“It’s me, Momma.”
“Oh my God, hang on.” Static filled the line. “Kane! Braden! Evan! Everybody! It’s Trixie! I have her on the phone right now!” A second later, she returned to the phone. “Trixie, I have you on speaker. We’re all here.”
“I’m fine, everyone.”
“You had us worried,” Dad Evan said.
Daddy Kane said, “I don’t know what is wrong with that damned Mitch. Can’t he find any normal friends?”
“Daddy Kane…”
“Every single time I hear that boy’s name, it’s associated with some kind of threat on your life,” Daddy Kane continued.
“That’s not true.”
“Baby girl”—her mother took control of the conversation once more—“how are you really? Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“He didn’t lay a hand on me.” She shivered as she thought of Cash’s parting words.
“The McKays are here,” her mother said. “Vicky, Joshua, Patrick, and Aspen are right here.”
She smiled. “I’m glad my godparents were on the ball.”
“Always,” Joshua said.
“Thank you. Thank you all.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie,” Vicky said. “We love you.”
“I love each of you, too,” she said. “Where are my babies?”
“Where do you think they are?” her mother asked. “Your sister hasn’t shared the babysitting duties.”
“I’m sure Ansley has had plenty of help.”
Kane laughed. “Oh yeah, but Caz has given Tristan quite a complex.”
“Everything is still his fault, huh?”
“Right down to Winter’s dirty diapers,” her mother said.
“Oh no,” Trixie said, snickering. “What am I going to do with him?”
“A spanking every now and then wouldn’t hurt him,” Daddy Kane suggested.
“You’ll have to take that up with Brock,” Trixie said.
“Humph,” Daddy Kane muttered. “He doesn’t have a problem spanking your ass. He shouldn’t have a problem keeping his children in line.”
“Dad!”
Everyone laughed. When the line quieted, Trixie said, “Speaking of Brock, he’s walking this way. I’ll talk to the guys, but we’ll probably be home tomorrow.”
“Sounds great,” Daddy Kane said. “I never have liked it when my family is so far away.”
“Me either,” Trixie admitted softly. “Love you all. Talk to you soon.”
Brock pulled her to her feet as soon as she disconnected the line. Bracketing his arms around her middle, he nuzzled her ear and said, “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too, Sir.”
His body went rigid. He drew her closer to his chest and peered around her head. “Trixie, if you want to save the Domination and submission for behind closed doors and tone it down a bit, I’d understand.”
“You didn’t enjoy me earlier?”
He gave her a spin and turned her to face him. Framing her cheeks, he said, “Are you kidding me? I’ve never enjoyed you more.”
“Then don’t question my feelings because I’m fine.”
“Even after everything you’ve been through today?”
“Especially then,” she whispered, resting her head on his chest. “I’ve never felt more loved, more cherished, or more valued as a woman.”
He froze.
“You’re reading between the lines that aren’t there.”
He chuckled. “You’re right.”
“I usually am,” she said, standing on her tiptoes and leaving a peck upon his lips. “Don’t forget it.”
“That’s a given,” he said, a grin lifting his lips. “You tell me enough to make sure it’s embedded in my head.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“I’m starving,” Mitch said, flinging open the refrigerator and rubbernecking beyond the beer and sodas to see what Bertie might have left for them.
“I saw a casserole in the freezer,” Trixie said. “Assuming it hasn’t been on ice since the last time we were here, I could warm it up for us.”
“Bertie said she left a hamburger casserole. Bake on three-fifty for an hour.” He opened the freezer and retrieved the large baking pan. “If I remember correctly, it’s better than sex.”
“Hey now,” Trixie said, squeezing by him to start the oven. “You need to add a sidebar to that comment. Maybe something like, ‘I would’ve agreed before I met you’ or any ole compliment might do.”
Mitch bracketed his arms around her waist and lifted her to him. “What kind of praise would you like to hear?”