Page 103 of Mismatched

She looks around the gray and white room with a warm glow. “Your nursery looks amazing. I’m so happy for you, Lydia.”

“Thanks, me too,” I say, though my stomach gives a nervous flip at the thought of the space being occupied soon. “The decor was mostly Anton, but I’m responsible for the dog accents,” I say, gesturing to a silhouette print of an Akita on the wall.

“Of course.” She chuckles. “Your husband is adorable. I love that he’s excited to stay home.”

“I am too,” I say, letting out a long breath. “I don’t think I could do it. I still don’t know how I’m going to balance everything with his help.”

“I won’t sugarcoat. It’s a lot.” She looks at Paloma, who is studiously shoving books in the crib, on the changing table, and the chair. “But your little girl will be worth it.”

Paloma turns to us empty-handed and claps. “All done!”

“Good job helping!” Marisol says, collecting the books again and putting them back on the shelf where they go. “You earned some cake.”

In the dining room, I find Anton in a white apron, serving up pieces of pink polka-dot chocolate cake, looking like a sexy domestic god. When he sees me, he smiles and accidentally smears filling on his cheek. I can’t resist. I close in on him, laying a kiss directly on the chocolate, subtly swiping it off with my tongue.

“Can a pregnant lady get some dessert?” I ask.

“Are you suggesting I didn’t serve you enough this morning?” Anton whispers, slipping one hand down to squeeze my ass.

My face immediately heats and he shoots me a merciless smirk. I run my hand over his bicep, a tingle already starting up between my legs. “There are way too many people in our house right now.”

He bites my earlobe. “Agreed.”

“Ahem.” Celia clears her throat politely. “Gabe is starting to get a little cranky, so I’m going to take him and Mom back to the hotel.”

I glance at the smiling and babbling baby on her hip. Then over her shoulder at our mother, who’s scowling at her phone.

“Thanks for arranging everything, Celia,” Anton says. “This was nice.”

“You could have a second career in baby shower planning,” I say as she leans in for an awkward hug around my belly.

“I’ll think about that,” she says quietly. “Though I might return to coaching after all.” I tilt my head, but she turns away to grab her diaper bag. “Our flight leaves early in the morning, but give me a call sometime. I want to stay up to date on my niece.”

By the time everyone else leaves, I’m so wiped out, I have to wave goodbye from the living room couch. Marisol made a hasty exit with a melting down Paloma, and Caprice took off when the last of my staff trickled out. Seth is the last to leave.

“So, we’ll see you for dinner Sunday?” Anton says as he opens the front door. “I mean, I thought we could do like weekly family dinners. So it’s a standing invite.”

“Sure. I’m not about to turn down a free meal.” Seth grins, then peeks over at me. “Congrats, Lyd. Great party.”

“Thanks for coming,” I say, kicking off my flats. “And for not hooking up with any of my employees.”

Seth laughs. “Not to say I wasn’t tempted... some of those groomers are cuties. But actually, I’ve got a date tonight.”

Anton and I exchange a look.

“Like, with someone you’ve met?” I ask stupidly.

Seth actually looks a little shy. “You could say that.”

“Well, bring her with you some Sunday,” I say.

Anton walks him out, and Heartthrob comes to lay his head in my lap, looking just as exhausted as I feel. I rub the fuzzy tips of his ears, enjoying the silence until Anton comes back in and slumps next to me.

“At least there’s so much food we won’t have to eat out all week,” he says.

“Good, cause I’m never moving again.”

He pulls my feet into his lap and rubs them until I moan.

---