Page 21 of Reclaiming Kendall

“Get everything you needed, baby?” Lucas asks while hooking an arm around my hip and pulling me closer.

Before I can answer, Teagan cuts in, “Oh, sweets, please tell me those are sandwiches from Jule’s Deli in your hand.”

I hold them out in front of me and wiggle the bag a little, “If I say yes, what do you plan to do to earn them?”

Lucas buries his face into my shirt on my side as he chuckles, while Teagan’s face holds the desire of exactly what he’ll do to earn them. I pass them off to Lucas for safe keeping when Grant brings over his armful of blankets. We spread them out to the side of the fire. Taking my shoes off, I plop down right in the middle of them, and Grant follows suit. It doesn’t take long for the other three to do the same.

They help me unload the bags and make a spread of the sandwiches, drinks, fruit, and a box of chocolate chip cookies between us. The latter mainly for me.

As the guys dig in, I take a long look around the four of them. Halfway between feeding their faces and observing me, silent questions floating around us. I know they’re curious as to why I brought them out here instead of us going out like Teagan wanted.

I take a bite of my sandwich and wash it down with a swig of water before starting, “I love this spot. Do you know why?” Without giving them a chance to respond, I continue, “It makes me think back to that time right after Gramps passed.”

“But that makes you sad, sweetheart. Why would you want to be sad?” Grant asks.

Leaning back on one hand, I let my gaze drift towards the stars, “Because you guys came back for me. Without you in my life then, I don’t know what I would’ve done. There was so much hurt and so much pain. As cheesy as it sounds, you were my knights in shiny armor.”

My eyes float back down to find each one of their faces, “You still are. It’s good, even with the sadness that come with it, because it keeps me from taking any of you for granted. Makes me forever grateful that I have you.”

Their faces are soft with understanding, even Mav’s normally stony one.

“This was where Lucas and I shared our first dance,” I tell them as my head turns toward him. It was actually a place for several of our firsts, but I didn’t want to share that secret without asking him first.

He winks, “Not our only first, either.”

He’s the only one that is no longer eating, so I stand up and reach down for him. Those blue eyes twinkle with the light from the fire in them. My fingers brush the stubble across his cheek before pushing a few long dark strands of hair away from his forehead. His lips brush against my palm before he stands.

The last time we were here, Lucas had played music from his truck. Not this time, though. Whipping out his phone, with a swipe and a few clicks, there’s a sweet song flowing from the speaker.

As Lucas tugs me close, I narrow my eyes at Teagan opening the box full of cookies, “There better be some of those when I get back over there.”

“Yeah?” he asks while slipping one through his lips. My eyes track the movement and not for the cookie. How in the hell are they able to make anything they do look so fucking sexy?

Teagan winks as if he knows my train of thought, “Seems like I’ve got the upper hand now, eh, sweets? What are you going to do to earn your cookie?”

“Well, I may have had more ulterior motives that just star gazing and dancing,” I declare, making them all chuckle.

Lucas spins me once before pulling me back to his chest. He buries his face into my neck just as another set of arms goes around my waist. Some people might ask how I know who it is without opening my eyes, and the answer is easy. Each touch from them is unique as the person behind it. Mav’s hands are possessive as his fingertips skim across my lower stomach. Stepping back into him brings Lucas with me.

“You want us to make love to you under the stars, baby girl?” Mav drawls.

At my nod, he nips the top of my ear, “Anything for you.”

---