In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) Read online

  Wren looked away bashfully as her hands came up to hold her belly. It was a warm day, so she was wearing a pair of shorts and an Assassins tee with Jensen’s number on the back. It was his and was massive on her shoulders, but her belly fit perfectly. “Thanks. I feel huge, but Jensen has made me go walking every day we’ve been here, and he won’t let his mom stuff me full of her amazing French cuisine.”

  Elli scowled. “That’s rude.”

  “That’s what I said!”

  “I’ll fire him for you.”

  Wren laughed out loud at that. “We both know you won’t.”

  She exhaled hard. “Not after my poor Tate.”

  “I know. I talked to him last night and then Audrey too for over two hours,” Wren added, shaking her head. “I’m still torn up over it.”

  “It’s for the best, I know that, but I love that guy.”

  “I do too, he’s a good man.”

  “He is, but I think he’s going to be on the goalie team, which will be excellent. I just need him to get better.”

  “He’ll do awesome.”

  “He will,” Elli agreed, squeezing Wren’s hand. “Thank you for everything you do for my boys.”

  “That’s what you hired me for.”

  Elli waved her off, though. “But you go above and beyond, like I do. You care, and it means the world to me.”

  “Well, thank you,” Wren said, her lips curving. She leaned into Elli. “I have a great boss.”

  “Damn right, you do,” she teased and then laughed before shaking her head. “But really, Wren, I can’t get over how good you look! At Lucy’s party, you looked like a deer in the headlights. But today? So damn happy.”

  Wren looked away, a grin pulling at her lips as her gaze fell on Jensen. He tackled a little kid, carrying him over his head, laughing loudly with all the kids that were around him. He was a natural out there, and she hadn’t seen him smile so much in one hour as he did when he was out there with those kids. Wren’s heart sped up as her hands ran along her own child growing inside of her. She admitted, “I have a damn good reason to be happy.”

  “Yeah, you do,” Elli agreed as she leaned into her. “He’s a damn fine man.”

  “Wrenya!”

  Looking over to where Antoine was calling her, Wren held up a finger. “Jensen’s dad needs me. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Give me a hug in case I miss you before I leave,” Elli said before they embraced.

  “Thanks so much for coming.”

  “Of course, see you soon.”

  Sending her one last smile, Wren headed toward where Antoine was manning the scoreboard in a huge tent since he didn’t do well in the sun. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “Wrenya, sorry for calling for you like that, but can you get me a water? Emma is off running her mouth with all these people and forgot that I need to be watered.”

  Patting her father-in-law’s arm, she nodded. “Of course. I’ll be back.”

  “You’re the best,” he called, though it was hard to hear over all the laughter and joyful activity around them. Heading toward the concession stand, Wren went in the back and grabbed two bottles of water before sending a grin to the girl that was running it for Antoine and Emma. Wren hadn’t realized everyone knew everyone in this town. Being back at the Monroes’ house, where no one was around for at least twenty miles, she’d thought there wasn’t anyone else in the area, but coming into town, she realized she was very wrong.

  The town was small, but its residents loved each other dearly. The whole morning all she heard was people asking about Antoine’s health and then how Wren’s pregnancy was going. They accepted Wren as one of their own, acting as if they had known her her whole life. It was insane. Everyone was just so kind, and they treated Jensen with such beautiful respect. It was obvious he was the golden boy in the town. It was lovely to watch, and she was having a blast.

  All while trying really hard not to think about the fact that she’d be heading home in two days.

  Being with the Monroes was almost like a fairy tale. Or maybe that was Jensen. He just made her feel so good. She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay there, in the security and strength she’d found in the Monroes’ home. No wonder how Jensen was so damn confident and strong; he had two wonderful people to model himself after. She also understood why he strived for a love-filled marriage. His parents had that, and it was something she had never been able to observe. Her parents loved each other, sure, but it was different with Antoine and Emma. It was more than love, it was… She wasn’t sure, but it was beautiful to witness.

  Heading toward where Antoine was waiting for her, she found herself stopped by Emma, who was standing with a few women Wren had seen more than once that day. “Wrenya, come here, love.”

  Wren did as she was asked, and Emma wrapped her arms around her, kissing her cheek. “This is my gorgeous daughter-in-law, Wrenya.”

  Wren smiled awkwardly as everyone wished her well. “You look like Jensen’s best friend. The thicker one,” one of the ladies said.

  “Wells, yes, that’s her brother,” Emma pointed out before turning to Wren. “This is Jensen’s ex-mother-in-law.”

  Looking back to the thin woman, Wren tried to smile. Though, she pretty much hated his ex-wife and anyone associated with her. “Oh. Nice to meet you.”

  “You as well. My lovely Ophelia is on her fifth pregnancy, you hear, Emma? Though, I’m still sad that she and Jensen never could work it out.”

  “It was all her fault,” one of the other ladies said.

  “Who lets go of someone like Jensen Monroe?” another asked, and Wren grinned.

  “Yeah, her loss, my gain,” she said, which caused the lady’s face to wrinkle a bit before she flashed them all a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, Ant needs me.” Kissing Emma’s cheek, Wren headed toward where Ant was waiting under his tent, and when he saw her, he lit up.

  “Thank God, I’m dying here.”

  Wren giggled as she handed him the water bottle and sat down beside him. “How’s it going?”

  “Wrapping up, then they’ll do the shootout.”

  “The shootout?”

  “Yeah, all the kids will get a chance to score on Jensen, and whoever does will get to hold the Cup first.”

  Wren’s lips curved. “That’s cute.”

  “Yeah, it will be fun,” he said as he added a point from where someone had scored. “Have you seen my woman?”

  “She’s over there talking to Jensen’s ex-wife’s mom,” she said, her face twisting as if she had something nasty in her mouth.

  “She’s jealous. She loved Jensen, but her daughter was a whore.”

  Sputtering with laughter, Wren nodded. “Got that right.”

  Shaking his head, he leaned into Wren. “See, the problem with Ophelia was she didn’t love Jensen with her soul. You know what I mean?”

  Wren pressed her lips together. “I don’t, sorry.”

  “Okay, see, I love my Emma with my soul. Not my heart, because a heart can stop. And not with my mind, because a mind forgets. But a soul, Wrenya, a soul never stops, nor does it forget. It just loves. Same thing with you and Jensen—you love with your soul.”

  She met his gaze, and his infectious grin had her smiling back. “That’s beautiful.”

  “That’s love. Always love with your soul, you hear me, Wrenya?”

  “I do,” she said, patting his hand, and he captured her hand before bringing it to his mouth.

  “Good girl,” he said, kissing her hand before he rang the bell. Everyone stopped, and then Jensen started speaking very rapidly in French before the kids all let out a variety of ecstatic cries. It was sexy. People started wrangling the kids as Jensen came to the table with a grin on his face. “It’s going great, son.”

  He nodded. “It’s awesome, Dad, thanks.” Looking to Wren, he asked, “Ma chou, you see Elli?”

  She glared at the nickname as he fought back his laughter. She loved