Page 80 of One Love

“You’re going to what now?” J’s brows are raised, her hands on her hips, her stern face with the hint of a smile staring directly at Hallie.

“Sorry, Mom.” Hallie sighs, still grinning as she turns to me again. “I’m gonna castrate you.” She laughs again, skipping back out of the kitchen and high-fiving her mom on the way out.

That’s when I spot a dark fleck on J’s cheek, just below her left eye. “Come here, Little Demon.”

“Why? You gonna spank me again? You really should wait until the kids are asleep.” She smiles, sauntering over to me with a swing to her hips that can make a man drool.

She looks tired, but happy, and as I stand directly in front of her, Kiara between us, I cover Kiara’s curious gaze with my left palm, licking the pad of my thumb before wiping away the small drop of blood on J’s face.

“There.” I lean down slightly, kissing her softly because anything more with a baby between us is impossible.

“Thanks.” She smiles up at me before putting all her attention on Kiara. “And how’s my tiny baby this morning? Come to Mommy.”

I help J unwrap Kiara from her sling, watching as she snuggles our baby girl into her chest, sniffing up the baby smell that still lingers.

I’m not sure how I managed to get so lucky with three beautiful girls to love, but I do know I’m never letting them go. Which is exactly why I have a plan today.

“Here, eat this and go shower, Little Demon.” I shove the lemon curd kolache into her now-open mouth, smiling as she shakes her head in disbelief.

“I’m going, I’m going.” Her words are mumbled around the pastry and she passes Kiara back to me, kissing us both on the cheek before leaving the room.

“Okay, tiny one, time for Plan Get Mommy To Not Kill Daddy,” I whisper to Kiara, holding her high in the air, and she giggles. One of the sweetest sounds known to man.

Picking up my phone, I send a text to River to let her know J is home and we’re ready. The reply is instant and I head to put Kiara down in her bouncy chair in the game room where Hallie is waiting for me. The game system is all set up and I drop into one of the gaming chairs, picking up a controller.

“Ready to lose?” Hallie looks to me and grins.

We play for ten minutes before J rushes in to whisper in my ear, “I need to go and meet Marco for something. I’ll be back in about an hour.” Then she kisses me on the corner of my mouth, moving to Hallie next, finishing with Kiara.

“See you soon, Little Demon.”

“See you soon, Mom.”

Hallie and I feign interest in the game, as though we’re too engrossed to offer her a proper goodbye, both of us barely glancing in her direction.

As soon as the front door clicks closed, we turn the game off, put the controllers down, and grin at each other. It’s go time.

“Come on, my little Myška, to the Batmobile!” I stand with one hand on my hip, pointing my other hand toward the sky, and Hallie laughs, stripping off the bathrobe she’s been wearing to reveal her pale-green dress underneath.

The color choice was her own, as was the dress itself, with the tulle falling to just below her knees.

After strapping Kiara into her car seat, I climb into the driver’s side of my car and nod at Hallie in the passenger seat before starting the engine.

It takes thirty minutes to get to Worth Street, another ten to find somewhere to park, and finally, we’re walking up the white steps toward the entrance of the Office of the City Clerk. River is waiting at the entrance for us with a double stroller with a beautiful sleeping girl in a green dress matching Kiara’s on one side, and she immediately holds out her arms for my baby girl.

“Thank you for this, River.” I pass over Kiara and take a deep breath. It’s finally happening.

“No problem, D. You know that Marco and I consider J family. That makes you family too now. Does she still not know?” River cuddles into Kiara before carefully strapping her into the spare seat of the stroller.

“Nope.” I grin again.

“She’s gonna have your balls for this.” She laughs, smoothing down the sleek red pencil dress she’s wearing.

“Hopefully.” I wag my brows and lead the way to our reserved room.

“Do you think she’s figured it out?” Hallie asks as we stand, waiting for my little demon after Marco sent her on a little wild goose chase.

I don’t have time to answer as the doors open to reveal a vision in black and white standing next to Marco. Holy motherfucking shit, she’s stunning. And she has answered Hallie’s question all by herself.She figured it out.

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