Page 17 of The Billionaire's Instant Triplets

“Yay!” There were cheers. The triplets began to eat their snacks more quickly, clearly looking forward to a pool trip. After they ate, Ria took them all upstairs and busied them with a chunky puzzle while she found swimsuits and towels for everyone. Still, as she packed the bag, walked the triplets to the pool, and played with them in the shallow water and spouting fountains of the kiddy section, she couldn’t stop thinking about their mother. Why hadn’t Tristan mentioned her?

Even stranger, the house didn’t have much of a feminine touch. Ria would be surprised if any woman lived there. Maybe Tristan was divorced, then, though that didn’t explain why the kids thought their mother lived in a park. Maybe she just had a big yard? Although, if Tristan was divorced, that meant the kids would probably spend some time at their mother’s house, which made Ria’s job a little confusing.

The rest of the day passed in splashy play, a lunch of chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, and peas, and an afternoon of napping and quiet activities. Evening brought a dinner of spaghetti for the kids, followed by bathtime and their bedtime routine. They were already showing enormous strides with potty training and were talking more, which Ria saw as a good sign.

When she came downstairs after tucking the kids in, the baby monitor in her hand, she ran smack into Tristan, who was just coming home. He was wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a band T-shirt.

“Is that what you wore to work?” she asked. After the words had slipped out, she realized that this was not the way one talked to their employer. Luckily, Tristan didn’t seem annoyed.

“Yeah, we have a very casual office. Are the triplets in bed?”

“Yep, just.”

“Oh.” Tristan’s face fell slightly.

“Were you hoping to see them?” Ria glanced at her phone to check the time. Tristanwashome earlier than usual, but he’d still missed their bedtime by a few minutes.

“Maybe.”

“Well, tomorrow is Saturday, so I’m sure you’ll see plenty of them then.”

“Right. I’ll try to keep my work to a minimum.” They were still standing in the hallway, but Tristan now put down his backpack and took off his shoes. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. The kids had spaghetti, but I was too busy supervising to eat much.”

“I was just going to get some dinner, if you care to join me.”

“Sure.” They walked together to the kitchen, where Ria dished up a plate of leftover spaghetti from the triplets’ dinner. She added a few sprinkles of fresh herbs and some chili flakes for a little extra flavor before putting together a little salad. Tristan, meanwhile, dished up grilled salmon and steamed broccoli with brown rice from the fridge and heated it in the microwave.

“Healthy,” Ria said, nodding to his food. “Do you always eat so healthy?”

“Usually. But I think most people in San Francisco do.” They sat at the small dining table in the kitchen, Tristan poking halfheartedly at his fish. “How were the kids today?”

“Good.” Ria hesitated. She was probably about to overstep again. “Although, Jasmine mentioned something that I found a little confusing.”

“More squirrels?” Tristan asked. He winked, and Ria smiled.

“Actually, squirrels did play a part, but they weren’t the focus this time.” She paused, looking down at her plate of pasta.

“Go on.” Tristan lifted those intense green eyes to hers. He’d taken off his glasses again.

“She said something about her ‘mommy,’” Ria explained. “I think I must have misunderstood something — I thought you were a single father.”

“Right.” Tristan nodded slowly. “I am a single father. Actually, the triplets… they’re my nephews and niece.”

“Really?” Ria’s eyebrows lifted. She hadn’t considered that possibility at all.

“A few months ago, I found out that I had a half sister. I never knew her — she was the product of an affair my father had.” Tristan shook his head slightly. “I wish I’d known her, but my father never told my mother or me about her. Anyway, she passed away recently. I’m the only living family the triplets have, so I agreed to take them.”

“Oh.” Ria sat back in her chair, reeling. She had misread the situation, but not in the way she’d thought. “I had no idea.”

“How would you have?” Tristan shrugged. “I never told you.”

“Right. I just… wow.” She shook her head slowly. “That must have been a huge shock for you. And for the kids.” Now it made sense why Jasmine had said their mother lived in a park. She must have meant a cemetery. Ria’s heart broke for those kids, who were so young to be experiencing such upheaval in their lives.

“It was.” Tristan took a sip of his water before lifting those bright-green eyes to Ria’s again. “That’s why I’m such a lousy father.”

“A lousy father?” Ria’s brows wrinkled. “What makes you say that?”

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