"B-but she just came back from antique doll convention," Mathew pointed out desperately.
"She'll have pictures! Lots and lots of pictures!" Sebastian cried, sounding close to panic.
"And you'll be spending the entire party with her if you act up or convince any of the other kids to act up," Trevor promised. "Am I understood?"
"Yes, daddy," came the unified muttered response from the backseat.
"Good," Trevor said, wiping the cookie crumbs off on his pants before he reached over and took her hand into his. She placed her other hand over his and absently traced shapes on his hand as he caressed her palm with his thumb.
Even after all these years it still surprised her that he loved her. The fact that he could probably have any woman he wanted and he'd chosen her still humbled her. She would never be thin, gorgeous or sexy, but Trevor didn't seem to care. Actually, when she voiced her opinion on the matter he got really pissed and informed her that she was the sexiest woman he'd ever laid eyes on and then proceeded to prove it to her.
Repeatedly.
It only proved how much he loved her, which was all that mattered to her.
"We're here!" Jessica said excitedly.
Zoe looked over at the large two level dusk grey home and couldn't help but smile as she did every time she saw it even though five years had passed since it was built. The guys had done such a wonderful job building Haley's dream home. It was warm and inviting just like Haley. But as much as she loved the house that her family worked hard to build it was the old Colonial home that Trevor renovated for her that she absolutely adored.
Trevor's deep chuckle drew her attention. "Looks like your cousins are ready to pounce," he said, nodding towards the front of the house where Cole, Elizabeth and Joshua stood waiting no doubt to help "relieve" them of the food. They were so much like their father sometimes it was scary.
"You kids want to play a game?" Trevor asked as he climbed out of the car. The loud excited chorus of "yes" nearly made her head pop, but she was laughing too as she climbed out of the car and helped the kids out. They immediately ran around to the back of the car to learn about the game.
"I'm going to give you each a box," Trevor said, gesturing to the four large boxes of baked goods, "and your job is to get these to your Uncle Jason, whom I'm willing to bet is out back near the grill."
"What do we get if we win?" Sebastian asked, taking a box and shifting excitedly as he eyed his cousins.
"Your uncle's undying love," Trevor said, laughing. "And the knowledge that you won."
"And probably a cookie or two," Zoe added, knowing how the Bradford mind worked.
Johnnie nodded firmly. "Let's go." With that all four children strolled casually towards the side of the house until their cousins narrowed their eyes on them and gave chase. Several excited squeals later and all seven kids were running towards the backyard, leaving them to follow at a leisurely stroll.
*********
"It's so beautiful and peaceful here," Zoe said, sighing contently the way she did every time they came here, which was often. A lesser man might be insulted that his wife got a dreamy eyed expression on her face every time she looked at another man's house, but he knew his wife absolutely adored the house that he'd fixed up for her. The few times he'd offered to build a house for her she glared at him as if he'd said something insulting.
It always made him feel good to know that he made her happy. After the really f**ked up start they had he was glad that he was finally doing something right, well right with a lot of little mishaps along the way. But they were happy, unfucking-believably happy, which still surprised him every now and then. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have found the perfect woman.
She was beautiful, smart, funny, a great wife and mother, a horrible singer, a decent cook and baked things that even their dogs wouldn't touch and she was his and he wouldn't change a damn thing about her. Zoe still didn't bother with makeup or care about the latest fashions, but she still managed to turn him on with very little effort and probably always would.
"Did you bring your bathing suit, sweetheart?" he asked, already picturing her in that black one piece that showed off a decent amount of cle**age and her shapely hips. He'd kill to get her into a two piece, but the stubborn woman only laughed like he was joking when he suggested it.
He wasn't.
He was in love with his wife's body and it truly pissed him off when she thought there was something wrong with it. Her body was perfect. She hadn't lost any weight since they came together all those years ago, but she also hadn't gained any even with the pregnancies and if she ever lost the extra weight that made her soft and curvy he was pretty sure he'd cry.
"I left it at home," she said with a shrug as if she hadn't just wrecked his plans for the afternoon. He'd been looking forward to sitting back with an ice cold beer as he ogled his wife. Now he'd have to settle for having her luscious ass resting on his lap, he thought with a shit eating grin as she released his hand so that she could place the anniversary gift they'd brought for Jason and Haley on a table overflowing with gifts for the happy couple.
He let his eyes run over the pretty pink cotton sun dress she'd worn for the occasion and damn near sighed. She was so damn beautiful she made him ache.
"Trevor!" Jason yelled, grabbing his attention. He looked up from his wife's beautiful legs, hesitantly, to find Jason gesturing him over towards a new large gas grill and several tables filled with food.
As he walked past Zoe he ran his hand over her bottom, giving it an affectionate squeeze that he knew had her blushing without having to look, but he did. She looked so pretty standing there that he couldn't help himself. He bent down and gave her a quick kiss before she playfully pushed him away.
"Your children are punks," Jason said affectionately as Trevor grabbed a beer from one of the large coolers and joined him
"So are yours," Trevor said, chuckling as he gestured to the trio who were currently wrestling with their grandfather Jared in front of what appeared to be a large platter of cupcakes while two of Trevor's kids egged them on.
He wasn't too surprised when he spotted Sebastian and Mathew sneak in around the little distracted crowd and lift the platter of cupcakes and make a hasty retreat. They signaled their brother and sister with a soft whistle as they made their way towards the back of the pool with the large platter of cupcakes.
"Your children truly frighten me," Jason said even as he caught the little sneaks' attention with a low whistle. The boys paused a few feet away from the pool fence and freedom and shot their father and uncle a calculating look, probably trying to figure what the odds of escaping with all their ill gotten cupcakes were. Between him and Jason, they weren't good.