Page 149 of Finding Forever

“Trystan was there?” She sounded delighted at the thought. Because that was his wife, she wanted everybody to be friends and get along. And Trystan was a good guy. Just… not inconspicuous.

“I couldn’t very well leave him off the guest list, not when his wife was here specifically for the baby shower and knew we were doing the dad party too.”

“Whatdidyou do?” she asked curiously. “I thought the whole point was to have a wild fling and get drunk and do stupid man things.”

She peered at him closely and then shook her head looking almost disappointed.

“You don’t even look alittlebit drunk.”

“Have youeverseen me drunk?” he asked, suppressing the urge to laugh. She chewed on her upper lip—the little temptress. Now that she understood how much it distracted him, he knew it was deliberate—and shrugged.

“Not really.”

“I’ve never been a big drinker,” he said.

He could tell that she was about to question him further, when they turned intotheir driveway.

Ian parked the car in the massive garage of their new house in Scarborough. It had an amazing ocean view, six bedrooms, five bathrooms, with a huge yard, a big pool, and a private path that took them directly to the beach. And—conveniently—it was located a quick drive away from Beth and Gideon’s place.

They’d moved in a couple of months ago. With Fern’s studies, as well as her advancing pregnancy, the timing hadn’t been ideal. Especially since they’d kept the Clifton apartment, which meant they’d needed all new furniture and decor for the new house. It had been exhausting for Fern, but once they’d moved and settled in, neither of them had regretted their decision. This place felt like home in a way their apartment didn’t. It belonged to both of them and was a charming blend of their tastes.

And Fern loved being able to go for walks on the beach whenever she wanted.

Sure enough, after they waved Ian off, she kicked off her shoes and Cade grabbed the sunscreen that she’d left on the kitchen counter that morning.

They didn’t speak. She waited patiently while he warmed the lotion between his palms and massaged it onto her skin. Shoulders, back, chest, arms, and face. He left no inch of exposed skin unprotected. He smeared the residual lotion on his face and arms and opened the back door, standing aside while she waddled past him.

They were both barefoot. Fern, still in her pretty baby shower dress with flowers in her hair, Cade in jeans and a T-shirt. He grabbed a cardigan from the coatrack and draped it over her shoulders, and she slanted him a grateful look.

It had been a warm enough day in late April, but the evenings brought that unmistakable sharp mid-autumn chill.

The sun would be setting in a few minutes and Cade knew that Fern was anxious not to miss it. He was too… for different reasons.

While his wife enjoyed every new sunset with the samereverence and joy as the one that had preceded it, Cade could honestly say that—since their marriage—he’d never seen one directly.

“So, what did you do at this mysterious dad stag?” she asked, a little breathless despite their slow pace.

“Had some beers, talked some shit—” he said with a nonchalant shrug, slipping a supportive arm around her waist.

“That sounds really boring,” she said, a little put out. He wasn’t sure what the fuck she thought they’d be doing. They truly had just sat around at Gideon and Beth’s place,braaingand shooting the breeze. It had been… great actually. Gideon, their father, Trystan, Mitch—who’d happily relocated to the Cape—Cyrus, and some other friends Cade had made in the new office over the last few months.

“Did you play games too?”

“Some pool, darts.”

“Oh. What did you talk about?”

“The guys wanted to know if we’d chosen a name yet, or if Casper was it.”

They finally reached their favorite spot on the long stretch of beach. There were a few other people out. Some walking their dogs, some in the frigid water, others just standing and watching the horizon, also there for the sunset.

Cade led Fern to a nearby bench and they sat down. He dropped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer, wanting to share his body heat with her.

“We should probably start thinking about a name,” she said with a contented sigh, clearly happy to be sitting down. Her eyes were trained on the horizon and the giant red orb sliding ever closer to the ocean.

His eyes were on her, riveted by the way the dramatic lighting of the sky was turning her hair a vibrant orange. Adding warmth to her skin and fire to her eyes.

Always sofucking beautiful.

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