“Yeah,” I grunt, my eyes drifting back to the entrance of the room. “Everything is ready. I have a banner and balloons being delivered the morning of the party along with food from our restaurant and a big fancy cake.”
Ace nods in understand. He grins while shaking his head ruefully. “I can’t believe she’s going to be ten. Double digits is a big deal.”
My heart clenches in my chest because he’s not fucking wrong. I rub my chest absently and breathe out, “Yeah. It’s a big deal.”
I can feel Ace studying me, but I can’t pull my gaze away from the entranceway. Brielle should be here at any moment. Taking a long swig of my beer, finishing it off easily, is barely a distraction from the tension I’m trying to ignore in my body.
Because she’s not here. Not yet. But I want her to be here. I’m almost desperate for it.
“How was the weekend at home?” Ace’s voice is full of curiosity without a hint of malice.
I glance his way and his eyes are alight with amusement. As if watching me all twisted up in knots as I wait for my woman is amusing. Maybe it is to him.
“It was good. Rian basked in the attention, and everyone welcomed Brielle with open arms.” I find myself smiling at the memory. It was only days ago, but it fills me with a warmth I can’t put into words.
“Did you doubt they would?”
“No,” I answer him honestly. “I knew they would.” I chuckle under my breath and add, “I didn’t expect my mom to cry though.”
Ace barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “I’m not surprised. Mama Arden doesn’t hide her emotions. Every time she visits us here, I expect her to ask me if I have enough clean underwear.” His voice drops to a whisper, “It’s kind of nice.”
I grin at my brother with understanding. “She’ll happily mother you anytime you need it. She’s good at it.”
Before he can say anything, I straighten where I’m standing because the air shifts in the room. I know she’s about to walk in before I can see her. The moment she does, everything in the room seems to still.
I know it doesn’t though.
The party keeps going.
The laugher is just as loud.
The music is still filling the room.
But none of it penetrates because all I can see is her and the only thing I can hear is a faint buzzing in my ear. Ace’s proximity falls away completely, but I do hear him let out a low whistle which would have me wanting to kill him if I wasn’t so focused on my woman.
When her dark eyes find mine, a slow smile grows on her face, and I take a step toward her without even realizing it. But she’s already heading right toward me.
I glance around the room to find way too many of my brothers watching her close the distance between us. What I want to do is gouge all of their eyes out with a rusty spoon. All I do is clench my hands into fists at my sides.
“Damn,” I hear Ace breathe out behind me.
The only thing preventing me from glaring at him is Brielle stopping right in front of me with our toes almost touching. Her dark eyes sweep over my face and then a small smile that’s just for me lights up her entire face. How does such a small smile do that?
I shake my head slowly, clearing away the cobwebs or maybe the lingering anxiety in my gut from being on edge and waiting for her to arrive.
“Hey,” she whispers, her soft voice cutting through the din of the room with ease.
I know it’s because I’m attuned to her. I know it’s because I would hear her over any sound. Because she’s mine.
“You’re beautiful, Tiny Dancer,” I rasp and watch as her cheeks pink slightly.
When I tuck her into my side and turn toward Ace, she melts into me and it feels like I’ve just returned victorious in battle. She gives Ace a small smile that makes me contemplate murder. Again.
“Hi, Ace,” her voice is soft and more than a little hesitant.
He blinks at her before giving her a sheepish look. “Have we met? I’m quite sure I would remember meeting a gorgeous woman like yourself,” he flirts with her and I narrow my eyes in warning.
A warning he doesn’t heed.