Page 54 of Landing Eagle
Eagle accepted the box and shook it, eyeing Wasp skeptically. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
“Quit being a…” Wasp’s gaze dropped to Trent, who was watching him intently like always. “Wimp and open it.”
“Yeah, open it, Uncle Eagle,” Trent piped in. “Me and Dad worked really hard on it.”
Trent had started calling Wasp ‘Dad’ a few months ago, and it was possibly the sweetest thing ever.
“You helped him with this, Trent?” Eagle asked.
Trent nodded enthusiastically. “A man’s gotta learn how to work with his hands.”
Laughing, Eagle mussed up Trent’s hair. “That he does, kid.” He tore open the wrapping paper, uncovering an engraved wooden plaque that read ‘Eagle’s Nest.’ It even had a cute little eagle nesting. Eagle groaned, shooting daggers at Wasp with his eyes.
Wasp bent at the waist and laughed, having himself a good old time.
“Are you gonna hang it by your front door, Uncle Eagle?” Trent asked, his eyes so big and hopeful I couldn’t possibly let Eagle decline. Or bust it over Wasp’s head.
Grabbing the plaque from my husband, I nodded. “Of course we are, Trent. It’s awesome. Thank you so much.”
The smile Trent beamed me as he hugged my leg was worth hanging a hundred corny plaques in my house.
“Sorry,” Carly mouthed to me as I passed her. “I tried to stop him.”
“He’s a force, that one,” I replied.
“You have no idea.”
The doorbell rang, and I raised my eyebrows at Eagle in question. I hadn’t made it all the way around the room, but it looked like everyone we’d been expecting was already here.
Eagle beamed me a smile that made my insides go gooey. “That’s your surprise.”
He didn’t seem inclined to say more, so I hurried to the door and flung it open. Monica stood on my porch wearing a cute little shorts outfit and three-inch heels, her hair and makeup done to perfection as always. She took one look at me and screeched, throwing her arms around me.
“You… ohmigod, you’re here!” I said, into her shoulder.
“Wouldn’t miss your party for the world. Hell, I’m blowing off my boy-toy, Bo, so I can see you and my adorable little niece. You better have some hot, single biker men available to clean my pipes.”
Laughing, I gestured her inside. “Naturally. Just remember to wrap it up or you might find yourself here permanently.”
She cackled, walking past me into the house, pausing when she caught sight of Stocks. Grabbing my hand, she pulled me closer and said, “Who is that and why doesn’t he have my panties?”
“Stocks.” I laughed. “Want me to introduce you?”
“Later. I’m fixin’ to get me some of that just as soon as I get an eyeful of my niece. Where is she?”
Waving her in the direction of my dad and stepmother, I mentally prepared for the battle I knew was coming. Dad and Margo wouldn’t give Maya up easily. Everyone I loved was in my house and fighting over who got to hold my daughter. Life was good.
Eagle caught my eye and came sauntering over, looking all smug. “Were you surprised?” he asked.
“Very.” Leaning against him, I kissed the edges of his satisfied smile. “That was a sweet thing to do. Thank you.”
“Sweet enough to earn me some big husband points?” He took Wasp’s plaque from me and set it on the table by the front door, so he could take both of my hands in his.
“Massive amounts. All the husband points currently belong to me.”
He glanced around at our full living room and asked, “Think we can sneak off for a while?”
“As long as we leave Maya behind to entertain, I don’t think anyone will miss us,” I replied, matching his devious smile.
He looked torn about that for a moment before announcing, “Deal.”
Then he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the bedroom where I got on my knees so he could cash in on some of those husband points.
