“You what?”
“My buddy from my days in Australia. He’s gonna be my extra eyes and ears this week. You won’t even notice him.”
“You mean the huge guy over in the beach chair over there by himself.”
“Okay, you might notice him,” Cody says.
I can’t help but laugh.
As always Cody’s planned everything out, but as always he also hasn’t told us. He’s the Type A personality so we don’t have to be. He gets everything sorted out and just lets everything happen while he enjoys the surprises on our faces. That’s how he gets his satisfaction. For being a guy who takes a lot of getting used to in the beginning, he’s sure is more of a giver than a taker. He never asks for anything, other than our family to have a great time all the time.
And that’s just another reason why I love him.
And so do Casper, Afton, Sheridan, Lander, and Kaycee. We didn’t have triplets with Sheridan, Lander, and Kaycee, but we sure did get three more kids to love.
And now our little family isn’t so little anymore. We’re seven strong and the boys certainly got Cody’s size and strength. Because when I say we’re strong I mean the boys in our house are really strong. The University of Wyoming has already extended a scholarship to Casper, and Lander’s been on their radar for quite some time.
“Dad, this fell out of my shoe,” Lander says as he comes up from behind us handing Cody the GPS chip.
“How did that get there?”
I put my hand over my face and just shake my head. I’m so used to it it’s funny, but I’ve never seen Cody’s plans backfire. I’ll call him on it, but not in-front of the kids. We never argue to begin with, and we certainly wouldn’t want to look like we’re divided in front of our children.
“You kids going to go for a swim?” I ask.
“Yeah! Last one in’s a rotten egg!” Kaycee yells as she takes off and dives right in followed by four more splashes, two of which being cannonballs.
“Your chip fell out,” I say.
“Hardly. That was the decoy. Now they think they can slip away without being detected, but they can’t.”
“You put two chips in our shoes?”
“One I wanted them to find and one they won’t,” I say.
“Cody, what’s wrong with you?” I joke.
“Nothing. It’s just these big cities I’m worried about. What’s wrong with the people in them?”
“Relax, honey. We’re on vacation.”
“Vacation to me is taking our family out into the woods camping or fishing or hunting.”
“I know.” I reach over and take his hand. “Thank you for bringing us to Hollywood. The kids are so exited and I know we’re all gonna have a great time. You too.”
“I always have a great time when I’m with my family. You know that.”
“I know.”
We lean across the distance that separates our chairs and kiss. Suddenly we feel water splash us in the face.
We turn and look to see the kids having a bit of fun with us.
“Ready,” I say.
We jump up from our chairs and run to the water, never losing grip of the other’s hand, even as we splash into the water…together.
One of many spontaneous moments that I’m sure will foreshadow a whole lot more to come on our trip here.
He may be possessive, planning and plotting to a T, but he always knows how to cut loose and enjoy each and every second with his family and that’s what matters most.
“Come here, everybody,” he says.
We all swim together towards the shallow end of the pool and Cody wraps us all up in a hug, or as close as he can. His arms are big and strong, but not quite long enough.
But it’s okay. It’s more like we wrap him up in a hug.
He’s a possessive cowboy who likes to remind us that we’re all his…his pride and joy and his everything.
But he’s ours too. Our everything.
And he belongs to us and only us and we’ll never let him go…we’re keeping him forever all for ourselves. :)
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy