They went over wedding planning, then went out to lunch. Liz parted ways with Tara and Jenna, then headed home, hoping to find Gavin there. Instead, he’d left a message on her phone letting her know he was going for a tux fitting, and then lunch.
Which was fine with her. She had some work to do, anyway, so she opened her laptop and answered a few emails. When she was done, she reviewed her calendar.
It was going to be an extremely busy holiday season. Not only was Jenna getting married—with Liz taking a very active role in that, which she was very excited about—but in addition, she and Gavin would be hosting Christmas for the Riley family in their home this year. Since this was the first time they’d have the entire family over for Christmas, Liz felt the burden of doing everything just right.
Not that Gavin’s family put high expectations on Christmas or anything. His parents were the kindest people she’d ever known. Kathleen and Jimmy Riley had been family to her—more parents to her than her own—since before she and Gavin had ever gotten together. She loved them so much, and they were genuinely warm people. So there was no pressure, other than the normal pressure she put on herself, which was always high.
But still, there’d be a lot of coordinating to do. The Riley family was formidable, and now that there were wives and kids and significant others in the picture, Christmas was going to be huge this year. And Liz intended for this to be the best holiday ever.
She made a few notes about food. Catering was out, unfortunately, because the Rileys just wouldn’t go for that. Nothing but homemade at Christmas. Kathleen would help her, of course, and so would Tara, along with Kathleen’s sister-in-law, Cara. They’d all have to get together and discuss options.
This would totally work.
She leaned back in her chair and stretched, then thought about Gavin and that wretched pregnancy test from earlier.
She pushed back and stood, heading into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. She’d be damned if she’d let her body defeat her. She poured tea into her cup and leaned against the kitchen counter.
If someone had told her two years ago that she would be married and trying to have a baby, she’d have laughed in their face. She’d been totally career driven, and there had been no man on her radar.
Except Gavin, of course. She’d always loved Gavin, but in secret. He’d been the man of her dreams, someone she’d been close to as a client only. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought she and Gavin would get together, let alone fall in love and end up married. That’s when her desire for a child—someone who was part of both of them—had started to take hold. She was almost in her midthirties now. If she was ever going to have children, it was time to get going on that. A now or never kind of thing, because she wasn’t getting any younger.
Which was why she wouldn’t let her dream of having a child go up in smoke.
Giving up wasn’t an option. They just needed to have more sex. Gavin was strong and virile, and she was still young enough. She worked out and ate right. There was no reason they couldn’t get pregnant. Gavin was off season right now, which meant he was more available than usual, and that meant more time for sex. Granted, she’d be a more than a little busy with the wedding and holiday planning, but if there was one thing Liz knew how to do, it was make time for sex.
She smiled against the rim of her teacup.
Operation Make A Baby was on.
Chapter Two
Gavin smirked at his soon-to-be brother-in-law while they sat waiting in the tuxedo shop. “So, Tyler, what are your intentions toward my baby sister?”
“I plan to marry the hell out of her, if that’s okay with you.”
Gavin shrugged. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting into? She’s kind of a pain in the ass. Moody. Sometimes grouchy as hell.”
“Sounds like that’s how she treats you. She’s great to me.”
Gavin laughed. “You’re probably right.”
“I don’t know,” Mick said. “She’s always liked me.”
“Bullshit. She fought with you as much as she fought with me.”
Mick arched a brow at Gavin. “That’s not the way I remember it. She always ran to me when you were picking on her.”
“No. It was me. She hated both of you and ran to her favorite cousin.”
Gavin laughed at Cole.
“Anderson party?”
“Oooh, we’re a party,” Gavin said, nudging Ty when he stood.
“Not yet,” Ty said. “But as soon as all this tuxedo crap is over with, we’re heading to the bar.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Gavin said.
It took about an hour to pick out the tuxes, though Jenna had already made a couple suggestions, and Ty, not really caring, went with what Jenna wanted. They were all fitted, except for Ty’s two teammates and friends Victor and Eddie, who couldn’t make it. But now that the tuxes had been selected, they could stop in and get their measurements anytime. All Gavin cared about was that his part was done. They were out of there as fast as possible, so they could head to Riley’s bar.
“We’re lucky we could all be together this week,” Mick said. “Fortunately, we’re playing Cole’s team, so I’m actually in town in time for the tux fitting.”
“Yeah, it worked out well,” Ty said.
“We’re going to kick your ass.”
“In your f**king dreams, Cole” Mick said.
“We’ll see, pretty boy. You’re getting kind of old to play football. Shouldn’t you think about moving into the broadcast booth or something? Maybe play stay-at-home dad while Tara makes the big bucks?”
Gavin snorted.
“Hey,” Mick said. “You’re my brother. Shouldn’t you be on my side?”
“I’m on nobody’s side when it comes to family playing family. I’m just going to enjoy the two of you trash-talking each other.”
Cole smirked and leaned back in his chair. When Renee, their waitress came over, she high-fived them all.
“I was wondering when the Riley crew would come in. Beers?”
“I’ll definitely have one,” Tyler said.
Gavin nodded. “Me, too.”
“Soda for me,” Mick said.
“Soda here, too,” Cole said. “Though I could drink ten beers and still kick your ass come game time.”