Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, I smiled indulgently at her. “Youareperfect,” I confirmed. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you know that.”
“What are you doing with our daughter?” I asked.
Hunter was sitting at his desk, baby Blossom cradled in one arm. She was looking at the screen, but given how young she was, I doubted she could make anything out.
“I’m teaching our daughter all about business.” Hunter smiled and booped her nose. “Isn’t that right, pumpkin?”
Leaning against the doorframe, I watched. “Where’s our beautiful mate?”
“She fell asleep about twenty minutes ago. Meadow is in the nest with her. I think they were going to go out for a bit, but the nap must’ve snuck up on them. Not a surprise, with how close Meadow is to her due date.”
“And the dads?”
“Still asleep, I think. I told them they didn’t have to take the night shift with Blossom, but they insisted,” Hunter explained. “So I took the little lady and decided to get some work done while the house was quiet.”
“You’re supposed to be on parental leave.”
“I am, mostly. I’m capping myself at an hour a day. Evelyn sends me a condensed list of things that only I can answer. Besides, I’m barely working. Blossom is a surprisingly distracting assistant.”
Blossom raised one chubby little fist in the air. It wasn’t fair that even the tiniest movements from our baby were so adorable. “She’s going to have us wrapped around her finger.”
“Just like her mother.” Hunter kissed Blossom’s forehead.
I couldn’t disagree with that. Clover had come barreling into our lives in a sparkly pink supercar and had changed everything. If my girl wanted me to walk around on all fours and have mebark like a dog, I would do it to see her smile. “I think I’m okay with that,” I said, smiling at them.
I parked myself on the edge of his desk so I could stroke Blossom’s downy hair. Hunter’s face was so soft as he took her in. “You know what? I think I’m okay with that too.”
Chapter 53
Parker
“Magnolia Ashcroft! This isn’t up for debate.”
Maggie stomped around our living room, aggressively tossing throw pillows at me. She’d come to visit Blossom, but I’d caught her on her way up. “You’re right, Parker, itisn’tup for debate, because I’m saying no! I will not allow a bunch of goons to follow me around.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, a frustrated sigh escaping my chest. “Magnolia, Mom and the dads are freaked out after what happened with Logan’s family, and you’re not listening to them.”
My sister shot me a withering look and crossed her arms. “They would freak out if I got a paper cut.”
“But you didn’t. You gotkidnapped.”
She shrugged. My sister freakingshrugged. “They weren’t even after me, they were after Clover.”
“You got plucked off the street. It didn’t matter that you weren’t the target.” I dodged another pillow and gripped her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “Formypeace of mind, if not theirs, please cooperate with this. We’re worried about you.”
She pouted, looking at the floor rather than me. “How many assholes would I be dealing with?”
“It’s a small security team, all personally vetted by my pack.” Relief poured through me when she didn’t immediately start fighting me on it again. “Four guys, that’s all.”
Her brows rose, a petulant expression tightening her mouth. “That’s four too many.”
“You’ll come around to the idea.”
Maggie smirked. “Is that a promise or a threat?”
“Depends on how much of a pain in the ass you want to be about it.” I spun her around, nudging her toward the stairs. “Go on, your niece is ready to spend some time with her auntie.”
“Aren’t you coming with me?”
