I close my eyes, letting the tears that had been pooling tip over and run down my cheeks.

“God, Baby… Don’t cry.  There isn’t anything in our lives that warrants those tears.  As far as I can tell, we’re about one step from perfect.  Once Lillian and Lyndsie get here, there isn’t much of anything that could make our world any better.  That is, unless you want to give me more babies.”

I smile at his attempt at bringing the crazy hormones back down.  “Do you ever worry?  Things have been going so well that I’m almost afraid to believe that it’s finally time for us to have our happily ever after.”  He snorts, and I know that he’s thinking about all the books I always have my nose stuck in.  “Don’t you make fun of me, Greg Cage.”

His laughter quiets, and he looks down into my eyes.  “There isn’t a damn thing in this world that can keep us from our happily ever after,” he vows before kissing me sweetly.  “Sleep, Beauty.  Tomorrow’s going to be crazy enough, so you need to rest while you can.”

I cuddle as close as I can get, letting the sound of his heartbeats lull me to sleep.

Chapter 7 – Greg

Of course, the one day I promise Melissa that I won’t do anything work related, I get a call from Axel about an issue at the office.  A damn ‘issue’ is the last thing I want to deal with today, especially knowing that it more than likely has to do with Mrs. Hutchins, our newest and most aggravating client.

Mrs. Hutchins first came to us about a month ago, convinced that her older husband was sleeping with every female around.  She calls constantly.  She stops by the office daily.  There isn’t a damn thing we can say to convince the woman that her husband is very much faithful.  She doesn’t believe it.  I’m starting to get the impression that she is only comes around because she has her eyes on Asher.

During the first meeting we took with her, she all but offered to pay Axel and me to sleep with her.  Even if I weren’t the happiest damn married man around, there isn’t a check large enough that would convince me to sleep with her.  She has something evil scratching the surface, and I want that as far away from me as possible.

If only Asher could see things the same way.  I know that he hasn’t yet, but he’s thinking about it, and I know that if he sinks into that woman, she will leave him with something he can never wash off.

Shaking off the creepy-as-hell feeling Mrs. Hutchins always leaves me with, I jog up the stairs in search of my wife.  I can hear her and Cohen’s laughter coming out of our bedroom and head that way.

“Why do my angels have a party when they’re still in your belly?  They can’t open any presents when they’re in your belly.  Do you think we’ll get cake?  I love cake.  Will Dilbert be there?”

I smile, walk over to Melissa, and wrap my arms around to rest against her swollen belly as Cohen continues his random questioning.

He finally stops talking and jumps off the bed. Without even a word, he takes off running out the bedroom door.

Melissa and I both laugh at the tornado that is Cohen Cage.  Damn, I love that kid.

“Sometimes I wonder if he just talks because he likes the sound of his voice.  You know, almost every time he starts on his twenty questions, they end in him running off without even having one answer.”

I laugh because she isn’t wrong.  But Cohen is a boy full of energy, and if asking a million questions and fighting imaginary villains is what it takes, then hey, I can work with that.

Melissa turns with her smile beaming.  I thought I was being careful to mask my expression, but she must have noticed that my mood was off because her smile slips and she looks at me with wide, hopeful eyes.

“Beauty…” I start.

“Don’t you Beauty me, Greg.  You promised you would make it clear to Axel that you weren’t doing anything work related today.  It’s my baby shower, and while I know this isn’t something you have any interest in attending, it means something to me.  Everyone is excited. Cohen is through-the-roof excited.  And I was excited until I realized that you’re not going to be there.”

She takes a breath, but before she can continue, I interrupt her.  “Melissa, if it were any other client, I wouldn’t even think about it.  I need this woman taken care of before our girls get here. Axel can’t deal with her alone, Beck can’t deal with her at all, and Asher isn’t allowed to deal with her.  With Maddox gone, it’s only me.”  I lean my forehead against hers and take a deep breath. “She’s one of our highest-paying clients, Melissa, and even though we live a comfortable life, I can’t help my worries with our girls coming.  We’re going from a family of three to one of five overnight.”