“Just a question,” Aisling said as she stopped in front of her father. “Why has Lily’s entire wardrobe here been replaced?”
Cormack was suddenly the picture of innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I had little shirts for her,” Aisling pressed. “One said ‘My mommy is the smartest woman in the world.’ I was going to put it on her today but it’s not in there.”
“So weird,” Cormack commented.
Aisling narrowed her eyes. “I also found this.” She lifted a pacifier that looked like a mouth with a full set of teeth in it.
“Oh, it came.” Cormack grabbed the pacifier and grinned as he held it out to Lily. The baby didn’t seem to care that her mother hated her outfit because she opened her mouth and happily went to her grandfather. She looked so goofy with the big teeth I had to look away because otherwise I would’ve started laughing.
Braden didn’t have that problem. “She looks like a goober.” He was delighted. “Actually, she looks like her mother.”
“Ha, ha.” Aisling’s expression was fierce. “Seriously, what happened to her other clothes?”
“Oh, well, maybe she outgrew them.” Cormack smiled at his granddaughter as she happily stared back at him and sucked. “It doesn’t matter, does it? As long as she’s dressed it’s fine.”
“Whatever.” Aisling rolled her eyes to the door, where Aidan and Jerry were speeding in faster than normal. “Did you guys just do something weird?”
“No, but we’re about to be invaded,” Aidan replied in a low voice. “Cillian is coming.”
“We like Cillian,” Aisling pointed out. “He’s one of our better brothers ... not like Braden or anything.” She lightly wedged her elbow into Braden’s stomach, causing him to groan.
“I’m going to kill you,” Braden muttered.
“Later,” Aidan insisted. “Cillian isn’t alone. He’s at the front door ... with Renley.”
Cormack snapped up his head. “Renley is here?”
Aidan nodded.
“It’s time for breakfast,” he announced, his voice crisp. “All conversation should now be of the stupid variety.”
“I think we’re uniquely qualified for that,” Braden said as he moved to fall into line with his siblings. “It’s a good thing there are waffles. We can always talk about them.”
“It’s nice you have something to look forward to,” Aisling teased. “The simpler the conversation, the better for you.”
“Just wait,” Braden warned. “As soon as Dad isn’t watching, pow!” He mimicked punching her chin, causing Lily to giggle from Cormack’s lap.
Griffin started toward them, the intention to retrieve his daughter written on his face, but Cormack shook his head. Before Griffin could ask the obvious question, Cillian and Renley breezed into the room.
“Good morning, Grimlocks,” Renley called out in a cheery voice.
Nobody responded, including Cormack.
“I forgot you’re not morning people.” Renley adjusted his tone. “How is everybody this morning?”
“Waiting for the caffeine to kick in,” Cormack replied, drawing his boss’s attention.
“Oh, and this must be baby Lily. I haven’t seen you at work in a few weeks. You’re so much bigger.” Renley moved toward the infant, his smile bright. Lily, who had been happy of late, frowned around her pacifier. “Aren’t you a cutie?” Renley made as if he wanted to take the baby from Cormack but Lily immediately started fussing.
“She’s particular,” Cormack noted as he shifted the baby so she was farther away from Renley. “It’s nothing personal.”
“She has her mother’s personality,” Braden offered.
Renley grinned. “I happen to remember Aisling as a bright and happy child.”
Every Grimlock male snorted in unison.
“I didn’t realize you’d taken to having pot brownies for breakfast, Mr. Hatfield,” Aisling offered. “Good on you.”
Cormack shot her a dirty look before giving his boss his full attention. “Not that we’re not happy to see you — and you’re always welcome here, you know that — but it’s a bit early for a drop-in.”
“I just wanted to check on you,” Renley explained. “Given what happened the other day at the gate, I thought maybe you were still worked up. That bit of magic Izzy managed to pull off was fantastic, but it had to be distressing.”
Cormack briefly flicked his eyes to me and then shook his head. “Honestly, it was fine. I don’t think Izzy is bothered by the incident.”
“No,” I agreed automatically. “I really haven’t thought about it at all.”
“Oh, well, that’s good.” Renley’s eyes drifted to Aric and Zoe, who had their waffles and were settling at the table. “I didn’t realize you had guests. Now I feel doubly guilty.”
“Oh, they’re not really guests,” Cormack countered. “They’re extended family. They’re members of Lily’s family. I mean, my Lily.”
“Cousins,” Aisling volunteered.
“Really?” Renley looked dubious. “I’ve never heard you mention Lily having siblings.”
“Not first cousins,” Cormack said. “Lily and Zoe were cousins, although not all that close in age.” He tilted his head toward the mage. “They were close, because Lily babysat Zoe when she was a kid. Our children saw Zoe from time to time when growing up and they were fond of her as well. When we heard Zoe and her husband were going to be in town, we invited them to stay.”
“Oh, well, that sounds fun.” Renley’s smile was at the ready but it didn’t make it all the way to his eyes. “Well, it looks as if you’re having a happy family meal. I’ll let you get back to it. I really just wanted to check on Izzy.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” I reassured him. “Thank you for caring, though.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Cillian hovered at the door and watched until he was certain Renley was gone. “So, that was weird, right?”
“Definitely,” Cormack agreed.
“We can’t trust him,” I warned. “He could very well be with them.”
“He could,” Cormack confirmed, dragging a hand through his hair. “We have to be extra careful now. He was obviously here for a reason.”
“And what reason is that?” Aisling queried.
“He wanted to see who was here,” I answered. “He was certain I was involved in what went down at Grimaldi’s house. Now he’s seen Zoe,
