Framed (35 page)
Authors: C.P. Smith
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Romantic Suspense, #War, #Military, #Suspense
“Kade.”
“Babe, it’s not conceited if it’s true. He takes after his old man,” he answered with a devilish grin.
“Arrogant and bossy,” I grumbled, staring at the most perfect little boy in the world.
Kade looked down at his son with pride and then leaned in, kissed my forehead, and whispered, “I love you,” as he took his son’s hand, and five tiny fingers wrapped around his own.
“What should we name him?” I asked around a knot in my throat.
“Kody,” Kade answered immediately, “After my grandfather.”
“Kody Kingston. It’s perfect, Kade.” I whispered. Pops had to be smiling down on us all.
Kody cried out when the nurse took him from me so she could weigh and measure him. He weighed in at a whopping nine and a half pounds, proving he was indeed his father’s son. His cries were as loud and angry as Kade’s were, but not as loud as my father’s when he arrived and insisted he be admitted to my room.
“Daddy,” I exploded with glee when he marched in holding a teddy bear. He heard Kody crying and walked over to the bassinet to watch the nurse wrap him in a blanket.
“It’s a boy, Dad. We named him Kody after Pops.”
Dad smiled at his new grandson and immediately announced, “Third generation Navy man right here. You’ll be a SEAL just like your dad.”
Kade puffed out his chest, looking prouder than he already had.
Great, between my father and my husband, Kody’s life had already been mapped out.
The door burst open moments after Dad had arrived and Bette marched in holding Madison. “Just got off the phone with The Brute Squad. They send their congratulations and they’ll see you in a month.”
Prez and D spent every moment of downtime they could with us. Their bond with Kade was stronger than ever and they adored Madison, especially Mickey. In fact, I had a feeling when she was old enough to date, it would be Mickey D who would carry the bat to scare off the boys, such was their connection.
Bette stopped traveling finally and settled in Pensacola to be closer to her Goddaughter. She opened a tattoo parlor and hired three artists. She’s been written up in the paper twice, boosting her notoriety, and now had clients flying in to be inked exclusively by her. She finally talked me into getting my first tattoo, though she was disappointed it wasn’t his face on my boob. After all the years Kade and I had wished for what we had today, the only thing I wanted inked on my body was his name. Right on my ass where only he could see it. It was a branding that I was his and he loved it. So, yeah, I got him to kiss my ass daily. Well, when he was home and not working a case for SA Chapel.
Kade entered the police academy and, as always, excelled. He studied hard, got his BS in criminal justice, and worked his way up to detective in record time.
Chapel won the interim election, becoming the permanent SA for Pensacola and put together a task force to investigate all cases tried by former SA Greystone. He was swimming in lawsuits as evidence was thrown out and convictions were overturned due to Greystone’s corruption. In a nutshell, it was a legal nightmare for Chapel; one he was still sorting out five years later, so when Kade made Detective this year, he had him moved to his task force. Now Kade investigated for the SA’s office and made sure that those who were convicted of a crime by Greystone were actually guilty.
“I don’t want a brother, I wanted a sister,” Madison pouted.
“Princess, when you’re older, he’ll take care of you and make sure no one ever hurts you. That’s what brothers do,” Kyle stated when he walked into the room.
“Uncle Kyle, I don’t need a man to take care of me. I plan to be a tattoo artist like Aunt Bette and have lots of boyfriends.”
Kade and I both turned and looked at Bette.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Madison,” I said without taking my eyes off Bette, “You can be whatever you want when you grow up, but trust me when I say, you’ll like having
one
big strong man in your life just like Daddy.”
“No way,” she grumbled. “Daddy’s too bossy.”
Kade’s eyes shot to me and he glared.
Crap, me and my big mouth.
“No, baby, you’re wrong,” I replied as I took in my husband. He was kind, he was brave, and, next to my father, the best man I’d ever met. He was the love of my life, the other half of my soul, and I thanked God every day he came into my life. “Daddy’s not bossy, baby. He’s just about perfect.”
Meet Blaine West
A reclusive author...
Delia Sinclair is desperate to hit a looming deadline. With only two weeks to go before her manuscript is due, she heads to a remote cabin in the Smoky Mountains with no internet or cell service.
An ex-military security specialist...
Blaine West is halfway around the world when he gets a frantic message from his childhood sweetheart. She needs to lay low for awhile so he puts her in touch with someone who can help her until he can get back to town.
A dead body...
When Blaine arrives at the hotel where they were supposed to meet, he learns the body of a local author was discovered that morning but there's no sign of his old flame.
And a case of mistaken identity...
Delia returns home completely unaware that the police believe she's been murdered. With Delia alive and his ex still missing, Blaine has the skills and connections to find out exactly what happened and keep Delia safe.
Lead to a passion that burns out of control.
Reason series
Standalone
CP Smith resides in Oklahoma with her husband, five children, and four dogs.
You can reach Ms. Smith at:
https://www.facebook.com/Author-CP-Smith-739842239363610/timeline/