Warrior (First to Fight #1)(48)

Cole smashes his hands on the table in agreement, and my mom descends upon him with a sound of delight. Dad follows with the twins and I look to the ceiling for strength.

Dad turns to me and says, “I kept her away as long as I could, but there comes a time in a man’s life when our stamina just isn’t what it used to be.”

Livvie chooses that moment to return and blushes prettily at the entrance to the kitchen. Her hair falls around her shoulders in dark red waves. She smiles shyly at my dad and says, “Hey, Mr. Hart, Mrs. Hart. I’m sorry if you felt that you had to stay away. I-I would have come sooner, but—”

“No buts,” Mom interrupts. “Lord knows I raised Benjamin for eighteen years and then some. I know just what a pain in the ass he can be, and quite frankly, I’m glad I can finally wash my hands of him and have him be some other woman’s problem.”

Mom smiles at me, and I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her to my side so I can press a kiss into her hair. “His stamina is just fine,” Mom also informs me, as though it were something I need to be made aware of.

Livvie hastily changes the subject. “Why don’t y'all join us for something to eat?” Though I doubt she knows what she’s getting herself into. Hanging around occasionally when we were kids is entirely different from becoming a part of my crazy family.

“What are we having?” Mom asks.

I nod to the stove. “I was making omelets.”

“Gross,” Mitchell says. “Ben can’t cook for shit.”

“You watch your mouth, Mitchell Hart,” Mom says sharply. “It just so happens I brought stuff to make lasagna. I figured the two of you could use a good home cooked meal.”

“You don’t have to cook for us, Mrs. Hart—” Livvie starts.

“I won’t hear a word about it, girl. Why don’t you boys help your father cart in the groceries? I’m going to sit for a spell and get to know my grandson.”

“Careful,” I tell her. “Make sure to watch out for his chest. Don’t pick him up by the armpits. Always lift from the neck and butt.”

“Oh, my,” she says as she picks him up. “What a handsome little boy!”

Livvie sits next to my mom at the kitchen table. “He knows it, too, I think. He’s a little flirt.”

“They mentioned it on the T.V. About his heart condition. Is he going to be okay?”

“He’s just fine. He had his second surgery a few weeks ago and will have to have another within the next few years.”

“Will he need some sort of transplant?”

“Hopefully not,” Livvie says. “If all goes well, his third surgery should take care of everything. He’ll have to be careful, and he’ll always be on medication.” She runs a finger over Cole’s hand. “But he’s just as happy as any other baby. Maybe tires a little bit more easily, and we have to be extra careful about germs and all that, but he’s a strong boy. He’s a fighter.”

“Oh, absolutely,” Mom says. Mitchell ambles in, his arms loaded down with grocery bags. She speaks to him without even looking first, “Mitchell James, don’t you even think about setting those bags down on the floor and wandering off on that damn phone. You unload those groceries on the counter there and put the bags in the trash.”

Mitchell groans and changes direction.

Livvie looks at my mom in awe. “I want to be you when I grow up.”

My mom winks at her proudly. “You stick with me, honey. You’ve got one of ours now. They’re a handful.”

“So I’ve learned,” Livvie says, looking at me.

I hold my hands up. “I haven’t done a damn thing.”

“You know he moved himself in with me.” Not this shit again.

Mom nods her head. “Good. That just shows that I’ve taught him well.”

Livvie groans. “I give up. I swear arguing with your family is like arguing with a bunch of rocks.”

“Stay around us long enough, you’re bound to pick up the same trait. It comes in handy with dealing with these guys.”

“I don’t know how you did it with the four of them.”

“Wine,” Mom answers and they share a laugh.

Dad nudges me on the shoulder. “You gonna take the next week off? If so, just let me know so we can get you covered at the shop.”

“I will if that’s all right with you. I’d like to keep close, at least until we’re sure this is over.”

“They got some leads?”

“A few. We’ll see if they pan out.”

“Good to hear, Son. And feel free to take as much time as you need.”

“Thanks, Pops. I appreciate it.”

He nods to me, then turns to Mom and says, “Alright woman, the men folk are hungry. Are we gonna eat or what?”





After spending the day surrounded by Ben’s family, I come to the decision that letting him have his way is the easiest way to handle the situation. After all, I’m the one in the wrong here. I’m the one who kept his son a secret from him. He just wants to protect his child, and that’s understandable, I reason. Once the threat passes and things settle down, we’ll be able to set up a more acceptable situation. One that doesn’t involve a living, breathing temptation sharing my bed.