the last button and opened the two halves of my shirt. 

“Yes,” I answered and began stroking his hair as he rested his head on my chest.  I kissed the top of his head and felt his exhale of contentment.  “But I can think of a place I love even more than the beach.”

He raised his head and looked at me quizzically.  “Oh yeah?  Tell me. I’ll take you there.” 

I touched his lips and stared into his eyes.  “Don’t you know?  You already have.”   

CONWAY

Stone and Evie were halfway to Vegas for their honeymoon before Evie panicked, remembering she hadn’t made arrangements for anyone to take care of her pet guinea pig while they were gone. 

“Don’t worry,” I told Stone over the phone, keeping my voice low so I wouldn’t wake up Roslyn.  “We’ll take care of it. And don’t worry about the garage either.  We’re still on schedule to open in three weeks. You guys just go take Vegas by storm and we’ll see you next Wednesday.”

I’d been cleaning up the kitchen when the phone rang and I cursed myself for failing to mute it.  Roslyn was still tired from Evie and Stone’s wedding yesterday so when I suggested that she go take a nap she’d nodded and shuffled off to bed. 

When I checked on her a little while ago she was sound asleep on her back, propped up by every pillow in sight, her right arm draped across the swollen belly that held our growing son.  Maybe she felt my eyes on her in her sleep because she stirred slightly. I backed up and closed the bedroom door.  As I stood there on the other side of the door I was hit by a sharp, surreal sense.  It left as quickly as it came and when I looked up and down the hallway I found everything as it should be.

I never wanted to forget how lucky I was to wander into a party seven months ago as a damaged and reckless soul and find someone who would lead me right here.  After all, things could have ended far differently. 

On the other hand, I guess you could say that about every story. 

I remembered the tale about the doomed lovers, the tragic trip to the underworld.  I used to think it was just a sad story with some strange details but now I understood.  It was meant to be a cautionary tale, a warning.  Grief will consume you if you let it.  Chasing death can ruin you, turn you into a stricken nomad searching in vain for the edge of a world you aren’t meant to inhabit. 

But if you stop chasing death, if you stop losing yourself in grief, then maybe you can learn to live again.  Maybe you can learn to love again. 

Roslyn shuffled into the kitchen, yawning and then placing a hand on her lower back for support.  I held my arm out and she came right to me, settling against my side like we were two puzzle pieces carved with the sole intention of fitting together.  The only secrets between us now were the ones we kept together. 

No one else knew that we’d gone down to the county courthouse last week to be married.  We hadn’t wanted to steal any attention away from Evie and Stone’s big day plus Roslyn wasn’t up to planning a wedding celebration at the moment.  I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about a plain courthouse ceremony but she was delighted.  No fanfare, no stress, just us.  We stood there before the Justice of the Peace and two random witnesses and said our vows. 

Some other time we’d go through the big show with the cake and the guests.  For now all that mattered were the promises we’d made to each other.  

“You have a nice nap?” I asked and kissed her cheek. 

She nodded and yawned again.  “Were you talking to someone?”

“Just Stone.  We’re on guinea pig duty until he and Evie get back from their honeymoon.” 

“How does one take care of a guinea pig?”

“I’m not sure.” 

She giggled. 

“Hey,” I said, “I also told Cord and Saylor I’d stop by and pick up the baby stuff they keep trying to give us.” 

“Oh, nice. Can I come?”

“Thought you’d be all Gentry’d by now between the rehearsal, the wedding, the reception.” 

“Nope.”  She shook her head. “I’ll never be Gentry’d out.”

We stopped at Evie and Stone’s place first since it was just around the block.  Stone had neglected to give me a key but I still had some useful talents born out of my years of criminal associations.  Roslyn watched in fascination as I picked the backdoor lock in ten seconds flat. 

“I’m not sure what this says about me, but watching you commit breaking and entering is a hell of a turn on.” 

I raised my head and leered at her.  “I’ll let you watch me break into our house later if you want.” 

She seemed like that idea.  “Can you arrange to be shirtless and sweaty at the time?”

I shoved the door open and held it for her.  “Anything to please you.” 

Roslyn immediately started fussing over Teddy, the guinea pig. 

“So cute,” she purred, cuddling his furry body to her cheek and then carrying him around like an infant. 

Luckily I found a bag of pet food in the pantry.  I filled up the food and water bowls while Roslyn cooed and petted the stupid guinea pig. 

“I want one of these,” she said. 

“It’s a long-haired rat.  Can’t really say I understand the appeal.” 

She gently placed the thing back in its pen and dangled a squeak toy in front of it.  “Maybe I’m just experiencing some kind of nesting instinct.” 

“Well, the good news is in two more months you’ll have something much bigger and louder to take care of.” 

She turned to me with her hands on her hips.  “We still need to think of a name you know.  Every time I make a suggestion you veto it.”

“Oh.  Well how about Veto then?”

