Page 41 of Ready to Snap
Russ signs for the delivery, then brings the cake inside, setting it on the island. Scarlett opens the pastry box and gasps, “Will!”
Russ peers over her shoulder and lets out a hearty laugh, reading the lemon cake’s inscription aloud: “All juice, no seeds.”
“We’re supposed to be celebrating Elle,” Nora huffs. “Not your little…procedure.”
I hide my smile behind my glass until Elle calls me out. “Mister. Darling. That isnotwhat I told Meghan to put on the cake.”
“It wasn’t?” I feign ignorance. “What was it supposed to say?”
She stifles a laugh. “Nothing!”
“Liar. Meghan said it was something sweet when I asked her to change it.”
“Oh, right… it was.” Her eyes widen as I pin her with a glare. “Okay, fine! It said: snip, snip, hooray!”
Russ’ booming laughter pierces the space. “You two were made for each other.”
He’s right. Elle is more than the love of my life—we’re soulmates. I pick up baby Ronan, then wrap Elle in my arms. Stella and Nate join in, hugging our legs. Sassy, one of our cats—only three, not a hoard—rubs her face against Elle’s leg. “I love you. All of you.”
“I love you too, Darling.” Her voice has a light song in it, making my heart swell.
The kids scurry off, and tears prick behind my eyes as I quietly tell her, “Thank you.”
She pulls back, resting her chin on my chest. “What for?”
After a quick glance around the kitchen to my best friends with their wives and kids, I press a kiss to Elle’s forehead and whisper, “Giving me everything I thought I didn’t deserve.”
