Page 25 of The Arrangement
9
ROME ASHBRIDGE
“Rome,you didn’t have to bring a gift!” Parker exclaimed with a laugh as I strolled through his and Declan’s home.
“This isn’t so much a gift as a duty. As a librarian, it’s my job to supply books to readers, especially the littlest ones.”
Parker accepted the colorful book with the pair of penguins on the front wearing rainbow bow ties. It didn’t hurt to introduce Joy to books that featured two daddies, because that was her reality.
“Holy crap, this is precious!” Parker paged through the book, cooing at the adorable illustrations. He lifted his head and smirked. “Declan told you he’s started reading to Joy every night before bed?”
“He mentioned he was reading theWall Street Journalto her to put her to sleep,” I replied, following him through the foyer to the lounge where Sebastian, Byron, Declan, and Simon were seated. Pierce was still missing.
Declan and Parker had invited everyone over for dinner since we hadn’t gotten together as a big group in almost three months. I also hadn’t seen Joy in three months, and she was so big now. She sat on Declan’s lap, chewing on some colorful toyand watching all the people around her as if they were the most fascinating things in the entire world.
“Look, babe!” Parker said as he crossed the room, holding up the book. Declan’s eyes widened, but the quiet man didn’t give any other indication that he was excited. “Rome brought Joy a gift. You can read it to her tonight.”
“Do you think she’ll like it? I promised to read her an article about convertible bonds tonight.” I almost thought he was serious, but a brief twitch in the corner of his mouth gave him away. Parker cackled and bent to give him a loud, smacking kiss, which made Joy shout, as if indignant that her father would hand out kisses and not include her. Parker grinned and kissed the top of her head full of dark hair.
“Thank you, Rome,” Declan murmured. “I plan to turn one of the bedrooms into a library for Joy. This will help us build the collection.”
I dropped onto the sofa, near Simon, and sighed. “No problem. How old is she now? She looks…bigger to me.”
Sebastian snorted, his arm tightening on Byron’s shoulders as they cuddled together on the love seat. “I’m pretty sure she’s supposed to be getting bigger. It’s how babies work.”
“She’s almost nine months, and getting much faster at crawling,” Parker chimed in.
Declan grunted in agreement. “And reaching things on tables.”
“Franks has been a savior in terms of babyproofing the house and getting all the random things off the tables.” Parker beamed at the tall, slender man in a neat suit as he silently glided into the room. A slight blush touched his cheeks, and it looked as though he were fighting a smile.
“I wish to make sure the Little Princess is safe at all times,” Declan’s home assistant and butler murmured. He paused nextto Declan. “Chef Donovan has prepared Miss Joy’s dinner. I thought I would take her for a diaper change first.”
Declan glared at Franks, making Parker laugh. The artist dropped on the arm of the chair where Declan sat and nudged his knee. “Don’t give him that look. We agreed Franks would feed Joy tonight so you can pay attention to your guests. It’s just one night.”
Regardless of what Declan wanted, Joy was already stretching out her arms toward Franks, as if she understood that the tall, lanky man was her gateway to a clean diaper and food. Declan kissed Joy’s cheek and handed her to Franks.
“Thank you, Franks,” Declan mumbled, even though it sounded so grudging.
Parker chuckled, but it turned into a surprised gasp when Declan wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled his new fiancé into his lap. “You’re ridiculous!”
“Ugh. New couples. You all make me sick,” I grumbled, scrubbing a hand across my face. It wasn’t bad enough that Sebastian had won over the man he’d been pining and whining about for three years, but grumpy, silent Declan had to find the perfect man too? This sucked.
“I think they’re adorable,” Simon offered.
I shifted my glare to him. “You’re young. You haven’t been trying to find that special someone who can stick out a long-term relationship. You—wait, are you seeing someone?”
Simon grinned. “No, I’m in the single club with you, but I’m fine with that.”
A groan escaped me as I rolled my eyes. “Kids. Us old-timers need someone to take care of us.”
Byron snickered. “How old are you, Rome? You can’t be that old.”
“Thirty-four.”
Simon huffed. “Only eight years older than me. You’re not that much of an old man.”
“And he’s not a kid,” Byron pressed.
