Giving my hand a reassuring squeeze, Daddy smiles down at me. “Would you like that, sunshine?”
Part of me wants to stay with him. But if we’re really going to be part of this family, then I need to at leasttryto be friends with the other girls. “Uh-huh.”
“I’ll take you up.”
Uncle Max leads us up the stairs to Victoria’s nursery. It’s set up almost exactly like mine, but with the walls painted a happy pink instead of my blue. Victoria is there, with Isabella and Natalie, all of whom look up when we enter, their faces lighting up with smiles as their happy screeches fill the room.
“Millie!”
As one, they leap to their feet and make a dash for me, throwing their arms around me and jumping up and down. And just like that, all my reservations about tonight disappear on a sea of happy squeals and hugs.
“All right girls, give her some room to breathe.” Uncle Max chuckles as he tugs Victoria away from our group. “Nobody wants to deal with Doctor D if you smother his Little girl to death.”
Stepping back a bit, Natalie snorts out a laugh. “I’m sure that would be justdreadful.”
The others all slap a hand over their mouths, but it does little to hide their laughter. It takes everything I have not to join them, and luckily for all of us Uncle Jasper steps through the door of the nursery, Juliet by his side, distracting us all from our mirth. In a finger snap, the atmosphere changes, as if the very air itself is holding its breath, waiting to see what happens.
“Juliet!” Victoria’s happy cry breaks the strained silence, and once again we’re all one big group, hugging and chatting and giggling as our Daddies stand watch.
Seemingly satisfied we’ll all get along just fine without them, Uncle Max claps my Daddy on the shoulder and grins. “Cat is going to be late, but I’ve got a bottle of scotch downstairs with our names on it, and a video monitor. They’ll be fine up here. And I’m sure they’ll be on their best behavior, won’t you, Victoria Rose?”
“Yes, Daddy! We won’t get in any trouble, promise!”
“Good girl.”
Daddy doesn’t look quite convinced. Worry flickers in his eyes as he kneels beside me. “You’re sure you’ll be all right up here by yourself?”
“Uh-huh. Everyone is being really nice.”
“All right. But like Uncle Max said, there’s a monitor up here, so you just yell if you need me. Okay?”
Warmed by his concern, I throw my arms around his neck and press a noisy kiss to his cheek. “I’ll be okay, Daddy. Really.”
“Okay.” He hesitates, just a moment, before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close for a tight hug. “Be good and don’t let the others talk you into any mischief, or it’s double the spankings for you.”
“I won’t, Daddy.”
“Good girl.”
With another tight squeeze, he releases me and rises to his feet. “Lead the way, gentlemen.”
As soon as the sound of their footsteps fade, Juliet grins and rubs her hands together. “All right, girls. What kind of trouble are we getting into tonight?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Donovan
Worry still niggles at the back of my mind as we all make our way downstairs to Maxwell’s parlor, but I try to set it aside. The girls all seemed plenty happy to see Camilla, even Juliet, so the likelihood that anything bad will happen appears low.
Besides, Maxwell has that monitor. Even if something does happen, I’m only a staircase away.
Holding that knowledge close to my chest, I settle in one of the comfortable armchairs Maxwell gestures to, and graciously accept the tumbler of scotch he presses into my hand.
“So, Donovan.” Still wearing the same wide grin from upstairs, Maxwell takes the seat next to me and sips from his own glass. “How are things with you and the lovely Camilla?”
“Better than I’d ever dreamed.” Even though I’ve never considered myself the type to gush, I can’t help but smile at the thought of her. “The first few days were rough, but for the most part she seems to have settled in quite nicely. She’s even calling me Daddy without being threatened within an inch of her life.”
“That’s good to hear. I always thought you two were a good match.” He raises a brow, his grin shifting to a smirk. “And what about the applications I’ve passed your way? Have you interviewed anyone yet?”
