He grinned. “Of course I was nice. Neo’s my bud.”
“So long as he doesn’t think about getting busy with your almost sis-in-law?”
“I didn’t put it that way.”
Kayla eyed them both. “I love the two of you. You know that. But I get to decide what’s best for me, not y’all. And right now that’s Zach. Okay?”
“Copy that,” Alexei said.
“Got it,” Bailey added.
“Alexei, you want a beer?”
“Sure.”
Kayla took one from the fridge and handed it to him. “Now tell me what you said to Zach so I know how much apologizing I have to do.”
Alexei lifted the bottle and swallowed. Then he shrugged. “Not much. I told him he’d better not get involved with you if all he wanted was a good time, that you’d been through enough shit, and you have a baby to take care of. If he’s not interested in her too, then he needs to hit the road.”
Kayla nearly choked on a swallow of wine. “Wow. That’s kinda a mouthful, Alexei. It’s hardly not much.”
Alexei shrugged again. “I’ve known Neo for a long time, which means I’ve seen a lot of the women he’s dated.” He frowned, considering. “Okay, maybe date is an inaccurate term. Slept with is more accurate. Probably.”
Bailey went over and looped her arm through his. “Okay, pumpkin. I think that’s enough. She gets it.”
Pumpkin? Lord. Kayla shook off a sudden desire to giggle. Alexei was big and bad and hardly a man you’d call pumpkin. Unless you were her sister. Maybe she needed to lay off the wine for the rest of the night. She set the glass down and tried not to dwell on the number of women Zach had slept with.
“Now look here, I already told Bailey and I’m telling you too. I’m a grown woman. I have a baby who is my number one priority. No man is getting between me and Ana ever again. Zach knows that. He also knows that I can and will make my own decisions, and he knows what my priorities are. He knows what he’s getting into. We both do.”
Bailey and Alexei exchanged another one of their secretive glances. “Okay,” Bailey said. “You’ve made your point.”
“Yeah, I got it too. He says he’s serious about you and I respect that. But understand, Kayla,” Alexei continued, “if Neo ever does anything to hurt you, I will be obligated to rip his nuts off and feed them to him. He knows it, too.”
“Good to know,” Kayla said. “But that’s not going to happen.”
They finished their drinks, and then Kayla went over to their guest room to check on Ana. She was sound asleep as Kayla bent over the crib, her little bow mouth and long eyelashes so pretty in repose. She had pink cheeks and creamy skin, and her dark hair was growing longer. Soon, Ana would be walking and talking, and Kayla’s heart pinched tight at the thought she’d missed even the tiniest bit of Ana’s life when she’d left her with Bailey and Alexei shortly after her birth.
“Do you want to leave her here? Or take her back to your place?” Bailey had followed her into the room.
Kayla smiled down at her baby even though Ana wasn’t awake. “I want to take her, but I don’t want to wake her up either. Maybe just give me the monitor and I’ll come get her if she fusses.”
Bailey had put Ana down in the portable crib that she and Alexei kept for just such a purpose. Kayla thought about how she was going to have to break it to her sister that she was moving out, and felt a pang of regret.
It’s necessary.
Bailey handed over the monitor. “She’s growing so fast,” Bailey said with a sigh.
“Tell me about it.” Kayla straightened. “Thanks, Bale. For everything. You’re the best sister a girl could have.”
Bailey leaned against her and they put their heads together. “Thank you, Kay-Kay. That’s sweet of you to say.”
“I mean it. I want you to be happy, and I don’t want you worrying about me.”
“I’ll always worry about you. It’s what I do.”
Kayla squeezed her sister’s arm. “I know. But you don’t have to. We aren’t scared kids anymore and I got this.”
Bailey smiled. “I know you do. It’s serious, huh?”
Kayla felt suddenly shy. The conversation was so normal, but she was aware she was engaging in a tiny bit of deception. Justifiable.
“Yes, it is.”
“Well then. Okay. I’m happy for you.”
“And slightly worried,” Kayla added as they walked out of the room and stood in the hallway.
“You know me well. I don’t want you hurt, Kay-Kay.”
“I don’t want that either. But if I don’t take the chance, how will I know?”
“That’s true.”
They said goodnight and Kayla traipsed back to her in-law suite. She left the inner door open to the house so the monitor would pick up Ana if she cried, and went to get ready for bed. When she lay down, she had a text from Zach.
I’m home.
Kayla frowned as she texted him back. I’m sorry A was waiting for you.
Zach: Wasn’t a problem. He knows I’m serious about you.
Kayla’s belly fluttered. Is that all he knows?
Zach: For now.
She let out a breath. I feel like I’m causing trouble for you. I’m sorry.
Zach: I thought about the consequences before I agreed to marry you. Camel was always going to be protective. I’m glad. But we’re brothers. I said I’m serious and that’s enough. I’ll pick you and Ana up tomorrow and take you to lunch if that works.
Kayla: Sounds good. 11:00?
Zach: I’ll be there.
Neo arrived promptly at eleven a.m. Kayla was waiting outside, dressed in a long flowery skirt that went to her ankles, and a sleeveless blue top that tied at the waist. She was wearing sandals, and her blond hair was loose. It hung almost to her ass, and he swallowed at the sight. He loved
