Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family #7)(34)

He's still holding them as we stride down the corridor that leads to the living room. Pippa meets us halfway, looking flushed.

"Here you are. You scared ten years off my life. How many times did I tell you not to disappear on me, girls?"

"Sorry, Mommy," Mia says.

"We went to get Uncle Blake and Miss Clara," Elena adds. Blake lowers the girls, and they each take their mother's hand. "They were kissing, like you and Daddy." Elena puckers her lips, and Mia mirrors her action. Blake laughs, Pippa smiles triumphantly, and I feel my cheeks burning.

"They're great matchmaking assistants," I comment, not quite able to hide my own smile.

"Ah, not quite yet. They're barely reporting," Pippa says, lowering herself on her haunches and kissing each of the girls' foreheads. "But I have plenty of time to train them."





CHAPTER TWELVE

Clara

When we step into the living room minutes later, Summer, Nadine, Ava, and Mrs. Bennett are hard at work setting up the decorations. Lots to do, and I can't wait to jump into it.

"Where are all the men?" I ask.

"Outside," Mrs. Bennett answers. "In charge of the grill."

"On that note," Blake says, "I'm going to join them."

He smiles at me right before he heads out, and my heart soars. Silly heart. It has no business butting into all of this.

"How can I help? How much time do we have?"

Summer gestures to me to come join her. She's currently pumping up balloons. I sit on the floor next to her.

"We have two hours until the party starts officially," Summer says. "Landon just texted me. They'll arrive on time."

Summer mentioned during the drive that some of their cousins, Landon included, would be here.

"Can you give me a rundown of how many sides there are to the clan? I tried to keep track of everyone named Bennett at Alice's wedding, but it was impossible. Then there were all those people related to you who aren't called Bennett." 

Summer nods. "Well, Dad was the oldest of a family of five. They each had many kids-that's the Bennett part of the clan. Mom came from a family of four. Everyone had many kids. We have good genes. Shame not to pass them on."

"My head spins. I need a family tree."

"Most of the time, so do I, especially at weddings. But only Landon and his sister Valentina will be here today from the Connor clan. They're cousins from Mom's side. You probably met them at Alice's wedding, but don't worry if you don't remember them. I think they're bringing a friend too."

Two hours later, my fingers are numb, and the room looks unrecognizable. We have covered every coffee table as well as the large table in the dining area with Avengers-themed plastic tablecloths. Balloons hang so tightly together from the ceiling, it looks like it's made of balloons. There are also figurines tall enough to reach up to my waist scattered around the room, depicting characters from the superhero franchise.

When Landon, Valentina, and their friend arrive, everyone steps inside.

"I can't believe this," Blake says, appearing at my side. "Can a three-year-old actually appreciate all this?"

"Well, a three-year-old's party is as much for the adults as for the kid, I'll say. And I can appreciate all of this."

"You're a complicated creature."

"But I also smell nice. That makes up for it, doesn't it?"

He settles his hand at the small of my back, and even though he's done it before, the gesture feels much more intimate after this morning. "You also taste great, Clara."

This man and his dirty mouth should be outlawed. Or at the very least, he should only use unorthodox language when we're alone. I open my mouth to suggest that but forget my words at the pure heat radiating off him. With a prickle of awareness, I realize he moved his hand from my lower back up to the back of my neck and his thumb is now pressing into my skin, gently and possessively at the same time. For a split second, it feels as if there is no one but the two of us in this room. How can he do that to me? Take over all my senses, my thoughts?

"And who is the lovely lady here? I don't remember seeing you before."

The voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I focus on its owner. The men in the extended Bennett clan are also the very definition of tall and handsome.

"Clara Abernathy." I reach out my hand, which he shakes. "Family friend. And I think we've been introduced at Alice's wedding."

"Ah, could be. Sorry, I don't remember. Weddings seem to be introduction marathons. I'm Landon Connor." His eyes zero in on Blake's hand, which is still at the back of my neck, rather possessively. Blake seems taller and larger somehow as he shakes his cousin's hand. The two men exchange a long glance. It's almost like a standoff. This is fascinating.