Page 33 of CJ

“Well, that ended well,” smiled Ham.

“No, it didn’t, Dad!” said Cole. “We’re all still standing here without dates!” Cole, Quinn, River, Finnegan, Brooks, and Mitchell glared at Ham.

“Look, there have to be girls at school that want to go with you,” said Jill in a soft voice. “I mean, you’re all very handsome, big, athletic boys. I bet the girls are lining up to go to the dance with you.” Mitchell smiled at her, nodding.

“Would you like to go…”

“Hold up, cowboy,” said CJ. “She’s my fiancé. She’s not going to the dance with you.” Jill tried to hide her smile, but it wasn’t working very well.

“I think I might be a bit too old, Mitchell,” she said to the young man. The boys nodded and walked away from the group of adults.

“Well, that ended fairly well,” said Ham.

“You’re so dense sometimes,” said Sadie. “That was the first of a hundred incidents just like it we’re going to have. Nine children, all the same age, all related, all wanting dates to something or other. This won’t end until they’re all married.” Ham threw his hands in the air.

“Great. Just fucking great!”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

While the rest of the team was still working on the video footage, Jill went with Kate, Ajei, Georgie, Winnie, and Janine to get fitted for a dress.

“Come on out, Jill. We want to see it,” said Gwen

“I think it’s too tight,” she said, stepping up onto the elevated dais.

“Ho-lee cow!” said Janine. “I don’t think that’s too tight at all. Woman, you’ve got some insane curves. You need to show them more often.”

“They teach you in law school to hide them,” she smirked. “I don’t know, you guys, this doesn’t feel right.”

“If it doesn’t feel right, then you’re not going to be happy in it,” said Gwen. “Wear what makes you happy. Try on another one.”

“It’s funny we’ll both be married to men named Christian,” smiled Winnie. “Although, with as many men as we have here, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened more often.”

“I guess it’s a good thing that he goes by CJ,” said Janine. From the dressing room, Jill called out to the women.

“Do you guys think this is all moving insanely fast? I mean, I met CJ around the holidays, and then Tim dumped me, and suddenly, CJ and I were an item. Does that feel wrong to anyone?”

“No,” they all called back. Jill stepped out of the dressing room again, this time in a beautiful tea-length gown of ivory satin. It was simple, understated, and perfect for her and her conservative style.

“I like this one,” she said to the women.

“I love that one on you,” said Kate. “Maybe a little bling on a belt around the middle.”

Gwen nodded, running back toward her sewing room, and she came back with three different options. Each one was more beautiful than the next, but true to her simple style, Jill chose the satin band with one small crystal buckle.

“You look beautiful,” said Ajei. She turned and looked in the mirror, smiling at herself.

“I can’t believe it, but I actually feel beautiful,” she smiled. “But what about my question? Is this too fast?”

“Jill, we always give the new wives some advice.”

“I’m all about advice,” she grinned, taking a seat on the stool. Gwen lined up several pairs of shoes for her to try on as she prepared to absorb the wisdom of the women.

“Love is so very hard to find that when you do, recognize it as the gift it is. You should hold it gently. Don’t squeeze too hard, but don’t let it go. These men are different in every way. Their lives have been entirely about protecting others, with no thought as to who would protect them. Expect that they’ll be overbearing, alpha in every way. But recognize how unbelievably special that is and that they’ve chosen us to be by their sides. He will protect you, but you will protect him as well. He will drive you mad with his overprotection, but he will soothe you with his love and adoration of you. And there is nothing like the love of one of these men.”

“That’s so beautiful,” she said, looking at all the women. “I knew I loved CJ from the moment I met him. I felt so guilty. I was seeing Tim, engaged to him, or so I thought. Yet when CJ shook my hand it was like my entire body ignited.”

“I know that feeling,” smiled Ajei. “Luke and I have known one another since we were kids. But there was this moment one Christmas when I leaned over to him to whisper in his ear. It was the first time I smelled cologne on him. I was maybe fifteen, and he was almost eighteen. But I knew. And I think he did as well.”

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