Babies. They would come soon. Rafe had already talked about how he wanted to add to the next generation of the King family.
“It’s funny,” Katie said softly to the women who were already her friends as well as almost-relatives. “Just a few months ago, I hated the Kings.”
“Yeah,” Jackson’s wife Casey said as she unwrapped a sheath of plastic cups, “we all heard about Cordell. If it helps, everyone knows he’s a dog.”
Maggie chimed in with, “Justice offered to beat him up, as soon as Cordell arrived today, but apparently Rafe already took care of it.”
“Yeah, he did,” Katie assured them. “But as much as I hate to admit it, without Cordell being a jerk, I might never have fallen in love with Rafe.”
“So, it was worth it then?” Jesse’s wife Bella asked.
“More than,” Katie assured them. Then she glanced out the window to see her neighbor Nicole walking into the yard with her son in tow. “A friend of mine just showed up. I’ll be back to finish up the potato salad!”
“No, you won’t,” Julie told her. “This is your engagement party. Go out and enjoy it. We’ll take care of the setup.”
Smiling, Katie left her beautiful kitchen and walked into the yard. Her grandmother and aunt were in heaven, playing with all of the King kids. The men were gathered around the brick barbecue Rafe had finished building only last week, arguing over the best way to grill steaks. She caught a glimpse of Rafe in the middle of them all and couldn’t help smiling. She had been so wrong. The rich weren’t snobby. At least, the Kings weren’t. They were just people.
“This is some party,” Nicole said as she walked up and gave Katie a hug.
“It is. And I’m so glad you came.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it. As your future matron of honor, it’s my duty to sit here and have a beer and eat steak.” Nicole picked Connor up and placed him on her hip. “And your ring bearer wants a cookie.”
Katie laughed, delighted, and leaned in to kiss Connor. “My special ring bearer can have as many cookies as I can sneak him!”
When two strong, familiar arms snaked around her middle from behind, Katie leaned back into Rafe’s chest with a sigh of satisfaction.
“Hi, Nicole,” he said, planting a quick kiss on Katie’s head. “Glad you could make it.”
“Are you kidding? Wouldn’t be anywhere else,” she told him. Then with a wry smile at the two of them, she added, “I’ll just take Connor in to grab a cookie. We’ll see you later.”
Rafe turned her to face him and Katie flung her arms around his neck. He kissed her hard and long and deep and when her head was buzzing and her balance had completely dissolved, he lifted his head and looked down at her. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”
“You have,” she said, “but I never get tired of hearing it.”
“Good. I plan to say it often. Just so you never forget it.”
“Not a chance,” she promised.
He rested his forehead against hers. “So, after meeting the thundering herd of Kings, you still want to marry me next month?”
His tone was joking, but she knew that a part of him was still worried that something might happen to tear them apart. He might not believe that he was capable of love, but Katie knew differently. Rafe King had more love to give than most men, simply because he’d never known it before. And she knew that once his heart was given, it was forever.
“You’re not getting away from me now, Rafe,” she said softly. “We’re getting married and I am going to love you forever.”
His eyes flashed, his mouth curved, and he pulled her in hard against him for a hug that left her breathless. But who needed to breathe when you were surrounded by love?
When he finally let her go, he draped one arm around her shoulders and, together, they walked into the circle of family.