Page 23 of The Billionaire's Instant Triplets

A few days passed with little sign of Tristan. Ria spent her time playing with the kids, working on potty training, reading to them, and taking them to the park. Tristan seemed caught up in his work. He had dinner with the triplets a few times, and he and Ria shared a few more conversations after the kids were in bed, but it was all surface-level. They chatted about the weather, Tristan’s work, how the kids were doing, and what was for dinner. Neither of them brought up parenting or their families.

Tristan was around a little more than he had been in the first few days, but it seemed he still wasn’t ready to step into his parental role. After his disappearance following their park outing, Ria didn’t want to push him. She kept their conversations professional and dedicated herself to taking excellent care of the triplets. If she still found Tristan attractive, she kept that to herself.

About a week later, she was sound asleep when a noise startled her awake. Her heart racing, Ria sat up in bed to listen for another sound.

“Waaaaah!”

One of the triplets was clearly awake and in distress. Glancing at the clock just long enough to register the time (it was a little after three in the morning), Ria ran down the hallway to the kids’ room. Jacob was sitting up in bed, red-faced and crying. Ria scooped him into her arms, patting his back and stroking his hair, as she carefully carried him out of the room. Jasmine and Jamie hadn’t woken yet, but if Jacob cried much longer, she’d have three sleep-deprived and upset toddlers on her hands.

“It’s all right,” Ria told Jacob, bouncing him slightly in her arms. She nudged the door to the triplets’ room closed with her hip as she kept stroking Jacob’s back. “You’re okay.”

A moment later, a shadowy figure appeared in the hallway — Tristan. He strode towards them. Even in the darkness, Ria could see that his handsome features were marred by worry.

“I heard someone crying,” he whispered.

“Poor Jacob here seems to have had a bad dream,” Ria whispered back, still bouncing the little boy. In any other situation, with any other client, she’d have reassured Tristan that she could handle this and sent him back to bed. But he was up anyway, and the fact that he’d come when he’d heard the crying was a good sign. Perhaps this was a way to encourage him into his fatherly role — but Ria still wouldn’t push.

“Is he okay?” Tristan asked.

“He seems all right. You’re okay, huh, Jacob?” Ria patted Jacob’s back. He was still crying a little, but it was far reduced from the wailing that had woken Tristan and Ria. “I’ll just take him downstairs so we don’t wake the others.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Ria nodded, masking her surprise, and they quietly padded down the stairs. Ria carried Jacob into the playroom, where the rocking chair was, and sat down. Tristan sat on the armchair beside her. Now that the situation was a little calmer, and the room was faintly illuminated by the full moon through the picture window, Ria saw that Tristan was in his pajamas. Apparently, he slept in boxer shorts and a white T-shirt. Ria was in her pajamas, too — a pink top and a pair of pajama pants printed with colorful cupcakes. Hopefully, it was too dark for Tristan to see the cupcakes.

“So, do you think he had a bad dream?” Tristan asked in a low voice.

“I think so. They’re not uncommon at this age.” Ria rocked back and forth as Jacob’s sobs turned into quiet whimpers.

“And you’ll stay here, rocking him, until he falls asleep?” Tristan asked. His elbows were resting on his knees as he watched her rock back and forth.

“I will. It shouldn’t be long.” She almost added that he didn’t need to stay, but if Tristan was showing interest in parenting, she didn’t want to discourage him.

Tristan sighed. “I didn’t know kids this young could evenhavenightmares. When one of the triplets cried at night, I always thought they were hungry or thirsty or needed a diaper change.”

“That’s a fair assumption,” Ria replied. “But often, a kid just needs a little comfort.”

“Right.” Tristan shook his head. “I just… I wish I knew that kind of thing. I’ve read books, I’ve tried my best, but I always feel like I fall a little short.”

“Every parent feels that way,” Ria said. “I did, too, when I first started taking care of little ones. I always worried I was doing the wrong thing! Just give it time. I know you love the triplets. Everything else can wait — and I’d be happy to help you.”

“I know.” Tristan’s mouth quirked into a smile. “You were the one who encouraged me to come to the park.”

“I’m sorry if I overstepped a boundary.”

“Not at all. It just… well, it was a lot. But maybe it’s time that I try to be more of a father to the kids, instead of a clueless uncle.”

“You aren’t a clueless uncle,” Ria protested, though internally she was singing with joy that Tristan wanted to step into a father role. “You already love the triplets, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” Tristan’s eyes crinkled. “I do. They’re good kids.”

“So…” Ria rocked a little more, choosing her words as the rocking chair creaked faintly. “Do you accept my help?”

“I do.”

“It means I’m going to tell you what to do.”

Tristan chuckled. “All right. I’m ready.”

---