Page 24 of The Billionaire's Instant Triplets

“Then your training starts now.” Ria stood, carefully shifting Jacob, and gestured to the rocking chair. “Have a seat.”

Tristan followed her instructions, and Ria carefully handed Jacob to him.

“Like this?” Tristan asked.

“Perfect. Now, stroke his back gently with the flat of your hand.”

Tristan did so. Jacob fussed a little, but he was relaxing into Tristan. Clearly, the stress of whatever bad dream had woken him was already fading away.

“Am I doing it right?” Tristan asked.

“You’re doing it perfectly.” Ria sat back on the armchair she’d taken from Tristan and folded her legs beneath her. There was something magical about watching him rock the little boy in the faint light. That sight made her feel as though all could be well. “You can also talk to him a little or sing if you’d like.”

“Singing is out of the question.” There was a smile in Tristan’s quiet voice. “If I tried, neither you nor Jacob here would ever sleep again.”

“I’m sure you’re notthatbad.”

“Trust me, I am. The only thing I’m really good at is work.”

“You must be.” Ria stifled a yawn. There was no way she was leaving, not when Tristan was finally making progress, no matter how tired she felt. “You founded your own company, right?” Ria didn’t want to admit it, but she’d looked up both Tristan and his company after moving in. He was wildly successful for someone his age.

“Yes, I did.”

“And you made your legacy from scratch. I’ve read that, too.”

“It’s true… although I think I should admit that I got help from my parents. My father gave me a start-up loan, and since he was a businessman, he taught me a lot of useful skills.”

“Really?” Ria was surprised. “Your story online sounds like you built your business from scratch.”

“That’s how I wanted it to look,” Tristan admitted. “But I can’t deny that there’s more to it.”

“Hmm. Well, even if you had financial support from your parents, even if you had advice, you’ve still done amazing work. No one can deny that you’re good at what you do.”

“Thanks.” Tristan’s teeth flashed white in the darkness as he smiled. “I think this little one is asleep.”

Ria checked Jacob’s eyes, which had drifted shut. The young boy had long since stopped fussing, and his head now rested on Tristan’s shoulder as his chest rose and fell peacefully.

“I think you’re right. Do you want to take him back upstairs?”

“Yeah.” Tristan stood and, carefully so as not to jostle the little boy, headed towards the door. He paused just before he reached it, though, and turned back. “It’s so different, holding a sleeping child compared to holding an awake one. He’s so warm and heavy.”

“Whereas in the day, the kids are all flailing limbs and wet kisses,” Ria agreed.

Tristan smiled again, then disappeared upstairs.

Ria knew she should follow. She should get back into bed and reach for sleep again, at least until dawn brightened the house and it was time to make breakfast for the triplets. Yet she didn’t move from her spot in the armchair. The last half an hour with Tristan had given her a lot to think about.

She wasn’t surprised that he’d had support from his parents. So many wealthy and successful businessmen did. The fact that he’d admitted it had been a shock, though. Everyone wanted to prove that they were making their own way in this life, when there wasn’t a single person alive who didn’t rely on someone else, at least a little.

Another surprise, a bigger one, was the fact that Tristan had gotten out of bed at all. This wasn’t the first time one of the triplets had cried in the night. It wasn’t the first time Ria had woken from slumber and rushed into their room to carry a fussy toddler downstairs for a rock in the chair and a little gentle talking. Itwasthe first time Tristan had come running too, though. Perhaps his actions signaled a change in his relationship with the kids. Perhaps this was the start of him stepping more and more into his role as a father.

Ria smiled to herself.

Just as she was thinking of getting up, perhaps for a cup of herbal tea before trying to sleep again, Tristan reappeared in the doorway.

“You’re still up,” he said.

“Yeah. I’m not that tired now.” Ria shrugged. “I might stay up a little.”

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