Page 173 of Tempted By her Daddies

“Really?” A huge smile crossed her face. And he knew that it could be five below outside and they would still go outside to eat.

Just to keep that smile on her face.

“Oh, goody! My first picnic!”

“Your first picnic?” Alexei asked sharply.

“Huh? What?” she asked. Then she waved a hand in the air. “I meant our first picnic together. With Atlas! I don’t think he’s ever had a picnic before.”

“Who is Atlas?” Roman asked.

“This guy, of course! Isn’t he the cutest?” She hugged her toy puppy tight.

“Sure,” Roman said, scratching his head.

“As soon as I saw him I thought, that puppy looks cute,” he said.

“Come on, Atlas! Let’s get ready for our picnic!”

27

Tamsyn was a bit sad to take off her cute clothes. But Salem had insisted that she had to dress warm. Salem had dressed her in a mix of their clothes. One of Alexei’s coats went over the top and when she’d glanced into the mirror, she’d burst into laughter.

She looked like an abominable snowman.

But now that she was outside, sitting on a blanket on the ground, she was glad that Salem had gone so overboard with her clothes.

It really was freezing out here.

“My weather app says that it’s only six degrees,” Roman said, studying his phone. “I think that Tamsyn needs a blanket around her as well. And is that hat wool?”

“The hat is wool,” Salem said. “But I agree about the blanket.”

“I’m really fine. I’m warm.”

“I’ll go and get the blanket,” Roman said, jumping up.

She sighed and frowned at Salem. “Daddy, I don’t need a blanket.”

It was surprisingly easy to call him Daddy now. It just seemed to slip out.

“We don’t want you to get sick. I’ve forgotten the bread sticks. I’ll be back.” Salem disappeared, leaving her with Alexei.

“Those two have forgotten what the best source of heat is,” he said.

“What’s that?”

“Skin-to-skin.” Reaching out, he lifted her onto his lap. She squealed and very nearly elbowed him in the face, but she clawed back her instincts.

“Alexei!”

“Call me Papa,” he ordered. “You’re at ease calling Salem Daddy. And I’m Papa.”

She glanced up into his face. Roman had turned the outside lights on so she could sort of make out the expression on his face. And he appeared serious.

“All right, Papa.”

“Good.”

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