Page 216 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
Reclining on the pool deck’s sofa, Ben grinned as he watched his grandkids play in the sand. From one year to the next, Christmas weather was never a guarantee, but much like last year, it was pleasantly warm, allowing them to enjoy the beach as the sun bid farewell to the day.
“Look at those colors.” Sitting next to him, Laura Jean rested her head on his shoulder. “I wish I could capture this on canvas.”
“You would do it justice,” he told her, wincing when Theo tackled Xavier, knocking the poor kid straight into the enormous sandcastle the group had constructed. Holden watched from a safe distance, settled in a beach chair and grinning. “Maybe leave that Theo part out, though.”
“Our girls are all fire,” she said proudly. “Theo and Harper know how to hold their own. But I bet Xavier and Albie will be the ones who surprise us.”
“I’m looking forward to Albie giving Samuel hell.”
Theo climbed onto the ruined sandcastle and roared, flexing her muscles like some kind of tiny beast. The move made Laura Jean giggle with pride. “I don’t think Albie is the one he should be worried about.”
While the day was giving them a healthy dose of sunshine, the wind was still pretty fierce, and the absurd urge to offer Laura Jean his coat so she wouldn’t be cold hit.
Which was ridiculous.
“Get out of your head, Ben.”
“I see you in my head, so I think it’s a pretty nice place to be.”
She snuggled closer, her body pressing solidly against his side. Some days, she was hardly here. A shadow on the edge of his vision, waiting and watching them all. But then other days were like now, where he could almost feel her warmth.
“Well, you think too loudly.”
“Well, you’re too beautiful for your own good.”
She snorted, resting her hand on his chest. “I love that we’re hosting Christmas Eve at our house this year.”
“Hopefully, it becomes a tradition. Simone didn’t even fight me on it when I asked.”
“SiSi is tired,” Laura Jean said on the edge of a sigh. “And it’s time to prepare for the end.”
He frowned. “What are you saying?”
There was no reply, his woman taken by the wind when it rolled off the gulf in their direction. He didn’t need to look up to know someone was approaching. His warped mind at least had the decency to make Laura Jean vanish when others were nearby.
“Are the kids behaving?”
Ben scooted over to give Simone room on the patio sofa. Inside the house, their brood remained busy crafting holiday cheer for the kids. He glanced at the glass wall behind him to check for any new arrivals. “No one’s lost a tooth this time, so I’m calling it a win.”
Simone grunted in agreement. “A win is a win.”
“Is everyone here?”
“Will and Bernie are on their way. I can’t believe they wanted to drive all the way from Virginia.”
Ben could. Like Will, he was learning to slow down. It was hard initially, but it was time, or else he’d find himself in an early grave, and he couldn’t allow that to happen.
He’d made a deal.
Simone settled on the cushions with him, bundling the cardigan she wore around her. “Is it done?”
“Rowan and I signed the paperwork this morning.” He leaned back so their shoulders touched. “The Fairweathers hold Haven House no more. She’s a McIntyre now. Rowan is taking full financial responsibility with fifty-fifty ownership listed to Annabeth and Abraham Howard. We only need the twins to sign off on it.”
“Rowan said he’s proposing tonight,” Simone said. “I swear if she says no…”
“Annabeth’s been dropping hints about what kind of ring she wants for weeks. She knows it’s coming, Simone.”
“He’s so good to my baby.”
