The sight of them literally makes my chest hurt, like my heart is trying to burst out of it.
Patton’s gaze wanders down my face in that intense way of his. Nothing makes me as hot and bothered as when those eyes are on me. And from the slight smirk on his face, he knows it, too.
I give him that look—the one he knows means,“don’t you dare think those nefarious thoughts right now; we have a party to host!”
I’m just about to voice the same thing when the back door to the yard opens and the Meyer brothers stream in with their wives, with Kavi and Hudson close behind them.
Sarina, Troy, Piper, and Dev, who arrived earlier, drift over as the newcomers join our circle.
While the guys mingle, Rani and Kavi reach for me, pulling me into a hug before Mala and Bella follow suit, all of them complimenting the loose pink dress I chose to match Gia’s.
The ladies then gather around Patton, voices dropping to reverent whispers as they admire our baby.
“Oh, my God, you guys,” Rani says, beaming. “She is so freaking cute! I see a lot of you in her, Patton.”
I groan audibly, pretending to be annoyed, but honestly, I’m happy she looks so much like her dad.
“Just wait til she wakes up hungry,” Patton says. “That tiny-baby rage is one hundred percent her mom’s.”
“Hey!” I elbow his side, making everyone laugh.
“Alright, hand her over, Pierce,” Dean says, shouldering past the ladies to come stand in front of us. “This is a meet-and-greet for Gia, and you’ve literally hogged her the entire time.”
Patton raises a brow. “You’ve been here all of three minutes.”
“Exactly! That’s three minutes my goddaughter could have been imprinting on her favorite uncle.”
Troy snorts, halfway through his beer. “Technically, I’m the only one she will call uncle around here.”
Dean waves him off. “Technicalities have no place when it comes to this group.”
Probably the truest statement he’s ever spoken, given how much we all act like siblings, except with our immediate partners, of course.
Dean makes grabby hands at Gia until Patton sighs and gently passes her over like she’s made of glass.
Dean coos down at her, and I won’t lie. While I’ve never been physically attracted to any man besides Patton, if Dean ever posed for a magazine holding a baby like that, every copy would be snatched off the shelves in seconds.
Objectively speaking, this backyard is overflowing with handsome men and their equally gorgeous wives. It’s like being trapped in the most attractive group photo ever taken.
“Look at this tiny thing,” Dean says, peering down at my baby. “She’s probably already smarter than her uncle Garrett.”
Garrett shrugs, pulling Bella against his side. “Considering she hasn’t tried to high-five a spinning ceiling fan, she’s got Uncle Dean beat, too.”
Eyes closed, Hudson shakes his head like he’s in physical pain. He plucks a glass of wine from a tray that a server has brought over. “That actually happened, didn’t it?”
Kavi giggles next to him, taking a sip from her own wine.
Darian nods. “Just like the time he stepped on a wasp barefoot . . . on purpose. When it comes to our brother, you can assume the most ridiculous stories areactualanecdotes.”
Dean rolls his eyes, looking down at Gia. “Don’t you dare listen to them, precious one. They’re just jealous they’re not risk-takers like your uncle Dean. They can’t even try a new menu item without wondering if it’ll give them indigestion.”
Laughter ripples around us.
“Alright, Dean,” Mala says, tapping her husband’s shoulder. “You’ve had your time with her. It’s my turn.”
“But I just got her!” Dean says, turning his body away from her.
“Dean Meyer,” I warn, “if you startle my baby awake with all your rushed movement, not only will you have a banshee to contend with, but I’ll volunteer you as my sparring dummy for a week when I’m ready to get back to thedojang.”
