Page 58 of Inked Devotion

“He’s cooked for you?” he asked as he ate another bite.

“He’s tried a few different recipes on Paige and us. Mostly for girls’ night. I’m surprised he hasn’t done one for guys night with you guys.”

“Our guys’ nights are usually at Riggs’, or if it’s at one of our houses, he and Marc don’t always show up. It’s weird, but I feel like we Montgomerys might stress them out.”

I snorted. “You stressing out a guy? I am shocked.”

“Hey, we’re not too bad.”

“You are, but it’s fine. I’m used to you. Well, at least I was comfortable until I got pregnant by one of you, and now I feel like I’m the one invading the Montgomerys.”

“You know it’s not like that. Yes, the family has questions, but we are doing things a little unconventionally.”

“Is this where we make plans?”

“It can be.”

“I know we said we’re going to be friends first,” I muttered. “And I want to keep that. But what are we going to do?”

“Let’s start with the basics, and then we can get to all the complicated things that we’ll probably change a thousand times.”

“Basics? Like what?”

“Well, we’re very good at being professional about this and acting like adults and not freaking the fuck out. So let’s start with the easy thing. Work.”

“What, you expect me to give up my job?” I growled.

He held up both hands, his eyes wide. “No. We both own our businesses, meaning taking time off isn’t easy. But you said you were working with your assistant?”

“Yes, but I’m still making sure everything’s going to work out with that. I need someone to take the reins for me when I’m unable to be there. I’m not going to have a full maternity leave, I know that, because I am my boss, but there are some things I can hand off to my crew.”

“I can help, too. I mean, I don’t know if paternal leave will work for me because I do own the business, but Timothy and Kennedy both have been taking up more responsibility on the job. So if I do need to take a couple of weeks off, I can, and I want to.”

“You’d do that?” I asked, my voice soft.

“Of course. I want to help. And help isn’t even the right word. I want to share in the responsibility and share in everything that happens. Like childcare? I have an answer to that.”

My eyes widened. “Are you going to bring the baby to work? Just hang out with them out while you’re shoveling?”

“I do more than shoveling, but that was what I was thinking. Yes, when they’re younger, we can bring them to our offices, but the family and I were thinking, since Annabelle’s going to be having twins, I’m having a baby with you, and Eliza and Beckett are thinking about it, and who knows what’s going to happen with Paige, and then Archer, our family is growing, so we’re going to add a childcare part of Montgomery Builders.”

My eyes widened, even as I blinked back tears. “Just like that. As a family, you’ve decided to what, take a room and make it a nursery?”

“For now, with childcare professionals with us if we can make it work. Eventually, it will be a daycare center for the Montgomerys and anybody that works there. We’ve been trying to get it to work for Clay, even though his kids are a bit older. It just hasn’t worked out yet because Clay hasn’t needed it. If he does need it, we want to be there. Annabelle is already on that, though, so therefore childcare, we’ve got.”

“That would be amazing,” I said, stuttering. “Even though I’m going to be kind of sad that I’m not going to be there.”

“You don’t work too far away from me,” he muttered.

“Maybe not, but it’s going to feel that way, isn’t it?”

“Then we’ll make a plan. I’m not saying we have to hide our child in Montgomery Builders, and you’ll never come over and visit. But it’s an option. When you’re ready to get back to work, it’s an option.”

“It’s a wonderful option, and I feel like I’m going to cry.”

“Don’t. I’m here for you.”

“You are, aren’t you,” I whispered.

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