He gave her an intimate smile before the frown returned to his brow as the intercom buzzer sounded again. “I’m on my way, you impatient fucker,” he muttered, then picked up his jeans and pulled them on, commando, before picking up his T-shirt and taking it with him when he opened the bedroom door. He was pulling it on over his tousled hair when he stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
Fawn stretched beneath the duvet, her body aching in places she hadn’t known it could ache. But in a good way.
A very good way.
“You didn’t sayyou had brought the whole family with you,” Declan observed as Magnus Wynter stepped out of the elevator into the penthouse apartment. He was accompanied by his stepdaughter, Angel, her pet spider, Henry, in his plastic see-through case, and Angus, a white West Highland Terrier.
Angel and Henry together were a given; the almost five-year-old little girl never went anywhere without her beloved spider. God knew how they were going to deal with that when Angel started school in the autumn.
Knowing how much Magnus adored his stepdaughter, Declan had no doubt that the other man had already discussed and sorted out that problem with the school Angel was due to attend. Probably by Henry becoming the class mascot. One who arrived and then went home every day with Angel.
The dog, Angus, actually belonged to Rufus Wynter and his wife, Molly. The two of them were temporarily in Paris, Rufus running the Wynter Security office there until Fergus and Thea returned when Thea’s year of teaching was over. After that, she and Rufus would return to Paris together as husband and wife, with the intention of Thea taking up a teaching position there.
Declan wondered how long that would last, because the four Wynter family men tended to be a virile lot, with Rufus’s and Magnus’s wives both currently pregnant.
There had been no doubting where Angus would stay while Rufus and Molly were in Paris; the dog and Angel had a rapportthat was almost as strong as the one between Angel and Henry, if there could be such a thing as a bond with a spider.
No doubt arachnid aficionados would tell him there could.
Magnus grimaced. “Sapphie had a bad night. I have no idea why they call it morning sickness when it seems to happen any damn time of the day or night.” He scowled. “I offered to take the troops out while Sapphie catches up on her sleep.”
Declan knew that Magnus’s wife, Angel’s mother, was having a tough time of it with the sickness that often accompanied early pregnancy.
Not that Declan would know about that personally. He hadn’t been home when Bridget went through those early months of pregnancy with Connall.
“Uncle Declan! Uncle Declan!” Angel was jumping up and down in excitement, but she made no move to launch herself into his arms, which was her usual way of greeting him. “Daddy said your back is sore and I mustn’t throw myself at you like I usually do.” She sounded disappointed and was obviously directly repeating what Magnus had said to her before they arrived.
Magnus shrugged. “She’s been desperate to see you and reassure herself that you’re okay.”
The private hospital that the Wynter family had insisted on paying for Declan to stay had a strict rule about not allowing children or pets to visit.
Declan assessed how he felt, acknowledging that the injury to his back was aching a little bit. But that was to be expected when he and Fawn had made love together for most of the night. He was forty-three, not twenty-three.
“My back is fine,” he assured Magnus before lifting Angel and twirling her around and around as she squealed with delight.
Fawn observedthe group standing in the hallway outside the elevator, smiling as she watched Declan spinning round with a gorgeous golden-haired little girl in his arms. The two of them were laughing together while Magnus Wynter and a small white dog looked on indulgently.
Declan looked so much younger when he laughed, it made Fawn realize she had never seen him looking quite so carefree before. She really hoped their night together was a part of that.
She’d stayed in bed for a few minutes after Declan left the bedroom, content to just lose herself in the memories of their perfect night together. But soon, the murmur of voices had penetrated her euphoric haze, telling her that whoever the person was who had been pressing on the buzzer, Declan had now allowed them up to his apartment.
She’d taken a quick shower before pulling on panties and a matching bra, along with a bright yellow T-shirt, fitted jeans, and black socks, before leaving the bedroom to join them.
“What is that?” She stared in horror at the huge spider strolling about in the grass and leaves at the bottom of the plastic case sitting on the carpeted floor of the hallway.
“Henry,” Angel announced proudly from where Declan now held her in his arms, perched on one of his hips.
Fawn felt an ache in her chest at howrightDeclan looked holding a small child in his strong and capable arms. She hopedshe had read it right when Declan had said he didn’t want to use protection and that he wanted more children. Because she had always wanted at least three, possibly four children. She knew without a doubt that Declan would be a wonderful father.
“Isn’t he beautiful?” Angel now prompted proudly.
Fawn shot ahelp meglance at the two men, both of whom eyed her sympathetically but made no effort to come to her rescue. “He’s a very fine example of his species,” she finally managed to say at the same time as she had to stop herself from releasing the scream in her throat before running back to the bedroom. Henry was abigspider.
Angel gave a beaming smile, obviously happy with that answer. “You must be Fawn, and I’m Angel. That’s my daddy, and that’s Angus.” She waved one of her little hands in the general direction of the man and the dog. “Daddy said your brother is staying here too. River is such a pretty name,” she added dreamily. “Do you think he would like to meet Henry and Angus?” she prompted excitedly.
Fawn glanced at Magnus Wynter, tacitly asking for his permission to take his daughter to meet her brother. He silently mouthed,Please,and looked a little desperate.
She had no idea what that was about, but she was happy to oblige. “I’m sure River would love to meet all of you.” She waited until Declan had set the little girl down before putting out her own hand for Angel to take hold of.
