Page 7 of Satisfying the King

His smile grew.

And so did mine.

“Well, I feel all mangy. You can help me shave it off later.”

The change in Carlo’s attitude made my belly twist in a delicious way. “That sounds like fun.” I slid my feet underneath me and pushed up. My lips found his and I kissed him.

His arm clamped around and held me.

“Dada, no,” Dani’s whiny voice broke the mood. Her chubby hand landed on his other cheek, and she patted him. “No, me.”

Carlo chuckled and leaned his head down to kiss her cheek.

“Does anyone know why there was a bunny at the door?” Eve stepped into the living room. And sure enough, in her arms, she carried a sweet, white bunny.

“Ah! My bunny!” Dani screeched in a loud voice. She let go of Carlo and slipped out of his arms and off the couch in record time. She toddled her way up to Auntie Eve.

At first, I thought it was some random bunny that Carlo must’ve arranged to be delivered. But then I recognized its coloring—and the distinctive pink collar. “What did you do?” I asked him as I stared at my daughter. She was clearly in Heaven, petting the bunny and loving her up.

Carlo rubbed his arm and twisted his neck from side to side. “I flew her favorite bunny in.”

My jaw dropped open and I turned to him. “You flew her bunny in?”

He dug his fingers into his shoulder and rolled it around. I could hear snapping noises. That had to be painful.

“That’s what I just said.”

I frowned at him. “On your private jet?”

He nodded and stretched his hands above his head. A look of pure agony shot over his face and made me cringe. Gosh, he really was in pain from holding my kid for three days.

“You can’t send your plane back to Chicago to pick up Dani’s bunny.”

He rolled his head around. “I can,” he nodded his head toward Dani, Eve, and the bunny, “so I did.”

Dani was in her glory, fussing over the bunny. She wanted to feed her and hold her.

“Daniella, is that your bunny?” Nick walked into the room with a huge grin on his face.

“Bunny! My bunny!” she answered her uncle, making him laugh.

“Wow, that was pretty nice of your dada. How about we show the bunny around the house? So she feels more comfortable about staying here?” Nick looked up at me and winked.

I smiled at him and wanted to give him a huge hug.

“Good idea, Uncle Nick. And then Mommy and Dada can go shower,” Eve looked from me to Carlo and then back to Dani, “and maybe you can help us give the babies a bath?”

Apparently, Dani thought those were all fantastic ideas. She turned back to us and waved her hand. “Bye bye,” she said very nonchalantly—as if she hadn’t disrupted the entire household for three days.

“Bye, Dani,” Carlo and I said at the same time as we waved to her. I looked at Eve and said, “Thank you.”

She grinned from ear to ear and nodded. And then off they went.

“Let’s get you in the shower.” I stood and pulled on his hand.

Carlo stayed seated. “I don’t think I can stand. My whole body aches.”

I gave him my very best sad face. “That’s too bad. I was looking forward to you standing in the shower—while I was on my knees.”

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