Page 174 of The Risk Taker
Sterling says something that has them all looking at him. Slade glances at me, then back at his father.
“He’s telling them that he sold the house,” Halliday says, her eyes glued to Sterling.
“The beach house?” Tate frowns.
Halliday nods. “He kept it all these years because he felt like he’d be letting Slade go if he didn’t. But now he wants to move on. Heneedsto.”
“I understand that,” I murmur, looking back toward the shore.
I know Slade will visit Nandi, and he wants to see Declan. He’s already asked him to come and stay with us in New York. But I don’t think he will be wanting to come back to South Africa much, at least, not for a long time. Those memories are still too raw right now.
“Maybe Sterling will buy another one, someplace new,” Tate says.
“Or he’ll find a new place to keep this yacht,” Halliday says.
We whip our heads toward her.
“I thought he hired this,” I say.
Halliday smiles. “No, he bought it. He said he’s ready to get back out on the water again. He’s going to have it taken to The Bahamas. Molly wants to see the swimming pigs there.”
“They’re in the ocean!” Molly pipes up from where she’s coloring at the low table beside us.
“Wow, clever pigs,” I say, making her grin.
Trudy comes out from inside the cabin. “I’ve got drinks ready. Shall I bring them out?”
“Thanks, darling. I’ll help,” Mal says, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her. She holds him tight, rubbing his back, and the two of them go inside together.
“He’s doing okay,” Sterling says, walking over with the others. “We had a call from the authorities yesterday. I didn’t want to bring it up on your wedding days, but they’ve said it’s unlikely he’ll serve time. There’s talk of charging him with arson and giving him a suspended sentence.”
“Okay,” Sinclair says, looking at Sterling with wide eyes. “So we just keep doing what we’re doing, being there for one another.”
“Yes. We stick together.” Sterling sighs, his eyes softening as Mattison gives up trying to sleep and gazes at him with big blue eyes.
“Are you looking at your handsome daddy, little gift?” Halliday coos.
I smile at the meaning of Mattison’s name.Gift, just like Halliday said. She hands the baby to Sterling and slips her arm around his waist as they head inside after Trudy and Mal.
“We’ve got a Molly and a Mattison. Looks like we’ve moved on from S and going for M now.” Tate twists her lips in thought. “How about Melody?” she asks Sullivan.
He coughs with surprise, his brow creasing. But as his eyes meet hers, they heat enough to make me feel like I’m intruding on a private moment.
“You want a baby?” he asks Tate.
Tate looks shocked for a moment, like she’s just realized what she’s said, then stands and walks over to him, her expression growing thoughtful. “I mean… yes, I would actually. We could do all the night feeds together. You wouldn’t be doing it by yourself this time. And Molly will be an amazing help. She loves babies.”
A muscle in Sullivan’s cheek clenches, and he stares at Tate intently. The only crack in his armor is a slight pinch at the corners of his eyes, as if he’s trying to remain stoic but is melting inside.
“She does,” he says finally, a look passing between him and Tate that has a small smile tilting his lips.
“So we have to go with M now too?” Sinclair huffs, pretending to be annoyed. “Fine. Any ideas?” She looks at Denver with an arched brow.
“How about we make the baby first, Princess?” he says in a low voice.
“Why didn’t I think of that, Brute?” She rolls her eyes, before her mouth pops wide. “Wait! Oh my God… Halliday might have gotten Mattison out, but…” She looks Denver up and down. “You’re practically a mountain. It’ll be like being bred by the Hulk. My vagina will be wrecked.”
Sullivan pinches the bridge of his nose. “I wish I could unhear that.”
