I leaned over and kissed Peyton’s cheek. “You be good for Uncle Owen and Aunt Kira, okay?”
She nodded. “Don’t smudge your mani, Daddy.”
Abilene and I kissed baby Clara at the same time. She giggled and gave us slobbery kisses of her own. A few minutes later I held open the door to my truck and waited for my wife to climb in.
“I was thinking we might take your Harley tonight.” She bit down on her lip and peered at me over the rim of her dark shades.
She hadn’t ridden behind me on the bike in almost five years. Not since we got back from our honeymoon and found out we were expecting.
“You sure you want to take the bike?”
“Mmm hmm.” Abilene reached her arms up around my neck. “Remember that night I bought a date with a burly biker?”
I set my hands on her waist. “I seem to recall a night like that, but you might have to refresh my memory.”
“He said something about taking his date on a ride on his bike, somewhere way out from town where the stars shine bright. Ring a bell?”
“You want me to show you the stars, baby?”
Her fingers twined together, and she pulled me down for a kiss. “I’ve always seen stars when I’ve been with you, Kane. Tonight I want to see them from the back of your bike with you seated deep inside me.”
“Fuck, Abilene. Do you kiss your husband with that mouth?” I joked.
“I will if he’ll get a move on. We’ve only got eighteen hours, and I don’t have the same stamina now that I’ve had two kids.” She squeezed her thighs around my waist as I lifted her into my arms and carried her toward the garage.
“You’re even sexier now than you were back then,” I mumbled against her ear.
She laughed. “You’re just saying that so you’ll get laid.”
“I’m saying it because it’s true.” I held her gaze, wanting her to know how much I meant it. “You mean everything to me. You and the girls. When I think back to how close I came to risking all of this…”
“Shh. You didn’t though, and now look at what we’ve built together.”
I glanced through the window of the garage into the house to see Owen and Kira getting the girls settled at the table. “It’s all because of you. I love you, little bird.”
She pulled my head down to hers. “Maybe we should try out the bike right here in the garage. I’m not sure I can wait until we get all the way out to the Calhoun’s cottage to get you where I want you.”
“And where’s that, Abilene?”
“Right here with me.” She hiked up her dress and straddled the seat of my bike.
“Next to you is the only place I ever want to be.” I tugged her dress over her head and got ready to make good on my promise from years ago. One way or another, Abilene would see stars from the back of my bike tonight. And if I had it my way, once wouldn’t be enough.