Page 83 of Passed Ball

He does, and for the next hour we talk about the universe. He asks questions about working for Double Play, growing up on a vineyard, and tells me more about Edward. It's the most comfortable I've ever been on a date and I'm nowhere near ready for this day to end.

Chapter 37

Xavier

Vivi stands at the nursery door swirling the wine in her glass, watching as I get Holland ready for a nap. The one she took at the planetarium was too short and she fussed the whole drive home.

"You already promised her a pony last time. What are you going to bribe her with this time?" she asks playfully.

I chuckle. "You're going to be good and go down easy for me aren't you, Áine." I press a kiss to Holland's head before lifting her from the changing table and laying her down in the crib.

"What was that?"

I glance up from where I'm swaddling my daughter. Vivienne is still in the doorway, her shoulder propped against the frame like she's in this for as long as it takes. "What was what?"

"What you called her: Áine." She does her best to match my inflection. "What does it mean?"

"It's Irish." My hand pauses over Holland's chest, my gaze going back to the door. "It was my mom's middle name. It means radiance and brightness. That's what my mom was to me. That's what Holland is to me."

"Hmmm," Vi hums, letting her glass hang at her side as she pushes off the wall and joins me at the crib.

"Hmmm?" I hum back.

"It fits is all. And it's kind of on-theme with your musings about people and stars earlier."

"Is that all?" I ask, amused. Vivienne is guarded but doesn't hold back her words and I can tell there's more to it. But I like the fact that she's spending time with Holland and me too much to dig into it further.

Vivienne bumps me with her shoulder. "No bribe needed, down like a champ."

"She's a terrible chaperone." I turn towards Vivienne. She's so damn pretty like this--at ease in my space. It makes me want things I have no right to.

"Think of all the trouble we can get into without her supervision." Her arms link around my waist.

"Movie time?" Taking her wine, I back her up toward the door and bring the glass to my nose for a smell. It smells fancy--tastes fancy too.

"Do I get to pick?" she asks, taking the glass from me for a sip of her own.

"Why not. I don't actually plan on watching it."

"Oh really. What exactly do you plan on doing?"

With an arm looped around her waist, I walk us backwards out of the room. "Are you familiar with the age-old tradition of making out?"

"I think I've heard of that before. It's the one with kissing, right."

"Kissing. Pfftt." Pressing her back to the wall I lower my mouth to her ear. "Kissing is for amateurs. This is going to leave you breathless, with swollen lips, and a bone-deep ache for more."

"Sounds fun," she rasps, arching off the wall.

"I'm a big fan." I spin her around and bend to kiss her neck.

"Is making out all you're going to do with me? I don't remember it being on the list." She presses her ass back into me.

This fucking tease.

"Seems like a gross oversight to leave it off," I say.

Pushing her hair to the side, I nip at her pulse point, making her whimper softly when I add, "And no, I have much bigger plans for tonight."

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