Page 66 of The Suit

“I can’t take credit for this, actually…”

“I picked it out.” If I wasn’t mistaken, Rafe’s tone was carrying more pride than it should given where it came from.

Penn’s mouth dropped as he turned to him. “You went shopping?”

“In his sister’s wardrobe.” I grinned at Rafe before he could answer.

He rolled his eyes. “Her wardrobe could easily double up as a store, and I found it among everything in there. I brought you a selection.”

“You did,” I conceded, as he winked at me.

We turned back to the rest of the group to find all three leaning against the kitchen island and staring at us with identical expressions which I translated as a combination ofwhat the fuck?andI’m very confused.In fairness to them I was wondering and feeling the same. Rafe also seemed to come to the same conclusion because he shifted the tiniest fraction away from me before his attention went onto the baby he was holding.

“Okay, who wants more coffee? Holmes?”

I smiled. “Coffee would be great, thank you.”

Penn took the baby from Rafe. “My turn...”

I’d assumed from Kit carrying the baby out, and then Murray wrapped around Kit like he was worried she might disappear, that the baby belonged to Murray and Kit. But from the way Penn was holding her, doting on her as Rafe had, it was hard to tell. I also wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t belong to Rafe, but then I saw her face properly for the first time and there was no mistaking her parentage.

“She’s beautiful. How old is she?”

“Three and a half months,” replied Kit.

I glanced over to Murray, “She has your eyes.”

His face immediately softened, with a tint of pink appearing on his cheeks. “Thank you.”

Kit smiled wide. “She does, doesn’t she?”

I nodded, eager to continue this conversation and not return to the silence from when I first arrived in the kitchen. I might spend time with the children in the hospital, but outside of that I had very little experience with babies, or mothers for that matter, and wracked my brain for questions to ask. “Have you taken much time off work since you had her?”

So lame.

Kit’s eyes widened. “Oh, Bell’s not my daughter.”

Murray muttered something to her I didn’t quite catch, but I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“She’s not my biological daughter,” she glanced up at Murray who kissed her head again, “She’s Murray’s daughter, I was Bell’s nanny, that’s how we met. Didn’t Rafe tell you?”

I shook my head not wanting to look over at him, but Penn grinned wide pointing between the pair of us.

“What exactly do you two talk about?”

“What a pain in the ass you are,” Rafe sniped, handing me a coffee, and I was suddenly so grateful for something to do with my hands, just as Murray clapped his together.

“Right, well, at least that’s settled. Boys let’s go for a run. Pennington, you need to sweat off that hangover and the level of annoyingness you’ve already reached today. I’d also like to wear you out, so you have a nap this afternoon.”

“Plus it’ll give you a chance to talk about me without it being awkward,” I offered up before I could stop myself, forgetting I was trying to make a good impression.

“Exactly! I definitely like you. Who’d have thought it after all the shit you put my boy through.” He winced as Kit nudged him in the ribs.

“Hey,” I held my hands out in a shrug, my coffee sloshing slightly, “I’m probably the most surprised of all of us right now. I was just minding my own business in the hospital yesterday and ended up here, so really I’m a victim of kidnapping.”

“Amazing,” cheered Kit, “I’m grateful for it. Now you boys get lost, I’ll put Bell down for her nap and brunch will be ready for when you get back.”

Murray snaked his arms round her waist and kissed her. “We won’t be long.”

---