In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) Read online

  Wren walked around his town like she owned it. She was beautiful, regal, and fearless when she brought Maude up for her chance to shoot on him. Jensen had been so engrossed with the beauty that was his wife, he couldn’t even focus on the sweet girl who was coming at him. But he didn’t care. All he cared about was watching Wren’s face light up when Maude scored. And the way she kissed him. Yeah, he cared a lot about that.

  He almost couldn’t believe that it was happening.

  That she could be falling for him.

  But in a way, he felt it. Deep in his soul.

  And he prayed that he was right and not just grasping at straws. Because when he looked at her, he didn’t see anything but their future. Moving his hand up her arm, he placed it on her growing belly and found himself sighing happily. He couldn’t wait to meet his little guy, his son, his boy. He hoped to be a father like his dad because Antoine Monroe was one hell of a dad. So supportive, as was Winston Lemiere, his other dad for all intents and purposes. He had such great male role models, and he couldn’t wait to be that for his kid.

  When Wren’s hand covered his, his lips curved as she moved it over to where the kiddo was kicking like mad. He beamed as his eyes closed, a euphoric and beautiful feeling engulfing him as his son moved. When the baby’s activity subsided, Jensen opened his eyes to find Wren watching him.

  “It’s pretty damn cool.”

  “It is,” he answered, and then he leaned over, kissing the side of her mouth. “So are you.”

  “Me? No.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, you’re not cool. It’s all me,” he teased, and she laughed as his mother tapped his hand.

  “Mon chou, if you’re done eating, I need you to go socialize.”

  Jensen groaned inwardly. “Of course, Mum. Excuse me.”

  “No, take Wren. She’s so gorgeous, show her off.”

  This time it was Wren groaning as she stuffed a few bites into her mouth. No one said no to Emma Monroe, and Wren had learned that quickly. Getting up, she chewed as he threaded his fingers with hers. “You could have said no.”

  She scoffed. “Please.”

  He laughed softly as they moved from table to table, greeting everyone. From all stages of his life were people who had been there with him. His teachers, coaches, his friends, their parents, and more. It was like a reunion of sorts, and everyone was so kind to him and Wren. They gushed over how gorgeous she was and how beautiful she was pregnant. All Jensen could do was completely agree.

  She was the most gorgeous pregnant woman he had ever seen.

  And it gutted him that he wasn’t the one to do that to her.

  But he wouldn’t dwell.

  He couldn’t, or he’d drive himself mad.

  “Man, if I ever feel insecure, I’m moving here,” she teased as they walked away from the table that held all his high school teachers. “I’m apparently Miss USA around these parts.”

  He pressed his lips to her jaw. “You are, everywhere. At least to me.”

  She rolled her eyes, leaning into him as her face lit up. “Stop.”

  “Nope. Never.”

  Setting him with an annoyed but playful look, she shook her head. “Why can you make me blush, but no one else?”

  He wrapped his arm around her neck, probably messing up her hair, not that she cared. “Because when I say it, you know I mean it, and it’s true.”

  Kissing his nose, she nodded. “Maybe.”

  “Actually.”

  “Possibly.”

  “Truthfully.”

  She glared and he smiled. “A chance.”

  “Honestly,” he asserted back, and she found herself grinning.

  “You’re lucky I’m drunk on my not-wine and can’t think of another word.”

  He laughed. “So what you’re saying is that I’m in luck because I’m a bit tipsy and yet I can find a word?”

  She nodded, pleased with that assessment. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  “That’s—”

  “Jensen.”

  Stopping in his tracks, he looked up to find the last person he thought he’d see.

  His ex-wife.

  Ophelia stood in all her glory, tall and wearing even taller heels, her bone-straight brown hair down along her shoulders as her dress hugged every single inch of her. She didn’t look pregnant, but he had heard she was. By the dick who stood beside her.

  “Ophelia.”

  He could feel Wren tense up beside him as he let her go to lean over and press his lips to Ophelia’s cheek in a chaste way he didn’t want to, except out of politeness. Holding his hand out to the guy she married after she had left him, he said, “I’m Jensen. Nice to meet you.”

  “Colton, nice to meet you.”

  Well, that name was off the list now.

  “This is my wife, Wren. Ma chou, Ophelia and her husband, Colton.”

  Wren gave him a sideways look as she smiled curtly. “Hey.”

  Colton moved to her, but he paused when Wren shot him a look that clearly stated not to touch her. When Wren glanced back at Ophelia, her eyes were wide as she looked at Jensen. Smacking her hands together, Ophelia said, “Who would have guessed! Wren, Wren Lemiere. The girl from your billet house?”

  Jensen looked to her and smiled. “Yeah. Wells’s little sister.”

  She scoffed, shaking her head, anger floating in the depths of her blue eyes. “Wow, I could have sworn I was told that you didn’t have any feelings for her. You made that clear to me. Funny how things change, huh?”

  Jensen cleared his throat as he nodded, feeling Wren’s gaze on him. “Yeah—”

  “Or maybe it wasn’t the right time, right place? Now it is.” Wren smiled smugly.

  “Obviously,” Ophelia said curtly, her eyes falling to Wren. “Guess, congratulations are in order.”

  Jensen could feel her animosity and see the irritation in her eyes, but he wouldn’t let it bother him. She meant nothing to him. With a smile, he nodded as he reached out, holding Wren’s belly. “Thank you, we’re very excited.”

  Ophelia gave him a stern look that he knew meant she was pissed before she added, “Well, I’m sure—since we were told you couldn’t have children.”

  Jensen swallowed hard as he looked around, hoping no one heard her, but thankfully, the music was loud. Before he could say anything, though, Wren covered his hand with hers as she said, “Well, maybe it’s because he wasn’t with the right person.”

  “Excuse me?” Ophelia asked, her eyes narrowing to slits.

  “I didn’t stutter, for one. And for two, all this doesn’t matter because you left him for this guy you cheated with. So surely you don’t care about what or whom Jensen is doing.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Oh, please, don’t worry. You don’t have to convince us of anything because we aren’t worried about you. We’re good. Great, even. We’re having a baby, we are married, and one thing is for certain, I’m sure as hell not going to leave him high and dry the way you did,” Wren stated simply, her face darkening with color. “So yeah, go fuck off. And watch your back, Colton.”

  As Wren pulled Jensen away, he was a bit stunned while she led him out onto the dance floor. She was trying to cut through, but he had another idea. He tugged back, and she turned into his arms as he wrapped his arms around her. “Can I have this dance?”

  With a grin cresting her sweet lips, she moved her hands up his chest and around his neck before she nodded. “Always.”

  Moving his hands along her hips, he wanted to be closer, but their son was in his way. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t like her.”

  “Totally aware of that.”

  “She’s lucky we’re both pregnant. I would have decked her.”

  “I would have paid to see that.”

  She scoffed, looking up at him. “She’s awful. Why’d you even go for her? She’s the complete opposite of me. I’m pretty sure my big toe weighs more than she doe