“I heard that.” Dante’s voice carried from the kitchen, followed by metal clattering. “And I’m not supervising. I’m preventing disasters.”
“Says the man dropping all the bowls.” Julian’s crowing laugh caused a similar sound from Emily, which prompted me to join in on my way to the kitchen. I’d take a bath later. This moment with Dante and Julian needed to be explored.
Alexander met me in the doorway, a glass of champagne in hand. He held it out to me, and we traded. He took Emily and cradled her against his chest, cooing and baby talking like he’d been born for it.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” He leaned in to kiss me, grinning against my lips.
“You too.” I sipped the champagne and peered around him to the kitchen. “Should I be worried about what’s going on in there?”
“Probably.” He tapped Emily’s nose. “But we don’t care, do we? No, we don’t.” His expression gentled to one I rarely saw but stole my breath.
A year ago we’d been fighting to keep all this, and now we were celebrating our daughter’s first Valentines in a penthouse filled with rose petals…and burning.
“Shit.” Julian’s curse spun me around, and I headed toward the kitchen.
“Nope.” Alexander hooked an arm around me and brought me back. “Let him deal with it. He wanted to fuck around so let him find out.”
“You’re mean.” I smacked at his shoulder but let him lead me to the couch.
We played with Emily and continued to ignore the loud curses and banging happening in the kitchen.
Half an hour later, we sat on the living room floor, picnic style, with Emily on a blanket between us. She stared up at the twinkle lights Julian had strung across the ceiling.
Dante refilled my champagne and pressed it into my hand. “To family.”
“To many more holidays together.” Alexander clinked his glass against mine and we all drank.
Bubbles fizzed on my tongue and I savored the feeling, along with the sight of my men grinning at me.
Mine. All mine.
The elevator dinged.
I frowned and turned. “Are we expecting someone?”
“No.” Julian pushed to his feet and moved to block the door.
Lila burst through before he reached it, arms full of shopping bags and her face flushed. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Lila.” I set down my glass and stood, crossing to hug her. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a blind date tonight?”
“In an hour.” She dumped the bags on the couch and made grabby hands at Emily. Alexander scooped her up and handed her over with obvious reluctance, and Lila cooed at her like they’d been apart for months instead of hours. “I had to stop by first and see my goddaughter. Can’t let her first Valentine’s pass without presents.”
“You spoil her.” I finished my champagne and stuck my tongue out at Lila.
Lila rolled her eyes. “That’s literally my job.” She settled on the couch with Emily and bounced her. “Besides. I thought I’d better pop over and check on everyone. Unless you’re planning on baby number two arriving next year.” Her eyes lit up when she laughed and nuzzled her nose against Emily’s. “You need a baby sibling, don’t you, darling.”
Um. Not quite yet.
Julian choked on his champagne and uttered an expletive too low for me to understand. “I want more kids, but can we wait just a little while longer.”
“Guess that’s up to you.” Lila wiggled her head side to side. “This little bundle sure did surprise everyone.”
Right. I’d been on birth control when we conceived, and we still had no idea which of them might be her biological father. We’d thought it might be obvious when she was born but I saw all of usin her features. My mouth. Dante’s nose. Julian’s stubborn chin. Alexander’s forehead. We were all part of her.
“I wouldn’t be opposed.” Dante’s liquid fire eyes met mine.
I hurled a pillow at him.
