Page 145 of Love Without Control

“Dad bods are all the rage,” Kassie pointed out. “You should go for it, Auburn.”

He poked his non-existent belly out. “I think I could pull it off.”

“He just wants to look as sexy as us, Kass,” Gianna claimed, resting a hand on the bump of her belly.

I propped my chin in my hand and watched as the three of them bantered back and forth. The family dynamic was beautiful to see, so accepting and filled with genuine love and affection.

Later that afternoon, Cruz’s fiancée, Lehra, arrived, along with his mother, Estrella—who I learned everyone called Stella. She was also dating my father. They were seriously adorable together, and I was thrilled for Dad. He deserved a warm, lovely woman like her.

I found myself beside Kassie again, but this time on the couch with Paulie asleep in her arms. She bent to sniff his head. “God, I love how babies smell.”

“Good, I’ll bring him to your apartment when he dirties his diaper,” I said dryly.

“I’ll have plenty of diapers to change pretty soon,” she said, indicating her swollen belly.

“I have something to talk to you about since you’re an attorney,” I told her, and she lifted her brows at me in question. “Once word gets out that I’m alive and back in New York, I’m assuming the police or FBI will want to talk to me.”

“And you’re worried about that?”

“Yes. I don’t know the law, but I’m pretty sure having forged IDs and living under a false name isn’t exactly legal. Plus, Dane, uh, took care of some things related to my kidnapping.”

She nodded in understanding. “I’m sure he did what he had to do to protect you.”

“He did,” I agreed. “I just don’t want him going to jail or anything.”

Kassie reached over and rested her warm hand on top of mine. “I’ll go with you to talk to them, Evie. We’re family, and I’ve got your back. Always.”

Chapter 49

Threedayslater,Auburnshowed Evie and I the apartment in his building, and we loved it. It was on the first floor and opened up to a private, fenced courtyard so our animals could run around and play while we were working. There were three spare bedrooms in case we decided to add to our family.

Yesterday, he’d introduced us to his realtor, who had shown us a couple commercial properties that would be great for a bakery. I’d chosen the one that was only a block from the Bouvier office building where Eden would be working. I loved that I’d have my wife within walking distance of my bakery.

I stood behind Eden and wrapped my arms around her in the apartment. Auburn had gone back up the penthouse to give us some privacy to discuss it.

“What do you think?” she asked, her eyes roaming over the hardwood floors and sage-green walls. “Does it feel like home?”

“You feel like home,” I told her, kissing the side of her neck and inhaling her honey scent. The smell of my wife still intoxicated me, even after all these years. “But yes, this does feel like home.”

“It’s not too close to the rest of the family? I know they can be a bit overwhelming. Gianna has already warned me that she would be coming down to get Paulie snuggles every day.”

Placing my fingers on her jaw to tilt her face toward me, I pressed my lips firmly to hers. “I want that. I want us to be immersed in family. You’ve missed out on so much, baby.”

She turned and pressed her beautiful body against mine, arms wrapped around my neck. “Then I say we should take it. What do you think about Dad and Stella’s offer?”

I chuckled. “You mean theirdemandthat Paulie won’t be going to daycare because he’ll be getting spoiled by his grandparents every day?”

Eden nodded. “I like the idea, at least while he’s so little. It would minimize his exposure to too many kids so he doesn’t get sick again.”

“Agreed. And maybe when he’s a toddler, we can put him in that learning center Kassie mentioned. Maybe for a few days a week?”

“That sounds perfect. And you like the space for the bakery? The one close to where I’ll be working?”

“I do. I think I’d like to make it like a chain of our bakery in the Keys, but perhaps with a new name?”

“So not Sweet Heaven?”

I ran my knuckles down the peachy skin of her cheek. “I was thinkingSweet Eden. Maybe have it like a Garden of Eden theme.”

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