Page 34 of Naughty Santa Daddy

Miller mimics my posture and locks eyes with me. After a moment, I can feel my lips betraying me. Each flash of that ultrasound screen fills my mind, and the corners lift ever so slightly. My mind focuses again on that tiny speck the doctor pointed out.

Miller narrows his eyes, leaning closer. “What did you do?”

I say nothing. I want to. This is my best friend, but I made a promise to Alex, so I keep quiet. My jaw tightens, hoping to control the full smile threatening to take over.

Drake throws an elbow on the table, dropping his chin onto his palm. His fingers hide his amusement, but I know he’s enjoying this loyalty war waging inside of me.

“Where is she?” Miller asks.

“Resting.”

I know Miller as well as he knows me. I watch the wheels begin to roll through his mind. He cuts a look toward Drake, who onlypulls an imaginary zipper across his lips and looks away, then refocuses on me. It takes only a moment, but there it is.

Miller drops his head with a low chuckle. “Damn your timing.”

Relief settles in, relaxing my shoulders. “My little swimmers would argue that.”

“Your little swimmers should have been harnessed.”

I finally give in to my proud papa face, beaming from ear to ear. “Ah, what fun would that have been?”

I feel Alex’s hand on my shoulder. I should have told her to stay put when I came downstairs. But then again, I didn’t know Miller would show up with information. It must be important too, for him to take the time with a manila envelope.

“I don’t know if I should say congratulations or sorry you’re tied to this asshole for the next eighteen years,” Miller jokes with Alex.

“You should be resting. Doctor’s orders,” I remind her.

“I got lonely.”

I can’t resist those kissable, pouty lips; I tug her to my lap. “Baby, this is Miller. Been best friends since forever. He knows me better than I know myself.”

“If I have to do eighteen, I might as well do life,” Alex prods right back at Miller, bringing a chuckle from him.

“What you got?” I jut my chin toward the envelope, still protectively resting under Miller’s hold.

He studies the envelope, most likely deciding how much to say in front of Alex. This involves her, so I plan to hide no secrets. He must decide the same as he ticks open the flap.

“I’ve been digging on my own. Alex,” he pushes out a breath before spilling the news, “your place has been watched the past two days. No doubt, they are the clean-up for the botched kidnapping crew.”

I feel Alex’s body fill with air as she inhales deeply, but I keep my focus on Miller across from us. She pushes it out and says nothing.

“I followed one of them back to that ruse of a mechanic shop you two discovered,” Miller explains, his gaze darting from me to Drake.

“Do you know who they are?” Drake speaks up for the first time.

“No. But I did manage to get photos. Not the best, but it’s all I could get.” He dumps the contents of the envelope onto the table. “I’ve seen three different men.”

I study the photos as he lines them up. It is the same men we watched the day Drake got picked up to save my ass. Even with the close-up photos, I can’t say who they are.

Drake shakes his head, leaning close to the lineup. “Same men,” he announces what I know but nothing more.

Alex leans from my hold, and her fingertip drags the photo on the right closer to her. “I’ve seen this one.”

“Do you know who he is?” Miller asks.

I can tell Alex is studying the photo and running the image through her memory. She has an eye for detail.She sees something.

“I don’t know a name. Never met him, but I recall he was sitting at a table with my uncle. I was on a holiday break from college, so I was fairly distracted and never questioned it. My uncle is always meeting someone, and he likes handling deals over dinner or the occasional coffee so it wasn’t unusual to what he did when I was still living at home.”

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