Roslyn grimaced.  “Veto Gentry?”

“Sure.  It sounds like he’s already a man to be reckoned with.” 

She was disgusted.  “Forget it.  We are going through the name books again when we get home.” 

When we pulled up to Cord and Saylor’s place it sounded like recess at an elementary school. 

“Welcome to the madhouse,” Cord greeted us as he flung open the door. 

He wore a crooked paper crown and about thirty beaded necklaces.  When I stepped inside I saw their house was teeming with small people.  Apparently we’d walked right into a Gentry cousin sleepover.  There were Cord’s three girls, Chase’s three boys, Deck’s little girl and Creed’s son and daughter. 

Saylor was trying to keep the youngest ones corralled in the kitchen with some homemade play dough.  She emerged with Chase’s youngest boy on her hip and flour all over her shirt.  Meanwhile, Cord’s oldest daughters were scolding their cousins for failing to play hide and seek appropriately and Chase’s middle son was running in and out of the house with a dishtowels flapping in each arm as he shouted “WOOWOOWOO!!”

“Madhouse is an apt description,” I said to Cord as I eyed all the chaos. 

“Yeah,” he said wryly, “I might have bitten off more than I can chew.” 

When Roslyn sat on the couch she was immediately joined by Deck’s daughter on one side and Creed’s daughter on the other.  She opened a storybook and began reading to them as they listened in fascination. 

Cord poked me in the arm.  “Let’s go out back.” 

Despite the exuberant presence of Angus The Dog, who’d managed to grow into quite a huge, slobbering beast these past months, the backyard was quiet.  That quiet lasted about eight whole seconds before most of the kids decided to follow us out there. 

The twins, Cami and Cassie, whispered to each other and retreated to a shady corner of the yard to discuss whatever secret things ten year old girls needed to discuss. 

Chase’s two oldest sons ran all over the place like blonde hellions, swinging palm tree fronds and bellowing madly.  When I looked at them I saw Stone and me.

Cord’s youngest daughter, Cadence, emerged quietly, followed by Creed’s son, Jacob.  They brought Cord a book on paper airplanes and asked for his help in assembling them. 

“Hey you!” yelled one of Chase’s boys as he pointed to me. 

I looked around.  “You mean me?”

“Yeah you!  Wanna play catch with us?”

“Maybe.” 

The kid, Derek, scratched his head.  “Is that a yes or a no?”

“Depends.” 

“On what?”

“On whether you call me by name and stick the word ‘please’ in there.” 

Derek grinned.  “Okay,
Uncle Conway
.  Please will you come play catch with us?”

“Please, Uncle Conway?” the other boy, Kellan, begged as he hopped up and down. 

“Uncle Conway,” I murmured, shaking my head.  “Still getting used to that.” 

Cord looked up from his paper airplane folding.  “Has a nice ring to it.” 

“Yeah it does.” 

“Almost as nice as ‘Daddy’.  You’ll have to get used to that too.” 

“I know.  Already can’t wait.”

I jogged over to where the boys waited.  They’d found an old tennis ball that looked like it had been tortured by Angus The Dog at some point.  

“Heads up,” warned Derek and fired it right at me. 

My nephews didn’t tire easily, that’s for sure.  We tossed the ball back and forth for a solid half hour.  When their little brother came running out to play they groaned but then willingly included him in our game. 

The boys didn’t seem that put out when I backed away and told them to keep going without me.  Roslyn had come outside and I wondered how long she’d been standing there, watching me with that gentle smile.  I went right to her side, slipped one arm around her shoulders and rested my hand on her stomach.  The occupant within responded with a hearty kick.  

“They’re so wonderful,” she said in a voice of awe as she observed all the children. 

“They sure are,” I agreed, feeling pride that I had the privilege of being included in their world.   

Roslyn sighed and rested her head against my shoulder as I absently began massaging her neck. 

I kissed her and we watched the kids play. I wondered if she was thinking what I was thinking, that we were seeing the future unfold right before our very eyes. 

THE END

AUTHOR’S NOTE

To every single one of you I owe an enormous debt of gratitude for sticking with me and the Gentry Boys all this time. The journey has been amazing.

And though sometimes even the most epic journeys need to end…

This is not one of those times. 

For just as our own families grow, evolve and eventually pass the proverbial torch to the next generation, so will theirs. 

GENTRY GENERATIONS

The continuing story of the Gentry family
. 

Coming in 2017 

COMING SOON….

HICKEY (A Stand Alone Second Chance Romance)

By Cora Brent

A long time ago, in a small town I’ve tried to forget…

I married the charismatic all-American king of high school.

He was sexy and charming.

I was shy and lust-struck.

We were both eighteen.

Of course we did not live happily ever after.

We did the opposite.

You thought that was the end?

So did I.

Add to your Goodreads TBR: 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28175799-hickey?from_search=true