Page 89 of Not Part of the Plan
The formal dining room had soaring ceilings and room for at least a dozen. The master bedroom was four times the size of her postage-stamp sized room now. She smiled, realizing Niko wouldn’t have to duck to get under the showerhead in this bathroom. The third floor library space would be a perfect studio and office for Niko.
And that’s when things fell apart.
Emma wasn’t just envisioning herself in the house. She was picturing Niko editing photos upstairs, sprawled out in front of the fireplace in the formal living room, joining her in the glass shower in the master bathroom.
“Did you see the molding around the doors?” Phoebe gushed as they returned to the first floor via the spectacular staircase at the center of the house that was designed for teenage girls to make their grand entrances on prom night.
“Mmm-hmm.” It was all Emma could get out. Somehow her brain had taken a vacation, and her imagination had built a life around Nikolai Vulkov and this house. Maybe there really was something hallucinogenic in the water in Blue Moon? But she knew the danger in trying to turn “see where this goes” into a concrete future.
“Well, what do you think?” Bruce asked, clasping his hands in front of him.
“It’s wonderful,” Emma admitted. But she needed to decide if it was wonderful because she’d fantasized Niko all over the house or if it really fit what she wanted in a home. “Maybe a little big for just me?”
“It’s a home to grow into,” Bruce said, suddenly serious. “Just imagine all of those bedrooms full with children and guests. Think of how much happiness these walls could hold.”
Emma cleared her throat, trying to dislodge the emotion that had settled there. She could see it. Thanksgivings and birthdays. The gallery dedicated to Niko’s work in the stairway that rose three floors up. She couldfeelit.
“It’s a possibility,” she said finally.
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Poker night was exactly what he’d needed, Niko decided, taking another bite of superb Italian sub. They crowded around a table on Beckett’s third floor in a spacious room with gabled ceiling and thick carpet. All three Pierce brothers, the off-duty Donovan Cardona, the fully clothed Fitz, and Evan, who at thirteen had a surprising aptitude for the game, settled in for the evening.
Franklin missed the fun to fill in as host in his restaurant, and Niko wasn’t disappointed. He’d never spent time with the father of anyone he was seeing. Though he’d known the man for a year, things were different now. And with everyone around the table knowing that he and Emma were having sex and more, Franklin’s absence was relief.
“How’s it going with the kids?” Niko asked Jax.
Jax scratched his jaw and discarded. “Good. Really good. It’s definitely an adjustment, but I don’t know who it’s harder on, us or them.”
“Still can’t believe you and Joey for all intents and purposes are parents,” Beckett said stroking his beard with a disbelieving shake of his head.
“Said the man wearing a baby,” Jax shot back. Lydia was curled up in her wrap, sound asleep against Beckett’s chest.
“Gia took Aurora to the studio. Lyd’s easy when she sleeps.” Beckett picked up his sub and took a healthy bite.
“Nothing about babies or kids looks easy,” Donovan argued. “First you have babies who are completely dependent on you for everything. Then they turn into kids and teenagers who will do anything to be independent of you. It’s insane.”
“You ever planning on having a family?” Carter asked Donovan, washing down his veggie sub with a swallow of cold beer.
Donovan shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah. Probably. Eventually. If I find the right future Mrs. Cardona.”
“Family’s easier with the right partner,” Beckett agreed, folding.
“Someone like Eva Merill?” Niko asked with a sly grin. He had no problem throwing others under the significant other bus.
Donovan shot him a look that made Niko glad the man wasn’t carrying his service weapon.
“You and Aunt Eva?” Evan asked, studying Donovan with a frown.
“What? He’s bang— uh, dating your aunt Emma.” Donovan pointed an accusatory finger in Niko’s direction.
Evan laid the evil eye on Niko and shook his head slowly. “I think they both could do better,” he sighed, straight-faced.
The table busted up, and Niko put Evan in a headlock and ruffled his hair. “Smart ass.”
Evan smirked. “Just be respectful of them and treat them well, and we won’t have a problem.”
Beckett threw his stepson a salute. “Listen to the kid. Because if either of you fuck with either of them, Evan and I are going to start taking names.”
