“I love it!” I lift the sweatshirt out of the box and stand up to put it on. “What do you think? How do I look?”
She beams at me. “Like the world’s best daddy.” Which is what the sweatshirt says.
“I’m wearing it to the Raider family Christmas.” I check the time. “Speaking of which, we need to go. I don’t want to be late for Mom’s Christmas brunch.”
She jumps into action. “Did you pack Adele’s baby bag? Never mind. I’ll do it.”
She returns with a packed bag in less than a minute. My brow wrinkles. “Why is the diaper bag bigger than normal?”
“I added an extra outfit in case this one doesn’t last. We don’t want Miss Adele to not look perfect on her first Christmas.”
Warmth spreads throughout me. Sloane loves my baby girl. This is proof, Sloane is worth taking a chance on. Even for someone like me, who usually doesn’t do relationships.
We arrive at my mother’s house fifteen minutes later. Sloane’s eyes widen when she notices the amount of cars in the driveway.
“Did your mom invite the entire island of Smuggler’s Hideaway to brunch?”
I chuckle. “Nope. It’s the family.”
She shakes her head. “Remind me to never have six children.”
“How many children do you want?”
She shrugs. “Two or three. But I have to find a man first.”
Sweetness, you have found your man. You just don’t know it yet.
While she rescues Adele from the car seat, I grab the diaper bag and the bag of presents.
“Oh no.” Sloane’s eyes widen when she notices the presents. “I didn’t buy any presents. I was going to steal a bottle of whiskey from the bar but I forgot. Maybe I should go back to your house.”
I grasp her hand. “Don’t be silly. These presents are from us.”
I hold her hand as we enter Mom’s house. The second we’re inside, cheers erupt.
“I knew it! Pay up, suckers.” Miles holds out his hand.
Jaxon rolls his eyes. “I didn’t bet.”
“And I agreed with you,” Rhett adds as Eli nods in agreement.
“Kai Raider,” Sloane growls. “Hold the mistletoe over my head and see what happens. I dare you.”
Kai gasps. “How do you see me?”
She points to the mirror over the fireplace. “I’ve been watching men try to sneak up on me since I was fourteen.”
I frown. “Fourteen?”
“You’ve met my mom. You can’t be surprised.”
I growl. “Did your mom’s boyfriends touch you?”
Stuart sweeps in and steals Adele from Sloane’s arms. “Just getting my granddaughter out of harm’s way before blood is shed.”
Stuart steps back but Sloane scowls at him. “Who are you?”
“Sloane, this is my step-dad, Stuart.”
