"I'm sorry," Wren says, and I can tell she means it. "I should have told you sooner. I just... needed to figure things out first."
"And have you? Figured things out?"
Wren's eyes find mine across the room, and the look in them makes my chest feel too tight.
"Yeah," she says softly. "I think I have."
There's so much in those four words, in the way she's looking at me, that I have to grip the edge of my desk to stay seated.
Margot glances between us, her shrewd gaze clearly noting the shift in energy. "I see," she says, though her tone has softened marginally. "Well, in that case, perhaps you'd both join me for dinner this weekend. I'd like to get to know the man who's apparently going to be a permanent fixture in your life."
Wren looks as surprised by the invitation as I feel.
"We'd love to," I say before she can respond. "Sunday work for you?"
"Sunday is fine." Margot picks up her purse from where she'd set it beside the chair. "Wren knows where I live. Seven o'clock."
She moves to leave but pauses at the door. "And Kasen? If you hurt my daughter, I’ll make your life a living nightmare."
She delivers the threat with her chin held high, and it takes me a second to process the words. By the time I do, she's already sweeping out of my office.
"Well," I say after a moment. "That went better than expected."
Wren shakes her head, still looking stunned. "She invited you to dinner, and she threatened your life. I don't know which I should worry about more."
"Probably the dinner invitation," I say, standing and crossing to her. "The nightmare thing isn’t really a threat because I’ll do everything I can not to hurt you."
A small laugh escapes her. "Fair. But still." She looks up at me. "What did you say to her? Because when she called me this morning, she was still referring to you as 'that beer man who got you into this mess'."
I shrug, pulling her closer. "Just the truth."
"Which is?"
"That I love you," I say, giving into my need to touch her by tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear. "That I'm all in on you. That I respect what you've built too much to ever try to take it from you."
Her eyes soften, and she leans into my touch. "And she bought that?"
"I think she's reserving judgment. But the dinner invitation is probably a good sign."
Wren sighs, resting her forehead against my chest. "I'm sorry I didn't tell her sooner. I was... scared, I guess. Of her disappointment. Of having to explain how I ended up pregnant and married to the guy I spent years complaining about."
"Hey." I tip her chin up, making her look at me. "No apologies needed. Family's complicated."
Normally, I’d give her shit for admitting she talked about me foryears,but this time I let it go. For now.
"Speaking of family," she says, glancing toward the brewery floor. "Why is Banks here with Noble? And why does Lake look like he's seen a ghost?"
I laugh. "They came by to hang out, then your mom showed up and everyone scattered like cockroaches when the light came on."
She grins, and there's that smile I can never get enough of. "Cowards."
"Can't really blame them. Your mom is terrifying."
"She grows on you," Wren assures me. "Like a fungus."
I notice her shift her weight uncomfortably. "Everything okay?"
"Just tired," she says, her hand going to her belly. "It was a long day."
