Protect Me (Rivers Edge Book 4)(33)

I link my fingers through Lia's fingers as she sits next to me on the  chaise lounge. My mind wanders to the vow I, myself, made all those  years ago. Never marry. No kids. I was always going to be the cool  uncle, spoiling every single niece and nephew I got. When did my own  plan blow up in my face like a ticking bomb?

Oh, that's right. The day Lia knocked me on my ass with a pan to the skull.

I watch as Grant army crawls up to me. He'll be one in just a couple of  months and I can't wait to give him the battery operated Mustang that I  found online. His dad is going to hate it. I can't wait.

I realize real quick that Grant isn't climbing up on my lap like he  usually does. No, Grant is pulling himself up on Lia. She reaches down  and helps him up with a smile on her beautiful face. My nephew did the  same thing repeatedly at the wedding reception last night. When did I  become second fiddle?

I watch as Grant sits contently on Lia's lap, watching as Jake and Erin  dive into the pile of gifts. Bean is busy helping Jake open each present  placed before him while Ryder continually grabs the discarded wrapping  paper and sticks it in his mouth. Maddox digs more soggy paper out of  his son's mouth before pulling him back over to the bench he was sitting  on with Avery. Travis and Josselyn are sitting under the big oak tree,  stealing a moment together while Grant is distracted. Will sits over to  the side, arms crossed over his chest, with a smile on his face as he  watches Bean tear into another present. Mom and Dad are sitting on the  two-person swing, their fingers linked contently together on Mom's lap,  while watching all of their children and grandchildren.

This is my family. We fight, we laugh, we cry. Together.

I lift Lia's fingers up to my lips and place a gentle kiss on her soft skin. Grant gives me the stink eye and says, "No."

Seriously?

I give him my best stern, bad uncle look which doesn't seem to faze him  at all. He pulls on Lia's hand, prying her linked fingers from my own.

Huh. Well, Mr. Grant Michael Stevens used to be my favorite nephew.  Apparently, the fact that we share a middle name means nothing to the  toddler.                       
       
           



       

"Thank you, everyone, for coming this morning. Mom and Jane, thank you  for the delicious breakfast. And thank you for all of your help with the  presents, Bean," Jake says with a big grin to his niece. "The gifts are  great. I'm sure Erin is excited to get back to the house and get them  put away."

"More excited about watching you help wash and dry, big boy," Erin says with a sassy smile.

"But, there's a game on this afternoon, darlin'," Jake says with a helpless look on his face.

Erin just smiles, and watching Jake realize that he's lost the fight  before it's even started is the best thing I've seen in forever. His  face falls and he drops down to his chair with a pout.

"And so it begins, son," Dad says with a big smile from the swing.

"Actually, we have something else," Jake says as he stands back up,  pulling Erin up with him this time. "We were going to save this for when  we get back next week from the honeymoon, but I think some of you have  already figured it out."

I tense up a little as I wait for the words to come from my oldest  brother's mouth. Jake, the man who was never settling down, is about to  confirm what we suspected last night.

"Erin and I are having a baby," he says through a big, cheesy grin. His  lips seek out his wife's as the family around me erupts into cheers.

I stand up and get in line, preparing to shake the hand of my closest  brother and kiss the cheek of my new sister-in-law. Lia hangs back a  little, trying to give the family the space to celebrate. I link my  fingers through hers again and gently tug her towards my family.

"Congratulations, brother," I tell Jake as I shake his hand, pulling him in to give him the standard one-armed shoulder guy hug.

"Thank you," he says, squeezing my shoulder tightly. "I still can't fucking believe it," he adds with a blinding smile.

"Mom, Uncle Jake said a bad word," Brooklyn tattles from next to Jake.

"Jake," Avery scolds, leaving the word hanging open.

"Sorry," Jake says with his trademarked cocky grin and wink.

"Congrats, sweetheart," I tell Erin as I give her a big hug.

