She’s one of the most successful artists in the country – I always knew she would be – so it’s probably not a great idea to suggest that she change careers to singing. But the way my angel sounds, she could.
Katie is in her room, the one adjacent to the studio, clapping her hands and doing funny voices for Alexis. Alexis has always looked up to her bigger sister, trailing her anywhere she went from the day she could walk. And Katie delights in making her little sister laugh.
She’s going to be an actress. I just know it. She loves inventing different characters.
I hear Tessa and Sebastian, the twins, breathing contentedly on the baby monitor from my pocket. I keep it on me at all times.
When they’re older, they’ll get separate rooms, but for now, I love to listen to their sleepy breathing joining in a song of love, affection, and contentment.
I love my life. I love my family. I love how perfectly everything has gone.
I’m the luckiest bastard alive.
And I’ll never take it for granted.
“Daddy,” Ryan says. “You’re going all dreamy-eyed. Dreamy-eyed Daddy-eyed.”
I chuckle. “Sorry, little man. Look.”
I reach forward, bringing my hand closer and closer to his first handprint.
Just when I’m about to touch it, I change course and direct my tickling hand at his belly instead.
Ryan lets out a giggle of delight and rolls away from me.
I can’t believe there was a time when I thought I could live without my son’s laughter.
It seems like a different life. It is a different life.
“No, Daddy, no,” he laughs, leaping to his feet with his arms at his sides. “I’ll get you.”
“Oh, will you?” I chuckle, climbing to my knees and mirroring his pose.
He has his mother’s spark in his eyes, her defiance.
He has my smile, everybody says so. And that just makes me smile all the more.
He runs at me and I catch him, lifting him over my head.
“Argh, argh,” he yells, doing his pirate voice, pretending he has a cutlass as she lashes his hand at me.
“Oweeeeeeeee,” I yell, falling down and closing my eyes.
“Daddy, Daddy,” he breathes frantically. He brings his hand to my chest and gives me a playful thump. “I’ll save you, Daddy.”
I lurch up and let out a gasp.
“Thanks, son,” I laugh. “That was a close one.”
“Say it prop’lee, Daddy.”
I grin. Prop’lee.
I hope he says it like that for a few years to come yet.
I put on my funny voice, making it deep and ogre-ish.
“That was a close one.”
He collapses into another fit of giggles, and I stare down at him in wonder, my wife’s singing whirling around us and my twins’ breathing purring beneath it all.
Katie makes another joke and Alexis joins her giggling with Ryan’s.
“Kids,” Sophia calls. “It’s burger time.”
“Hear that?” I grin, ruffling Ryan’s hair. “Life really can’t get any better, can it?”
“Nope, Daddy,” he smiles. “It’s the bestest life in the whole wide world.”
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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 Collar Billionaire
Book 74: Possessive K-9 Cop
Book 75: Possessive Brazilian
Book 76: Hockey Obsession
Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA Fighter
Book 78: Halloween Next Door
Book 79: Possessive Russian
Book 80: Baseball Mine
Book 81: Cop’s Caribbean Captive
Book 82: Instalove Island
Book 83: Dad’s Best Friend
Book 84: Thanksgiving with Dad’s Boss
Book 85: Possessive Italian Neighbor
Book 86: Possessive Portuguese
Book 87: Possessive Christmas Cop
Book 88: Russian’s Obsession
Book 89: Possessive Doctor’s Christmas
Book 90: Possessive Parisian Pilot
Book 91: U.K. Boxing Day
Book 92: Jealous Russian Stalker
Book 93: Italian Mountain Man
Book 94: Aggressive Russian
Book 95: Possessive Valentine
Book 96: Possessive Hunter
Book 97: Dad’s Russian Mafia Friend
Book 98: Russian Teacher
Book 99: Australian Obsession
Book 100: Russian Next Door
Book 101: Dad’s Irish Friend
Book 102: Nanny for the Russian Mafia
Book 103: Best Friend’s Dad
Book 104: Basketball Babymaker
Book 105: Possessive Veterinarian
Book 106: Brother’s Fireman Friend
Book 107: Brother’s Canadian Cowboy Friend
Book 108: Summer Vacation with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 109: Dad’s Italian Mafia Friend
Book 110: Dad’s Irish Mafia Friend
Book 111: Dad’s Football Friend
Book 112: Possessing His Dancing Queen
Book 113: Brother’s Cop Friend
Book 114: Halloween With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 115: Claimed By Her Boss
Book 116: Possessive Rider
Book 117: Dad’s Ex-Biker Buddy
Book 118: Possessive Undercover Cop
Book 119: Falling For Her Boss
Book 120: Claiming His Fashionista
Book 121: More Than Dad’s Best Friend
Book 122: Thanksgiving With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 123: Bossy Italian
Book 124: Christmas With Dad’s Mafia Friend
Book 125: Maid For The Italian Mafia
Book 126: Nutcracker
Book 127: Cowboy Cerrone
Book 128: Chef’s Kiss
Book 129: Claimed By The Russian
Book 130: Bought By The Italian Mafia
Book 131: Hot
