Page 63 of Daniil
“You get one pass,” Sandor mutters.“It took Hayden an hour to get back to sleep.”
“We really are sorry,” I say.“We tried to be quiet.”
“Hayden’s a light sleeper,” Lennox says, handing me a cup of coffee.“So, it wasn’t unexpected, just frustrating.Since we were in the middle of something as well.”Her eyes meet mine playfully, and I grimace.
“I’m really sorry!”I say, giving her a quick hug.
She laughs.“It’s okay.Wouldn’t be the first time we were interrupted.”
“Can’t happen all that often,” Daniil says, grinning.“Youarepregnant again.”
“You know I can still kick your ass, right?”Sandor growls.
Daniil wiggles his fingers in a “come here” motion.“Bring it, big brother.”
Sandor hip checks him and Daniil punches him in the gut, though it doesn’t appear to make much of an impact.They glare at each other like they’re about to really fight and then both begin to laugh.
“Jesus, that was alarming,” I tease, putting a hand on Daniil’s arm.“You two are terrifying.”
He leans over to kiss me.“We always mess around.Believe me, if we were genuinely upset, that would never happen in front of the kids.”
“I can’t think of anything you could do that would bring us to blows,” Sandor says sincerely.“We like to scuffle once in a while, even get in the ring on occasion, but never in anger.Short of hurting my wife or children, and I know that’s not who you are, it would take something monumental to cause us to have a violent physical altercation.We spent a decade apart in exile—I think we’ve learned to appreciate family.”
“Absolutely.”Daniil holds out his fist and Sandor bumps his against it.
“Not to mention maturing a bit,” Lennox murmurs.
“That too,” her husband acknowledges.
“Speak for yourself,” Daniil says, laughing.
“As for last night—” Sandor gives his brother another death glare.“If we’re ever in a position like that again, I promise you’ll be the one up rocking your nephew half the night.”
“Deal.”Daniil grins and then winks at me.
Breakfast is busy but fun, the kids noisy and boisterous and the adults almost equally so.Marcus is here as a bodyguard, someone to be on alert so the rest of us can relax, but he’s pretty much part of the family.Harrison and Hayden adore him, and he spends almost as much time rough housing with them as Sandor does.
Micah is a little more reserved but he’s not afraid of him either, so when Marcus scoops him up and hangs him upside down to swing him back and forth, Micah squeals with delight.
“That should be me,” Daniil murmurs in my ear.
“It will be.But let him get used to the extended family.It’s good for him.Especially when he sees Marcus playing with the twins.As he gets older, depending on how much time he spends here, we don’t want him to feel left out.”
“No, I definitely don’t want that.”There’s a wistful look in his eyes, making me wonder what he’s thinking.
“Who’s ready for the beach?”Sandor asks after we’ve eaten.
The twins let out whoops of excitement and Lennox ushers them out of the room while Sandor, Daniil, and Marcus start gathering up all the supplies.Everything from a cooler with drinks to lounge chairs, umbrellas, and floaties.
“Apparently, things have taken an interesting turn,” Lennox says to me once the guys are outside.
I smile.“I guess they have.”
“Are you happy with it?”
“Of course.”
“I’m serious, Court.You and Daniil have a convoluted history.And no matter how much he likes you, it always ends with you disappearing.The stakes are a lot higher this time, though, so I’m trying to understand what you’re feeling.”
