Page 18 of No Regrets

“I plan on leaving after we open presents.” He pressed his lips to hers. “I just hope we can fit all of Shiloh’s toys in my car.”

“I hope they’ll all fit in our house.” Unable to prevent it before it happened, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Are you really pissed about the sex thing?”

He kissed her again, more thoroughly. “We’ll talk about it at home.”

After making their way back to the living room, Kaden made a noticeable effort to include Brianna in everything. If she hadn’t known the situation, she would have guessed that they really were a legitimate couple. He held her hand, sat by her side, and even hugged her to him time and again while the kids enjoyed opening their presents and making a mess with the wrapping paper.

Each Riggen took special notice to Shiloh, playing with her and loving her. Brianna watched as Kaden’s niece Jenny helped her with her presents and then showed her how to play with them. His sister Kristy sat close by with Shiloh in her lap, helping her young daughter show the small child how the toys worked. Naturally, the one Jenny and her family bought was the coolest.

“So, Brianna, what exactly is it that you do now?” Gregg sat with his glass of scotch propped up on his knee, as he relaxed in his favorite leather recliner.

“I’m a waitress at the Heavenly Host restaurant.” She hadn’t so much as said the words as Kaden pressed his lips to her temple.

“Really. A lot of my acquaintances eat there when they come to visit. I’ll have to tell them your name and to make sure they leave my daughter-in-law a big tip.” He winked, and she smiled.

She always liked Greg. Compared to her father, the man was a saint, and calling any lawyer a saint was a major compliment. Although any time she needed to be bailed out of something whether it be legally or otherwise, Greg was always the one to count on. Unlike his wife, who was totally the opposite of him.

“You mean Kaden is making you work, instead of staying at home with that precious baby?” Jade asked stuffing her nose in their business once again.

“Kaden is not making me do anything.” Brianna felt his grip tighten on her arm. “I like working.”

She stuck her nose up and started playing with her own child, who look like a mixture of a moose and a raccoon. Greg seemed pleased that she handled herself well and wasn’t after his son for the money. Blair was another story.

“Parenting is a full-time job as well, Brianna. You benefit so much from being at home with your children.” She picked up the Shiloh, as if making a point and continued. “I wouldn’t give anything for the years I spent raising Kaden, Kristy, and Kevin at home. Children after all are only this age for a very short time in life. They grow up so quick.”

“Mom,” Kaden said in warning.

“Kaden, it’s true. Being a stay at home parent is beneficial on both parts.”

“Yes, and a working parent is beneficial as well on both parts.” Kaden turned and molded his body around Bree. “Bree is a wonderful mother, and Shiloh couldn’t be a better baby.”

She knew what he was silently saying to his mother, and thankfully, she got the message. Was it going to be this way for the rest of their marriage? Kaden’s hand slid to Bree’s thigh, and she tensed, wondering if this was such a great idea in a house full of family and children. She quickly covered his hand with her own and leaned against him, as if nothing was wrong. Relationships—even when fake—were so complicated.

The day started turning toward night, and they still had an hour-long drive to the small city they called home. Shiloh fell asleep in Greg’s arms and, when handed over to her father, seemed more at peace than if she was in her own bed at home. Bree could see why. Kaden’s arms created a sense of security. Did we get everything, babe?” Kaden grabbed Shiloh’s jacket and began stuffing her arms inside the sleeves, while she slept soundly against his chest.

“I think so.” She grabbed her own coat, slipping it on, and prepared to take the baby so Kaden could put his on.

“No. I got it.” Like a pro, he slipped one arm, then the other in the sleeves without so much as moving the baby.

“You drive careful, sweetie.” Blair kissed Kaden’s cheek, then the baby’s. “You’ve got an extra special bundle with you.”

Brianna wanted to roll her eyes though she didn’t. She smiled, grabbing Shiloh’s bag to look busy. This night was the most uncomfortable night she’d lived through in quite sometime.

“Brianna, it was good seeing you.” Blair grabbed her shoulders and pulled her forward for a hug. “You take care of my son and my grandbaby, okay?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Brianna couldn’t get out the door fast enough, and once safely inside the car and on the road toward home, she finally allowed herself to breathe.

“My family isn’t that bad.” Kaden said observing his wife’s behavior.

She tried not to glare, but her expression evidently gave her mood away. “Kaden, between telling me I should be at home to raise my child to my job sucks to asking me about my birth control—what part of that isn’t that bad?”

He drove in silence for a while, and she finally gave up expecting him to answer. “Why did you kiss me today when you were mad? Why did you wipe away my tears and kiss me?”

“Because I wanted to. You may know all the right buttons to push and let me tell you, you push them well, but you are still my best friend, and I do still care for you.” He shrugged in the darkened car. “You’re also one hot, sexy wife of mine, and even though we agreed to a marriage of celibacy, you didn’t say anything about kissing.”

Brianna looked down at her slinky little black dress, the only thing in her “before” wardrobe that would still fit her. She had only lost twenty of the thirty pounds she gained during her pregnancy, and a good ten were left all around the lower half of her body. Her size two was now a six, though her bra size went from a B to a full C. Take the good with the bad, she supposed.

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