Things had changed for the better. Kaia and I knew how much we cared about each other, and that making ourselves a little family was now firmly on the table. It also meant that a lot of our date nights were becoming family nights that included the kids. That meant that Tuesday was pizza and a movie night with the kids wanting to watch How To Train Your Dragon and then Thursday was a night on the boat. I'd invested in an extra car seat for Kassidy, and a smaller life preserver for her that was similar to Connor's, and she was thrilled that they matched. Yeah, they were amazing to see together. I could already see the family coming together, and now it was a matter of making it real.

We got lucky on Saturday, since there was only a six hour charter instead of an eight hour one, and that gave us enough time to find Kaia an outfit for the office holiday party. I had been going out of my way to not buy anything extravagant for her, because I knew she always valued her independence, but she hadn't needed a dress since her junior prom, and I wanted to spoil her with a late Christmas present since I hadn't known her back then. Besides, it was another week till Valentine's Day, and I had every intention of spoiling her then too.

We settled on a backless sheath dress in a lovely purple with a slit up to her thigh that my hands were aching to run my fingers over. With her matching heels, I knew she'd be drawing stares from everyone at the party. I almost had to beg her to let me buy her jewelry too, but she finally gave in because she had nothing except a few things given to her as gifts when she was a kid. Now she had a matching set of amethyst earrings, necklace and bracelet all set in white gold that looked stunning on her. Purple was her color for sure.

When I finally saw her with her hair and makeup done, I was speechless. She had her hair pulled back in a half bun so she could show off her neck and the new earrings, and the slit in her dress helped in showing off her deeply tanned legs. "Damn! Kaia you look like you stepped right out of the sunset. You look stunning!" I took her carefully in my arms and gave her a light kiss that wouldn't smudge any of her make up.

"You cleaned up pretty well too, Cole. Am I going to have to beat up all the ladies to keep them away from you tonight?" I was wearing a charcoal colored suit with a pale purple shirt to match my girl, and I think we made a pretty nice looking couple. You may be shocked to learn that my mom had to take some pictures like we were heading back to a high school prom. Neither of us minded a bit. We didn't have many pictures of us together, and we needed some.

"Nope, I'll only have eyes for you." With her heels she was closer to my height, and the dress hugged every one of her delightful curves. I didn't even want to go to the party anymore, I just wanted to keep her to myself. Oh! But I better warn her about Gina. "There will be one of my coworkers, Gina, who is a major flirt, but she's harmless and I think she just does it out of reflex now. She's one of our most talented workers though, and on my team. I'm sure you'll meet her tonight."

"Thanks, though I don't think I'll have any worries about keeping your interest." She ran her hand inside my suit jacket. "I know what kind of man you are, and I'm not letting you go. I'll make sure everyone knows you're mine."

I chuckled at her statement. "Weren't you the one worrying about my possessiveness?"

"Yes, I was. But I'm not going to make you do anything different than you are already doing, I'm just going to make sure every woman understands that I'm not giving you up."

"And I'm not giving you up either Kaia, so no guy better come flirting with you either."

"Cole, no guy is ever going to flirt with me while I'm on your arm, they'd be terrified."

She was right on the money with that. The party was held in a private function room at a nearby country club, and when we arrived, we were quickly the center of attention. Part of that was because I was bringing someone other than Kate, who had accompanied me last year, and they were shocked that I'd brought someone new with me. But the rest of that was because Kaia was like a shooting star that drew the eye and wouldn't let it go.

"Cole! Great to see you here!" Mr. Vosman greeted me with a hearty handshake

"Thank you, Mr. Vosman" I tried not to hurt his hand with the handshake, he was the boss after all. "This is my girlfriend Kaia."

"It's nice to meet you, sir." Kaia said with a polite smile.

"Great to see you both! I hope you have a great time tonight."

We exchanged a few more polite pleasantries before he wandered off to greet some other of my coworkers that were just arriving, and I breathed a little easier. I took Kaia over to the bar and got us both a flute of champagne. It would be my only drink of the night, since I was driving, and I knew that she didn't drink much either, so this could be the only trip to the bar.

I felt a soft hand on my shoulder and then heard Gina's voice. "Hey Cole! If I'm really naughty this year, do you think I'll find you in my stockings this Christmas?"

Okay, I had to give her that one, it was pretty good. Just like her too.

"I don't think he'll have the time," interjected Kaia. "He'll be too busy inside me."

Thank god I wasn't sipping the champagne for that one.

"Damn! Cole, you better keep this one, I like her!" Gina said with a smile.

"You must be Gina," Kaia held her hand out, and got a greeting in return. "I'm Kaia."

"Well, Cole traded up for sure. You're stunning, which I'm sure he told you. Treat him right. His ex sure as hell didn't." Gina snorted.

"I don't think that will be an issue. I realize exactly what I have, and he feels the same." Kaia was fucking amazing. I knew Gina was just being Gina, but Kaia wasn't going to let anything go without a comeback. She wasn't even upset. She was keeping her voice even and acting very friendly.

"Cole, I'm stealing your girl here." Gina finally turned to look at me. "Seriously, I think she's my new best friend, I love her!"

Strangely, that didn't shock me. Gina intimidated a lot of people with her beauty and body, and it was obvious to her that Kaia just didn't give a shit. It was probably refreshing to her.

"I'll have to fight you on that one Gina, she's all mine!" I replied with a grin. I knew Kaia was perfect, and yet somehow, she kept becoming even more so. Gina would  probably get along great with Heather and Hayden too, though having all four of the girls in one place might attract every thirsty person, male or female, in the Miami metropolitan area.

After the initial bit of tension though, Gina ended up spending more of the night with Kaia and I, though mostly talking to Kaia. She had several of the guys in the office who had come alone trying to flirt with her, but she ignored them all. It was like she'd become a new person in the last month or so, and nobody seemed to understand why or how. I was proud of her though, and it made me consider stealing her for my new company even more. Why would I go interview people when I had the perfect candidate right in front of me?

That night Kaia stayed the night in my bed again. Kassidy had at the house all night with my mother who had almost demanded the privilege of spending the night with her grandbabies. She was jumping the gun a little, but she didn't care. In her eyes, Kassidy was already her granddaughter.

"Remember when I told you I was going to find a new job?" I asked.

"I do indeed. Are you about to tell me we're going to move?" she lay snuggled into my side, her leg thrown over my hips and her arm on my chest.

"Wait, you'd go with me?" I was surprised when she said 'we're' but thrilled at the same time.

She scoffed, with her breath hot on my chest. "What kind of question is that? Do you really think I'm going to let you go? Kassidy and I would absolutely go with you."

"What if I didn't leave? I was thinking about starting my own consulting company instead. With the projects we're done in the last few years, I've made a lot of friends and we could get some good projects quickly.," I pointed out.

"Wouldn't that be expensive?" she wondered.

"It could be. But the money from the divorce should be deposited in my account sometime in the next week now that the clerk of courts has entered the divorce into the public record. That would make it easy to survive even if things started slowly," I reasoned.

She hummed as she thought about it. "If you're going to do it, you have to get Gina too. You already told me she's your best worker, and the other people at that party were stuck up assholes."

"That is exactly what I was planning if you agreed." I couldn't believe she had suggested it before I even broached the subject! But after I thought about it for a second, it shouldn't have. She wasn't just a pretty face, and her judgement of character would suit her will if she joined the company too.

"I think you should do it. It makes sense," she agreed after listening to my thoughts.

"You're okay with me working with Gina?"

"I am. She knows I'd kill her if she tried anything."

I could only smile as I leaned down to kiss her softly. "I love you so much Kaia."

"I love you too Cole."