Chapter One
“I’m just saying that it’s a shame to waste all that pretty on a bunch of ladies when you could stay home and use it all up on me.”
Maggie looked over to where her husband lounged on the couch, long legs propped up on the coffee table. Even after all the years he’d been hers, he still made her heart kick up every time she looked at him.
Kyle Chase worked with his body. His skin, even in early December, was kissed by the sun. His broad shoulders were muscled from all the landscaping work he did every day.
His hair was in dire need of a cut but she wasn’t complaining because it only made him hotter.
She caught his gaze in her reflection after she secured a curl back with a last pin. “I’ll still have some pretty left when I get home later. Plus, you have a bachelor party to go to.”
He got up and moved to her, that look on his face, and she really considered not going to Lily’s bachelorette party.
Hands on her hips, he turned her slowly and pulled her close, the heat of him surrounding her, his scent all around. “I think we have some ice cream left. You surely remember how much I like eating it.”
Yeah, off her belly. Or the small of her back. A flush worked through her, leaving her faint.
“I do love seeing you get all blurry-eyed over me.” He grinned and kissed her long and slow. “We can drop the kids off at my parents’ and then come back here instead of going out. I feel a little tickle in my throat.”
“Stop being a bad influence.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
He stole another kiss and she gave over to it because, well, why not?
“Everyone thinks you’re the good one. If they only knew.” She laughed as he kissed up her neck, grabbing two handfuls of her behind to keep her close.
“I am the good one. That’s why you’re still with me after all these years despite my crazy family.”
Her family now too. The one she’d been born with hadn’t been much, but being loved by one Chase meant you got the whole package. Three big, handsome brothers who all had wives she considered her closest friends. A nosy, bossy and loveable mother-in-law, and a father-in-law she was grateful her husband took after. Crazy, yes. Noisy, yes. But she loved each and every one of them and wouldn’t want to live a life without them barging into her house at all hours of the day and night.
The kids made noise in the other room, which was pretty much the only thing that enabled her to keep from ripping his jeans open right then and there.
When he pulled back, he still wore that smug guy face. But he deserved to wear it. “You’re a menace to all my ladyparts, Kyle Chase.”
He laughed. “Good to know, Red.”
She brushed her fingertips through the hair at his temples. “Damn, I love that little bit of gray. So sexy.”
“No one would even miss us.” He kissed her again and she hummed her pleasure.
“You know they would. Your sister-in-law is hosting a party for our dear friend, Lily, and your brothers are all going to a party for our other dear friend. It’s not all night, you know.” Her mother-in-law would be keeping the kids overnight so they had plenty of time to get loud and then sleep in afterward.
“Fine. Go on and be responsible and reasonable.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll drop the kids off on my way to meet the guys over at the Tonk. If anyone gets fresh, let Tate at them. She’s scary. Especially when she’s pregnant.”
Maggie laughed. “We’re going to sit around, eat too much, talk about sex and laugh. It’s the back room at the Pumphouse, it’ll just be us anyway.”
He stepped back with a reluctant sigh. “I’ll see you later. There will be ice cream and your belly.” One of his brows went up as she fought for her breath. “And my tongue. Just sayin’.”
“Can’t wait.” She gulped. “You’re a scoundrel. You know that, right?”
His answering grin told her he did. And thank goodness he was her scoundrel. Their sons were so