"Thank you," she whispers as she holds on tight. It's hard to picture  this petite woman as anything other than the happy, loving woman she is.  She had a rough childhood growing up as a military child, moving from  place to place, but she's finally found her roots. She's found her home  with my brother. And now I'll have another niece or nephew.

"Hey, that's my wife. Get your own," Jake says behind me as he grabs my  shirt. I throw a kiss on her flush cheek before Jake rips his wife  completely from my grip.

"I hope you have triplet girls," I throw over my shoulder at my  instantly quiet brother. It takes a lot to make his big mouth zip it,  but I think I've actually succeeded. I look over at Lia who has a  genuine happy smile on her face. Those smiles are so few and far  between. I see them when we're alone, but not nearly enough when we're  with other people. She gives Erin a huge hug and whispers something into  her ear. Erin squeezes back as they exchange hugs for several moments.

Lia has been alone in this world for too long. First, as an unwanted  pregnancy to a teenage mother. Then, to a prick of a man. Hell, he isn't  even a man. Any scum that thinks it is okay to knock around a woman  deserves a slow, painful torture which leads to death. If I ever come  face to face with Garrett Monahan, there's no telling what I'll do to  him. It'll be painful, I do know that.

I head inside the kitchen while the crowd starts to settle down. I grab a  quick bottle of water from the fridge and pace. I don't need the drink,  but I feel like I need to do something. And this is a hell of a lot  better than ripping the limbs off of someone right now.

After several minutes, I finally feel my blood pressure coming down. My  breathing is returning to normal and my fists don't feel the need to  tighten like a boxer ready for his upcoming match. I walk over to the  small window over the sink. Lia is standing by Josselyn and pushing  Grant in one of the little swings. Grant is smiling from ear to ear and  Lia seems to be just as happy.

"Have you told her yet?" Mom says from behind me. She has that stealthy  Mom-mode that makes her unheard until the last possible second. That's  usually when she's caught one of us into something we weren't supposed  to be into.

"Told her what?" I ask, fearing I already know the direction of the question.

"That you love her," she replies.

I turn around and face my mom. Yep, that's exactly where I figured she was going. "No," I reply, unable to lie.                       
       
           



       

"Why not?"

"It's complicated, Mom."

"Isn't love always complicated, Nate?"

"Yeah, but this is really complicated. She has had a pretty rough past  and I don't want to push her. Hell, I'm not sure I want it either," I  tell her, dropping my eyes to the floor.

"Nathan," Mom says in her best mom voice as she fixes those blue eyes on  me. "If you're afraid of love, you're going to let it slip through your  fingers. Lia's had a rough past. Well, so have you," Mom says with a  pointed look. "No, don't try to deny it. I know what you went through  after graduation."

"How?" I ask incredulous.

"A mother always knows, Nate. I could see it in your eyes. Did you ask  her to marry you?" she asks, approaching until she's standing right in  front of me.

"Yeah," I croak out over the lump in my throat.

"And she said no."

"Amongst other things. Yes, she said no," I reply, crossing my arms over  my chest protectively. I hate that I'm reliving this, yet again.

"Did she tell you why?"

"She said she wanted to live her life in college and that she didn't  want to be a firefighter's wife. Or should I say, a firefighter's  widow."

"Nate, every job has its risks. Heck, walking down the street has its  risks. Yes, your job has more risks than others. That does not mean that  you are doomed to die on the job. Firemen everywhere live full, happy  lives with wives and kids. You can, too, Nate. That is, if you want it."  Mom looks me square in the eye. "Do you want it, Nate?"

I consider my answer, though deep down, I already know. "Yeah," I whisper.

"Then, go get it. Don't let your fear or your past keep you from the  life you want. There is a reason Jill and you didn't work out.  Everything happens for a reason. Lia needs you. I see it in her eyes  every time she looks at you. I know there is something going on in her  life, something big and scary. I can tell by the way she's always  looking over her shoulder or jumps at the slightest noise. She was  brought to Rivers Edge for a reason. You are the reason, Nate. Protect  her. Love her. Let her love you. I promise you, it will be worth it."