Page 19 of For the Night

I caught River throwing me a pensive expression in the background.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t know a whole lot about Sweden either, but those are military towns, aren’t they?”

If he knew that about Sweden, he might know more than most Swedes did. “Um, sort of,” I answered, nodding slowly. Technically, we didn’t have military towns like the US did, but yes, he was correct in a way. “Uppsala is more known as a university town, but there’s also an Air Force flight school—which is pretty much how you can track my upbringing. We went wherever they sent my dad until he left the service. He’s an engineer.”

Was River military or something? More than that, had he been to Sweden or worked with someone from my country? Otherwise, I couldn’t see why he’d know that.

“Then you’re in good hands at Mclean,” Reese said firmly, pressing a kiss to Shay’s temple. “We love our engineers. Especially if we get to call them slaves and hunt them down.”

I lifted my brows. “I’ll make sure to tell my dad that.”

Penelope cracked up, Shay snickered, and River rumbled a laugh that made him cough around a mouthful of whiskey.

I beamed.

Reese shook his head in amusement. “Definitely a brat. I’ll have a word with Ash before the Game.”

Um, why? “Why would you talk to him?”

“He’ll be your Top for the event, won’t he?”

I nodded.

“So I can make you suffer through him.” He smiled.

I dropped my jaw.

What. The. Fuck?

Penelope smiled too. “Welcome to Mclean House, Nora.”

The dreaded time came, when Shay was yawning and Reese wanted to take their boy to bed. River had been drifting between half sleeping and smirking lazily at the conversation flowing; he was definitely the type of man who liked to listen to what was going on around him.

I was tired too, but I’d ended up having so much fun tonight that I didn’t want the evening to be over.

“Yeah, I better get some sleep if I’m gonna be sharp at ten,” Penelope said. “I can return the drink cart if you just lift the thing up on the deck, Reese. Since you’re a big, strong man who knows better than me.”

I snickered and rose to my feet, and I folded the blankets Ash had provided for us.

Reese furrowed his brow. “I feel like I’m gettin’ punished for somethin’ Greer said.”

“I’m fine with that,” Penelope replied.

Shay and I chuckled at the toppy Tops’ staredown, which ended with Reese going, “If I throw you in the pool at some point, don’t ask why.”

River yawned and absently cracked his knuckles. “Y’all have two primal brats watchin’. Last thing we need is them throwin’ a divide-and-conquer op on our asses.”

I exchanged a quick, subtle glance with Shay. We were going to file this away, for sure. Causing playful rifts between Tops could be hysterical.

“If they end up doin’ that, it’s because you just gave them the idea,” Reese shot back. “They wouldn’t have come up with it on their own. Brats aren’t bright.”

Hey!

I wasn’t gonna take that bait, but hey!

“Good one, Daddy,” Shay drawled. “Let’s hit the sack.”

Yeah, I supposed it was time.

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