Page 82 of Fierce-Zander

“She’s adorable,” Regan said. She loved kids and hoped to have them someday. She knew she’d be a better parent than hers had been.

But didn’t everyone think or want that?

See, not a cold fish since she loved kids and wanted them.

“Hey there, Willow,” Zander said, walking over and picking up the little girl from the playpen. Willow wrapped her arms around Zander’s neck and hugged him, then wiggled to get down.

The minute the little girl got on the floor she crawled over quickly and lifted her arms for Regan to pick her up.

She bent over and lifted her. “Hi,” she said. “Aren’t you just a cutie? You look a lot like your father and just a tad bit like your mother.”

“Shhhh,” Zander said.

She looked at Chloe and saw the frown and then the big grin on Royce’s face. “Everyone says it and Chloe gets jealous.”

“I carried her for nine months. She should look more like me.”

“If it makes you feel any better, most times it seems babies change their appearance as they grow older. I looked like my father in my baby pictures, but now I look more like my mother.”

“Phew,” Chloe said. “I have a cuter nose than him.”

“You have a cuter everything than me,” Royce said.

She found Royce and Chloe adorable together.

There was a banter that went back and forth. A relaxed one. A connection they seemed to have without any effort.

For the next hour, there was conversation, open and honest, there was no over-the-top affection that felt forced, and as parents, they helped each other without being asked.

And when Regan realized those things were popping into her head, she made herself turn off her clinical mind.

“Would you like another glass of wine?” Chloe asked. “I’m going to have another now that Willow is down for the night.”

The little girl had eaten and was in her pajamas when they arrived at six and had just been put to bed as Royce was getting the steaks off the grill.

She’d offered to bring dessert but was told no. Zander grabbed beer and wine and she had to just accept that was good enough.

“I’d love another glass, but then that will be it. Let me help you set the table please.”

“I’ll let you,” Chloe said. “Zander and Royce can have men talk over the grill. You and I can have girl talk over wine.”

“I very rarely have girl talk,” she said quietly.

“I’m sorry for that. I’ve gotten a lot of it in the past few years, but not much prior to that. I’ve got some close friends now and then Elise is like a sister to me. My brother’s girlfriend, Sloane, is awesome. Growing up, I don’t think I had a lot of friends that I could confide in a ton. Or felt I could. I kind of did my own thing and liked my ‘me’ time. But now that I’m older and settled down, the me time is great, but friendship is often better.”

“I’ve always been reserved,” she said. “I’m not sure how much you know about me.”

“Not a lot,” Chloe said. “I know what you do for a living and where your office is. I also know the Fierces think you and Zander would work and it appears you are.”

She smiled. “I’m not sure how I feel about that whole thing. I thought it was funny when Zander told me what they did with you and others.”

“It is funny until it happens to you,” Chloe said, holding her glass of wine up and taking a sip before she set it down to get the plates.

“Yeah. I told Zander I could probably do a better job as I’m more qualified.”

“Don’t say that to them,” Chloe said, laughing. “They will start to come to you for advice.”

“I’m busy enough,” she said.

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