Page 32 of Castaway Heat
“Will you guys give it a rest? We just got back from our ordeal—where I will note he wentover and aboveevery single day to ensure we had what we needed to survive.” Shiloh threaded his fingers through Ronin’s. “After seven months of solitude…” he waved a hand in their direction. “This is a bit overwhelming. Even for me.”
“It’s okay,” Ronin said. “They love you and want what’s best for you. Loudly, sure, but they’re excited you’re home.” He caressed Shiloh’s cheek and smiled. “They’re your family, too.” Ronin glanced in the backseat and back to Shiloh. “Weallhave to put up with weird in-laws.”
“If I’m family to both of you, does that make your relationship incestuous?” Sage asked.
All four of them turned and barked,“Sage!”
“Jeez, none of you can take a joke,” Sage muttered.
EPILOGUE
Three months later…
After hours upon hours of labor with one point where he wasn’t sure he’d survive the pain, Shiloh finally held their baby girl in his arms. She was utterly perfect—and Shiloh couldn’t help but stare at the most precious thing he’d ever laid eyes on. Ronin cuddled close in the oversized hospital bed the birthing center offered, as protective as ever. He was practically under Shiloh, looking over one shoulder at their little girl. Shiloh caressed her soft cheek as she nursed heartily, almost humming with every suckle.
The door cracked open. Charlie and Preston Drake peeked in.
“Are grandparents allowed in yet?” Charlie whispered.
“Maybe after she’s done nursing,” Ronin said, frowning.
“Let them come in,” Shiloh whispered. “It’s their first grandchild.”
Ronin’s frown deepened. “Shiloh says to come in, so I guess you can.”
Ronin’s parents slipped inside, their smiles growing as they took in the sight of the new little family. Charlie dropped a bag of what appeared to bemorebaby gifts to add to the mountain they’d already given and scooted closer to the bed to have his first good look.
“Can I call first dibs once she’s done nursing?” Charlie whispered, lightly stroking the little bit of raven black hair on top of their daughter’s head.
Shiloh smiled. “The second she’s done.” He rested his head back on Ronin’s shoulder. “I’mveryready for a nap, and I hear grandparents make pretty good babysitters.”
“Wedooo,”Charlie said. “You can rest easy. We’ll take care of her.” He leaned in again, tears shining in his eyes. “Have you chosen a name?”
“Iliana Adi,” Shiloh said.
“That’slovely,” Charlie said. He looked over his shoulder. “Did you hear that, Preston? Iliana Adi.”
Preston smiled, eyeing the baby. “As pretty as she is.”
“Iliana is the name of the cyclone that landed us on that island,” Ronin told them. “Adi is Fijian. A title, not a name. One of the native tribes there call their female chieftains Adi.”
“Since she was conceived in Fiji and the island provided so much and kept us all alive—it only felt right to honor them in her name,” Shiloh said.
“And powerful, too,” Charlie said. “That’s important. Preston chose Ronin’s name for that reason. In Japan—wherehewas conceived—a ronin is a powerful warrior with no master.”
“I don’t need to know any more about that topic,” Ronin said.“Please.”
“I love how children can be when they know full well how the donuts get made,” Charlie said. “I can’t wait for this one to grow up and be disgusted learning what you two did to make her.”
A faint knock sounded at the door, and suddenly three more bodies filled the room. Sage, Riley, and Eirin crowded the bed, oohing and ahhing over little Illiana.
“Has anyone seen my parents?” Shiloh asked Riley as quietly as possible. Hopefully no one else overheard him, but they all knew his history with his parents.
Riley shook his head. “They asked me to text them when I had news. I did that almost two hours ago and haven’t heard back.” He winced. “Do you want me to call them?”
Shiloh shook his head before whispering, “I won’t beg for their attention.”
He leaned back against Ronin and let out a long, slow breath. His parents had come to his and Ronin’s quickie, family-only wedding—which they considered a renewing of their vows not a wedding. The state didn’t agree. They were funny about having an officiant and witnesses and things like that, so it had to be done again to make it legal. His parents hadn’t stayed long, though, mostly because the pair of them were barely able to sit in the same room together for more than ten minutes without fighting.
