Assured (Soul Serenade #2) (32 page)

Tristan pulls in behind us. The three of us are quiet as we enter the house, following voices to the living room. Kace and Logan are on the small loveseat, their hands clasped around her growing belly. Gavin sits in the chair, Tristan taking the other while I lead Stacy to the couch. I pull her onto my lap, needing her close for this conversation. She grounds me.

“Well,” Tristan asks.

Gavin smirks. “He signed them. We’re free from our contract with Stone Records. He agreed to all our terms.”

I take what feels like my first breath in weeks.

“He was wasted, higher than a kite. We also got his recorded confession from that night. You won’t have to testify,” Kacen tells Stacy.

“Wh-what? How?” she stammers.

I rub circles on her back, though I’m not sure if it’s to soothe her or me.

Logan smiles, tears in her eyes at the news.

“I called Detective Morris, wanted to keep her in the loop with what was going on. They wired us.” Gavin points to his chest. “It’s official, so it will hold up in court. He even went a little further and divulged what his plans were had he not been interrupted.”

I clench my fists.

“That’s why I didn’t want you there, man. Even without that, you wouldn’t have been able to hold your temper. Having Tristan stay back was a decoy of sorts. Couldn’t have you thinking you were the only one.” Kacen smirks.

Stacy hops off my lap and rushes to Kacen. Leaning down, she hugs him then she and Logan share a crying hug as well. She stands and heads toward Gavin, who rises to greet her as she hugs him tight. For good measure, my girl also leans down and gives my man Tristan some love as well. Then she comes right back to me, where she belongs.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” she cries into her hands.

“You’re family, Stacy. Remember that,” Gavin explains.

“Good news all around today,” I remark.

“What did I miss?” Tristan asks.

The others are looking at me with the same question in their eyes. “We”—I give her leg a gentle squeeze—“bought a house.”

“No shit. Congratulations!” Tristan says.

“That’s big-time, C,” Gavin adds. “Where is this casa al la Hampton?”

I look at Kacen. “Right down the street the house with the brick entrance gates.”

“I love that house,” Logan chimes in.

Kacen nods; this isn’t news to him. “Congrats, man.”

The guys and I start talking about the next phase. The board is holding a meeting Monday morning and the decision will be made to sell the label. Gavin has already turned in our offer in writing. We discuss options and how we want to process, even the name—we refuse to leave it as Stone Records. Stacy and Logan are laughing and smiling in their own conversation.

Can it ever get any better than this?

It’s hard to believe that we’ve lived in this house a month today. Between Wilson’s sentencing, buying all the furniture we need to fill this place, and the guys buying out Stone Records, this month has been hectic. Not to mention that baby Warren arrived two weeks ago. He’s so precious. Andrew Michael Warren stole my heart the minute I met him. They decided on Andrew, with Andrews being Logan’s maiden name. It’s fitting with all the name play those two have done in their relationship.

I’ve spent a lot of time over there, watching him while they nap. It’s not exactly a hardship to hold that little guy. Logan says I spoil him, but that’s my job as Aunt Stacy.

Today, we’re having a house warming of sorts. We’re finally settled not only in the house, but in our lives. Wilson is behind bars. Turns out, his confession wasn’t just about what he did to me or planned to do; he also confessed to laundering money and a slew of other criminal offenses. He won’t be seeing freedom for years to come.

The guys finally decided on a name—Soul Records. They wanted to incorporate who they are into this label. Having put their heart and souls into music, I thought it was fitting. Logan and I both tried to convince them to just call it Soul Serenade, but they shot it down. The compromise was Soul Records, and I have to admit I’m digging it.

“Your dad just called, they’re on the way,” Cole says as he comes in from lighting the grill.

“Why didn’t he call me?”

He smirks.

Dad and Cole hit it off immediately; apparently, they now have a budding bro-mance. I act like it’s weird, but in all honesty it’s comforting to know they get along so well. They are the two most important men in my life. Mom loves him too; he pulled out all the Hampton charm and she was immediately under his spell. Again, can’t blame her.

My phone rings, and I quickly dry my hands from washing the fresh vegetables.

“Hey, Chloe,” I say in greeting.

Cole shakes his head. He’s not the only one who’s formed relationships with family. Chloe and I hit it off right away, and of course Miss Mia and I are tight as well.

“No, I think we’re good. Just make sure you bring your swimsuits,” I remind her. “Great, see you soon.” I end the call.

Cole startles me when his hands land on my hips. He picks me up and sets me on the counter, and I immediately wrap my legs around him.

“I love you. I love this. These moments.” He kisses me softly.

“Hey now, enough of that,” Tristan says, joining us.

“Why did you insist on giving them the code?” Cole asks.

I laugh. “They’re family.” I throw his words from weeks ago back at him.

