Page 135 of P.S. You're Intolerable

But mostly, we laughed because this was our life, and it was so incredibly, stupidly beautiful.

Chapter Forty

Elliot

Itdidn’ttakemucharm-twisting from Catherine to convince me to invite my friends and family over for dinner before the Rockford grand opening tonight. Since putting a period at the end of the William van der Wyck tale, I was feeling a lot more sociable.

I wanted to show off my family’s home and let my friends get to know my girls better since they were a permanent part of my life.

Though, now that I had laid eyes on Catherine inthe dress, I was on the verge of saying fuck everyone and tossing them out.

As it was, she walked into the kitchen where West, Elise, Luca, Saoirse, and Miles were gathered, and I grabbed her by the waist and steered her right back out into the powder room around the corner.

She laughed the whole way, grasping my shoulders so she didn’t fall.

As if I’d let her.

I kicked the door shut behind us and held her in front of me at arm’s length. “Holy shit,” I uttered. “You are stunning, sweetheart. So fucking stunning.”

I’d seen her in this dress once in a dressing room, but this time, it was even better. I could look at her freely, as lasciviously as I wanted—and I wanted.

The black silk draped over her lovingly, highlighting all the best parts of her. Her breasts were pushed up high and the fabric draped low, showing the top half of her round, creamy globes. It fell loose around her middle, flaring out over the sexy, exaggerated curves of her hips and ass.

Taking her hands, I spun her to face the mirror and splayed my hand over her soft stomach. I crowded her against the counter, looking at us together. Nothing alike, but our contrasts complemented beautifully.

“Elliot,” she breathed. “You look stunning too.”

I slid my hand up her front to rest at the base of her throat. “I don’t think you understand how in love with you I am.”

“I think I do.” Her shining lips curved into a smile. “I’m right here with you, you know.”

Dipping my head, I kissed a line up the curve of her neck. “We have to get out there, don’t we?”

“We do. Our friends probably think you’re having your way with me right now.”

I raised a brow. “If they already think it, then I should—” I started to raise her dress, but she swatted me away with a laugh, earning a groan from me. “All right, sweetheart. Let’s go entertain.”

Dinner was easy and stress-free. Freddie was babysitting Joey upstairs, and as much as I loved my baby girl, I had to admit having adult time was a nice change.

After we ate, Catherine went upstairs to feed Joey before we left for the party while the rest of us cleaned up. There wasn’t much to clean since we’d ordered in, but there were a few dishes and utensils.

Elise held up a plastic container. “Recycle, or do you keep these for spare storage?”

“You can recycle.” I opened a cabinet to show her the stack of take-out containers we’d kept. “We have a collection.”

Her eyes flared. “Oh my god. Elliot! You have to cook for your girlfriend. Weston and I are terrible cooks, but he’s marginally better, so he insists on doing most of the cooking. Catherine deserves that treatment too.”

“She does deserve it, you’re right.” I lifted a shoulder, unbothered. “We do cook sometimes, but we have a baby. It’s easier to do takeout most nights.”

West cleared his throat. “You said ‘we’ have a baby.”

I nodded, glancing at each of my stunned friends. “I did. She’s mine now.”

Luca was the first to move, clapping me on the shoulder. “Things you don’t see coming are often the best kind of surprises.” Then he slipped his arm around Saoirse to demonstrate how true his statement was.

Elise tugged on my elbow. “Think Kit needs help with the baby?”

I looked down at my sister, who seemed like she might be looking for a moment in private with me more than anything.

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