Page 45 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

I laugh, shaking my head. “Nah, just be ready for anything.”

Bianca looks between us, curiosity piqued. “What do you have planned?”

“You’ll see,” I say with a wink.

As we head back to the car, Bianca slips her hand into mine. Her touch is warm and reassuring, grounding me in this moment.

“You really went all out today,” she says softly.

I squeeze her hand gently. “You’re worth it.”

James falls into step beside us. “So what’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

“Patience,” I reply with a grin. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

I set the last plate on the table, a smug grin spreading across my face. My dining room glows with candlelight, casting warm shadows on the walls. The aroma of garlic and rosemary fills the air, mingling with the scent of the Pinot Noir I’ve chosen for tonight.

“Damn, Alex,” James says, eyeing the spread. “You sure you didn’t hire a chef while we weren’t looking?”

I chuckle, pouring wine into Bianca’s glass. “What can I say? I’ve got skills.”

Liam raises his glass. “Here’s to Alex not burning down the kitchen.”

Bianca laughs, clinking her glass with ours. “And to an amazing day.”

We dig in, and conversation flows as easily as the wine. The grilled salmon melts in my mouth, paired perfectly with the risotto that even Gordon Ramsay would approve of.

“This is fantastic,” Bianca says, her eyes lighting up as she takes another bite. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”

James leans back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his face. “You’ve set a high bar for yourself now. What’s next? Michelin-starred restaurant?”

“Hey, don’t tempt me,” I reply, raising an eyebrow.

Liam grins, leaning in closer to Bianca. “I think Alex just wanted to impress you.”

“Is it working?” I ask, giving her a playful nudge.

Bianca’s smile is dazzling. “Maybe a little.”

The night winds down with more laughing and teasing, ending with the four of us sprawled on a blanket on the living room floor. The room is dimly lit by the glow of the fireplace, casting flickering shadows that dance along the walls. Bianca lies in the center, her braids fanned out like a halo, her body a tangled mess of limbs with ours.

"Remember that time in college," James starts, his voice filled with amusement, "when Alex tried to cook dinner for all of us and nearly set the kitchen on fire?"

I groan, covering my face with my hand. "Please don't remind me. That was a disaster."

Bianca giggles, her laughter light and infectious. "Oh my god, I remember that! You were so proud of your culinary skills until the smoke alarm went off."

Liam snorts, his hand lazily tracing circles on Bianca's thigh. "Yeah, we had to order pizza instead."

"Hey, I've come a long way since then," I protest, leaning in to kiss Bianca's neck. "Tonight's dinner was proof."

"True," she admits, tilting her head to give me better access. "Tonight was amazing."

James shifts closer, his fingers brushing against Bianca's arm. "So what's next on your list of surprises, Alex? Skydiving and a gourmet dinner seem hard to top."

I grin against Bianca's skin before pulling back to look at him. "You’ll just have to wait and see."

Bianca lets out a soft moan as Liam’s hand moves higher up her thigh. “You’re such a tease,” she murmurs.

---