Page 109 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

But Lindsay, always a warm soul, had been okay with the arrangement. If they were happy, she was happy. But then Lindsay turned up pregnant, and over the last four years, her three girls joined the festivities. Today, it appeared the family was complete. Oliver, the triplets’ father, was here, and from where I stood, he and Lindsay looked as in love as Brett and Miranda were.

In fact, after a short stint outside, Lindsay returned engaged, with a fancy diamond ring to show for it. I was happy for her, although I’d have no problem ripping Oliver’s arms out if he hurt her or any of the triplets.

I filled out this growing family because now, I had Aiden. Finally, I was going to be a father. It might be nice to have a mother for him, but I hadn’t been lucky in love. I had great luck with sex, but love and happily ever after alluded me. I don’t think I was asking for too much. I wasn’t one of those men who wanted to take care of a woman. Sure, I wanted love and perhaps to be needed, but I liked independent women. Strong women. Sure and confident women. Too many of the women I met seemed like that at first, but then they’d discover the size of my bank account, and all of a sudden, they were like a Stepford wife. Compliant. Subservient. Taking my interests as their own.

I thought back a few weeks ago to the sexy, fit woman who came to the gym to work out. She didn’t get a membership and instead paid for a day pass. At first, I watched her to make sure she knew how to use the equipment. But it wasn’t long before I was watching her because she was like art in motion. She was strong, lithe, and yet had curves where they mattered. She moved like a cat.

As the owner, it was my job to make sure she was having a good experience. She must have felt the snap and crackle between as well. She gave me a sexy smile and let me work out with her. Before the night was through, we were in the sauna, and she was riding my cock like a fucking rodeo star. It had been a long time since I’d come that hard.

And then she was gone. I had no name. No number. She was like a phantom.

“Can I have a cookie?”

Aiden’s small voice broke through the memory. I gave my head a shake. I shouldn’t be thinking about women when I was a father now. “Of course. But say please.”

“Can I have a cookie, please?”

“Here, Aiden.” Lindsay held the plate for him.

The boy scanned all the cookie choices. Soon, his face began to crumple.

“What’s wrong?”

He shrugged and looked down.

“There’s a lot of choices there,” Oliver said.

I looked up at him, thinking so what?

Lindsay looked at him too. “Is it too much?”

Oliver shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe he just needs to be told he can take any one he wants.”

I looked at Aiden. “Is that the problem? You’re worried about taking the wrong one?”

He pointed to a Christmas tree cookie filled with icing and sprinkles.

“If you want that, take it.”

“It’s the last one,” Oliver said quietly.

“You can have it,” Lindsay said. “It’s okay.”

Aiden finally picked up the cookie.

“Oliver was a foster child too,” Lindsay reminded me.

Oliver shrugged. “New home means new rules. Some homes have crazy rules and crazier consequences.”

Holy hell. I turned to Aiden. “If you have a question, ask me, okay? I won’t hurt you. I know I’m big, but that means I can protect you. Okay?”

Aiden didn’t look convinced, but he nodded.

“Good. Tell me, is that cookie good?”

One side of his lip quirked upward. I realized I hadn’t yet seen him smile. Even with all the Christmas gifts, he was intrigued by them, but it was almost like he didn’t believe they were for him.

Dinner and dessert were finished, and I stayed in the kitchen to help Brett with the dishes. We roped Oliver in to help us.

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