“Yeah, we’re family,” Gavin goads him as he leans in and kisses my cheek.

“Hands off my woman.” Cole elbows him out of the way.

“Baby, sit down, I got it.”

“EEEP!” I jump off the counter and push Cole to the side. He chuckles, knowing exactly where I’m headed. Baby Drew is my weakness. “Aunt Stacy needs her fix,” I say, holding my arms out as Kacen pulls Drew from his seat. He immediately hands him over, but not before kissing his little head. Kacen is such a softie for his son.

I settle on the couch beside Logan as we coo over the little man. “You need any help?” Logan asks.

“Nope, we got it under control. You just sit back and relax.”

Cole joins us and squeezes in beside me on the couch. “Your husband is checking out my industrial icemaker. He wants one,” he tells Logan.

“Yes, he told me about that. I want to see it.” She stands. “You okay with him for a minute?”

I look over my shoulder at Cole. “He’s big and scary, but I can handle him,” I joke.

She laughs. “Good to know, but I meant Drew.”

“I got this.” I wave her on.

Cole leans in and kisses my neck. “He’s pretty cute,” he comments.

“Yeah,” I say, watching him sleep.

“You want one?” he asks.

Holy shit.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I told you that before this even started.” I know I sound defensive, but letting me fall in love with him and then telling me he doesn’t want kids is a dick move.

“Hey,” he says soothingly. His hands stroke gently up and down my arms. “I wasn’t saying I didn’t. I was going to suggest throwing away your birth control pills. We’ve already stopped using condoms,” he says matter-of-factly.

I stop breathing.

He wants kids.

With me.

Now.

Am I dreaming?

“Is that what you want?” I manage to ask.

“Yeah,” he replies, his voice soft.

“Now, we’re not married or even engaged. It hasn’t even been a year.”

“It was a year ago today that I first laid eyes on you in the club.”

“You remember that?”

“I do. Every moment, every word, every kiss, every touch with you is engrained in my memory. I knew the minute I laid eyes on you that you were different. I didn’t know at the time that you were going to rock my world.”

“You’re the rock star,” I say stupidly. He’s kind of thrown me for a loop here.

He chuckles. “That I am. I’m also the man who is madly in love with you.”

“You need one of those,” my dad says as he and Mom join us in the living room.

Oh. My. God.

“That’s exactly what I was just telling her,” Cole agrees.

I elbow him, which causes him to laugh. He kisses my shoulder then stands to shake Dad’s hand. They leave to find the other guys. Mom is still laughing at what I can only assume is my horrified expression at my father and Cole discussing me being pregnant.

“Drew, what are we going to do with these crazies?” I ask the sleeping baby.

“Unca Cowe!” Mia screams as she walks through the door.

“In the kitchen,” Cole yells.

I hear the pitter-patter of her little feet and she runs toward his voice. “We habing a pwty,” she says as she launches herself at Cole. Luckily, he was hunched down and ready for her.

“We are, are you hungry?” Cole asks.

“Yep. What’s that?” She points to the potato salad I’m making.

“Aunt Stacy is making potato salad,” he tells her.

I stop immediately and just look at him. It’s the first time he’s ever referred to me as “Aunt” to Mia.

“What?” he asks when he sees me staring at him.

“You called her Aunt Stacy,” Chloe happily explains, wearing a huge-ass grin.

Cole shrugs. “Just missing a piece of paper, no point in denying it.”

Holy shit. Is this my life? Have I really landed in this fairy tale with this band and this man, the love of my life? My sweet Cole?

“Aunt Stacy, is that stuff good?” Mia asks. She’s oblivious to the emotions that are coursing through me.

“Yes, sweetheart, do you want to try it?” I ask, my voice cracking. I need to get it together. This is my life now. I’m not dreaming. I never knew happiness would be this . . . amazing.

Mia shakes her head at a rapid pace, making us all laugh. Grabbing a fork from the drawer, I gather a small bite and offer it to her.

Mia opens her mouth and takes the bite I offer. “Yummy!” She licks her lips. “She yo wife?” she asks Cole.

A smile like no other lights up his face. “She will be, Princess Mia. She will be.” He gives me a wink, kisses her on the cheek and then sets her down.

“I go see the baby,” she announces and the pitter-patter of her little feet trail off as she enters the living room.

In one long stride, Cole is next to me. His index finger lifts my chin so he can see my eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“All right, love birds, when can we eat? I’m starving,” Tristan asks.

“Here,” I laugh at him, “make yourself useful and carry this out to the deck. I’m right behind you. Once Gavin says the meat is done, we are good to go.”

Tristan takes the two bowls and heads out the door. “You, G. . . .” His voice trails off as the door closes behind him.

“I’ll go gather the rest of the troops.” Cole smacks my ass and strolls out of the kitchen.