Galen chuckles, messing the top of Bishop’s black hair. “Your diplomatic skills could use a little work.”
“It’s cool. And it’s not like he’s telling a fib. My talents lie outside of the kitchen,” I quip, sending Galen a flirty look as I walk toward the double doors with my impatient daughter wriggling and mumbling in my arms.
“You’ll never hear any complaints from me,” he replies, fire blazing in his eyes, and I know his mind has gone to the same place as mine.
My core pulses with need, and I wonder if I can coax Theo out of his home office to watch the kids for a while after lunch so I can indulge in a quickie with Galen.
“You’re perfect in all the ways that count.”
I pin him with a sultry look, one that says, “you are so getting laid,” conveying everything with the heat in my eyes, because I can’t articulate those thoughts with innocent little eyes and ears around.
Galen’s eyes darken with sheer lust, and I rush out of the room, desperate to bathe my daughter and get lunch over and done with so I can put my sexy plan into action.
Chapter 2
Harlow
“POPS!” RORA RACESacross the hardwood floor of Theo’s office, making a beeline for my husband. I lounge against the door, hoping we haven’t interrupted him in the middle of something important.
Last year, Diesel promoted Theo to head of the information and technology department within VERO. It was a massive promotion. One he thoroughly deserved, and I couldn’t be prouder of all he’s achieved. The only downside is he now has to work out of their Washington, D.C., headquarters building at least two to three days a week. It’s too far to drive every day and too expensive to use daily private jets, so Theo flies business class to D.C. on Tuesdays, returning home on Thursday nights.
We bought a penthouse apartment in the city so at least he has some place to call home while he’s there. On the odd occasion, I’ve gone to D.C. with him. I enjoy exploring the city during the day while he works and basking in his undivided attention at night. But I don’t like being away from the kids for long, so I’ve only done it a couple of times. Caz keeps him company sometimes as well, and the kids are used to all of us coming and going at different times.
We built on at the back of the house last year, after Theo got his promotion, extending the kitchen-slash-dining room, adding a playroom for the kids, and a second home office for Theo. The original office is shared between the rest of us. While we largely spend our days at our respective businesses, we still need a place to do some additional work from home. And Galen takes care of the accounts for my fitness center and the two garages Saint and Caz jointly own, so he needed space to work from home.
Theo removes the headphones from his ears, setting them down on the desk before swiveling in his chair. Rora barrels into him, and he lifts her, throwing her up into the air.
Her giggles reverberate throughout the room. “Again, Pops!”
He buries his head in her hair, hugging her little body tight to his chest. “Why do you smell like you’ve just had a bath?” he asks, standing.
“Because I just did, silly,” she says, like it’s normal to have a bath in the middle of the day, during the height of summer when most days are spent in and out of the pool.
He tosses her up high in the air. Her squeals tickle my eardrums, and I smile. “It sounds like someone was up to mischief.” Theo waggles his brows, and she bats her eyelashes, flashing him the biggest, most innocent smile, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
“Someone decided it would be fun to dump a bag of flour over her head,” I explain, pushing off the door and walking toward them. Though I doubt Rora will do it again. Not after the ordeal we just endured trying to get it all out.
“Fireheart.” Theo shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “What are we going to do with you? Hmm?” He kisses her cheek.
“Love me?” Rora says, batting her eyelashes, and I choke on a laugh.
The adoring look Theo gives her melts every part of me. “You are already loved, Rora.” He dots kisses all over her face. “So, so much.”
“I love you too, Pops.” Miraculously, she snuggles into the crook of his neck, snaking her chubby arms around him. They have a special bond, and I know how much it pleases Caz that his biological daughter is particularly drawn to his lover.
“Any of that lovin’ left to go around?” I joke as I come up in front of them.
“Always plenty of love for my wife,” Theo says, opening his arm and pulling me into their embrace. We kiss, and a soft palm adheres to my cheek.
“When I gwo up, I’m gonna be just like Mommy,” Rora says. “I’m gonna have lots and lots of hu-bands.”
We break apart, and I smile at my daughter. “I hope you are as lucky as me.”
Theo and I exchange a look, and in his hazel eyes I see the boy I have loved since I was fourteen. I tuck his hair behind one ear, marveling at how young he still looks. It’s like he hasn’t changed at all. He still wears his hair to the base of his neck, despite the shade they throw at him at VERO HQ, and he still has the same toned lean build. The others work out religiously in the gym, but apart from a daily swim, Theo is content with his slighter build.
“We might need to put a limit on that number,” Theo murmurs, carefully setting Rora on the ground. He tightens his arm around my waist, pulling me in closer to his side. “I have a feeling Saintly will struggle to deal with even one.”
“You’re not wrong,” I agree, watching Rora grab hold of Theo’s hand. “He’s already so protective of both of them.” I glance over my shoulder at his desk. “Can you join us for lunch, or are we interrupting?”
