She pouts at me, dancing away. “Daddy you're always messing up my hair,” she giggles.
“Would you prefer your hair to be messed up, or to go to Tickle Land?”
Her face lights up and she jumps back, raising her hands. “Daddy, not Tickle Land,” she giggles. “You’re such a weirdo.”
But she can’t stop laughing as I chase her around the garden, and soon Leo and James are running after us, my seven year old and six year old like little tanks, running around like miniature versions of their father with their shirts off, little barbarians.
I fall to the floor as all three of them leap on me.
“Got you, Daddy,” Leo laughs.
“I got his legs,” James says. “Leo, look. I got Daddy’s legs.”
I grin. James is always seeking Leo’s approval, the most loyal little brother he could ask for.
I sit up and wrap them all in my arms, looking up to see that Lena has taken over grill duties. Grace stands next to her with her microphone and little pink boombox in her hand, something she rarely goes anywhere without since we got it for her last birthday.
I look onto the cobblestone porch, sitting under the shadow of our seven bedroom home, the layout of the building with the corner turrets making it look like a castle.
And it is.
It’s our castle.
And we’ve already filled it with six children.
There’s Hope and Grace, the twins, and Leo and James, the little terrors. And then there’s Alexis, our three year old, sitting in her sandpit with a big ear to ear grin on her face as she arranges her dolls around a picnic blanket, because they’re having a seaside picnic.
Samantha, our youngest, lies in the crib in the house, visible through the ceiling high glass windows. From the baby monitor on the large oak dining table, she coos as she sleeps softly.
“Mommy, do you think I can be a singer as good as you one day?” Grace says as I stand up and lead the children over to the table.
“Alright, kids,” I say, eyeing Hope and Leo and James. “Who’s going to pass Daddy some buns and who’s going to lay the table?”
“I’ll do the table, Daddy,” Hope grins.
“Buns, buns!” James and Leo yell together, grinning.
“You can be anything you want,” Lena says, reaching down and brushing her hand through Grace’s wavy hair. “I was just a gardener once upon a time. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a gardener. If you’re passionate and invested in it, then fine. But I wasn’t. I dreamed of being a singer.”
“And then what happened, Mommy?” Grace asks, hanging onto her mother’s every word like she always does. She’s so cute.
“And then I met a charming prince, and he made all my dreams come true.”
“Hey,” I laugh, cutting a burger bun in half as Hope methodically sets the silverware. “I gave you a starting point, Lena, that’s all. It’s your talent and dedication that made you a superstar.”
Lena giggles, causing her flowing summer dress to shift and dance around her. The material is light and pale, lying gently across her curvaceous body, and even now I can’t stop my eyes from roaming up and down her and thinking about later, when we’re alone in our bedroom, of all the savage and beautiful things we’re going to do together.
I love her so much I ache.
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
And we’ve created a life I never could have dreamed of without her.
“You’re flattering me, my king,” Lena says, eyeing me playfully like she always does when she calls back to our earlier days together.
“It’s the truth,” I grin. “And don’t you ever forget it.”
She glows. “I love you, Lorenzo DeLuca.”
“I love you, Lena DeLuca.”
“Hey,” Grace giggles. “What about me, huh?”
I grin. “I love you, Grace. And I love you, Hope. And you, James. Leo, has Daddy every told you how much he loves you?”
“Ew,” Leo laughs. “Gross.”
I grin, chuckling. “Alexis,” I call over to the sandpit. “Daddy loves you.”
“Yay, Daddy loves! ’Lexis loves Daddy!”
Everybody laughs, and then I stand up and go inside to check on Samantha, reaching down and softly stroking her precious cheek. She reaches and grabs onto my finger, clutching on tightly.
“I love you, honey,” I whisper, looking outside and seeing that Lena is taking a picture on her phone, the little minx.
I smile. I can’t help it.
I’m the happiest man alive.
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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 16: Carpenter
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 43: Cop’s Babysitter
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
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend
Book 69: Possessive Firefighter
Book 70: Football Next Door
Book 71: Doctor December
Book 72: Possessive Canadian
Book 73: Blue
