Page 46 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

Hannah swallowed hard. “No?”

“No.” I remained firm. “He’s had years to reach out. Where was he going today when you ran into him? Was he planning on looking you up or did he happen to stumble across you and make a decision on the spot?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Her confusion begged me to stop but I’d gone too far to back down now. “Liddy has us. Any one of us would give anythingto be her father. Do you have any idea how much we wish the situation was different? Ryland is perfect father material. Arthur has more parental instincts in his pinky finger than this Chad does in his whole body. That’s what Liddy deserves. She deserves someone who puts her first every time, not in a coincidental opportunity that might not even be real.” I’d really gotten going, and even though I knew I should stop, my heart overtook my brain. I took her hands and kissed each wrist. “Why should Chad get to step up and be her father? Because he contributed to her DNA? Fatherhood is more than that. Fatherhood is love and sacrifice. Any of us would give our life for Liddy. For you.”

From behind Hannah, Arthur made a slashing motion across his throat, demanding I stop. Ryland remained behind me but I could heard the disappointment in every sigh.

“I’ve never been a parent. I have nothing to give you but my support and my love. Liddy has always been safe with us. I love her like she’s my own. I’d adopt her, right here and now, if you’d let me.” I’d thought of it often enough over the past fewmonths to place a call to our lawyer. He’d reassured me that it was possible and could be done. All we needed was Hannah’s approval and for Chad to sign off on his parental rights.

Hannah’s stunned expression morphed in a blink. She released my hands and threw both arms around my neck. Her lips crashed into mine, bruising them with the ferocity of her kiss.

Arthur’s jaw fell open. I fought the grin and scooped Hannah from her chair to my lap. I’d meant every word, and my passionate speech obviously touched something in Hannah. She knew we cared about her and Liddy, but maybe she’d needed to hear it. Wasn’t that the complaint Arthur’s ex-wife always made? She’d wanted to know he loved her, to hear it all the time.

Why was it easier to say I’d die for her than to admit I’d fallen in love with her?

24

HANNAH

Scott’s declaration made it easy to fall into his arms and his lap. He’d spoken with such passion and urgency that it made the room spin around me. Whenever I imagined him, all three of them, as Liddy’s fathers, my world stopped feeling so hateful and out of sync. They would make great dads to Liddy and the twins they still knew nothing about.

Thoughts of Chadinvaded the moment I kissed Scott. I hated that I allowed him to interfere but the chaos could only be controlled for so long before it broke free again. Scott’s arms tightened around my waist, prompting me to deepen the kiss.

Arthur and Rylandremained in their seats. I opened my eyes and met Ryland’s heated gaze. We were finally in a good place again. Did I dare risk letting Chad back into my life? It was only right that I give Chad a chance to spend some time with Liddy and prove himself. I’d see how they interacted and go from there.

Scott ended the kiss,his fingers locked on my hips and his expression full of wonder.

“I love that you treat her as your own.” I ran my hands through Scott’s hair and scraped my nails over his neck.

“But you’re still goingto let Chad see Liddy.” The fire in his eyes simmered to a low burn. “You’re a better human than me.”

“Not better.” I held back the sigh tightening my chest. I had to tell them about the twins. I wasn’t finished making their gift bags, but what I’d found today would have to be good enough. Thoughts of the ultrasound burned through me. I trusted them. How could I not after their passionate speeches, acceptance, and downright love for Liddy?

Confidence I’d been lacking sank inand prompted me to spill everything. Not yet. I held back, not out of fear or paranoia, but because I wanted to make the moment as special as possible. A plan took shape in the back of my mind, and I hid a grin by kissing Scott. “Think Deena would mind watching Liddy for a little while? I’d like to spend the night with all of you.”

“I’ll ask her.”Ryland shot up from his chair and bolted from the room.

Scott’s chestrumbled as he laughed. I placed a palm over his heart and let the steady beat drum through me. “Thank you.”

“For what?”Confusion crimped his forehead.

I smoothed away the lines.“For being you. Being passionate and caring.” I turned and took Arthur’s hand. “And you, for accepting that our situation isn’t easy but it’s worth fighting for.”

He slid into my empty chair and bracketed Scott’s knees with his own. Strong arms slid around my waist and pulled me closer. He feathered kisses over my jaw before claiming my lips. They’d given me the kind of unconditional support I’d expected but never received from Chad.

Ryland’s stepsannounced his approach. “Deena will keep an eye on Liddy. They’re in the theater room now. She’ll put her to bed after the movie.”

Most likely Liddywould fall asleep in the middle of the movie and have to be carried to bed. I knew Deena had it all under control. I rarely asked anything of her, but she’d told me time and again that she loved spending time with Liddy as it helped her feel young again and reminded her of raising her own daughter.

“Let’s go to bed.”I slid from Scott’s lap and headed toward the stairs leading to Arthur’s quarters. All three men fell in line behind me. Knowing what was coming drove my feet faster. The need for them never quite went away, and I’d noticed an increase in my sex drive these last few weeks. I planned on enjoying every single second as long as it was available to me.

We crossedthe threshold into Arthur’s rooms. I had a split second to take in the mahogany paneling, the giant bed with its silk sheets, and the sliver of moonlight cascading into the room from the balcony highlighting an antique armoire before theysurrounded me, filling my vision with nothing but their bodies and the ache between us. I ran my hands up over Arthur’s shoulders and raised my lips for a kiss.

He answeredwith a deep hunger that he typically kept controlled but that night he unleashed everything. Broad hands gripped my ass and hauled me up so I was flush with his body. His erection pressed into my belly, just beneath the baby bump I anticipated they’d notice any day now.

Scott and Rylandstood at my back. Hands touched me from every side. Ryland scooped my hair off my neck as lips ran the length of my shoulder blade. I tugged Arthur’s shirt free from his slacks. Seeing them like this, fully invested in me and our desire, made every moment precious.

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