“Herbal tea,” Tazzy said. “Because I know you’re watching your caffeine.”
“Thank you,” Bliss murmured.
Connor scooted his chair back up and picked up his notes again. Sitting so close, he would have to try hard not to listen. It was going to be almost impossible.
“So,” Georgia asked gently, “how are you handling things? The Musketiaras were talking about setting up a schedule to bring out meals and help you with the babies.”
Bliss’s face got that adorably confused look she always got before saying something awkward. He knew her every expression.
“Um, a musky what?”
Connor inhaled his coffee and choked, coughing and spilling his drink. All three women stared at him. Well, Georgia and Tazzy were glaring.
“Are you okay?” Bliss asked.
He thumped his chest and croaked, “Swallowed wrong. Sorry.”
Bliss’s eyes lingered on him in concern as Georgia drew her back into the conversation.
“Not musky. Musketiaras. It’s a sort of club. Most of us have Daddies at Sabre Security, but there are a few others. We have fun, and we always look out for each other. As soon as your life settles a bit, we plan on pulling you into our crew.”
Bliss’s voice was quiet. “That sounds awesome. I knew Winnie was one of you. I just forgot what the group was called. It, um… it may be a while before I can join you guys. Life is, you know, pretty hectic right now.”
From his table, Connor wondered how hectic it was. And why the hell did she sound embarrassed for needing help?
Tazzy didn’t miss a beat. “What can we do to help?”
Bliss shrugged and gave a forced laugh. “Take your pick of almost anything. It seems there’s always something important I miss or forget. When you have three babies under a year old, there is always something to do.”
Connor turned his head a little so he could hear better, knowing somehow that this was important.
“And what can we do to help?” Georgia repeated.
“I love my babies. I’d give up anything, do anything for them.” Bliss hesitated. “But if someone could be with them long enough for me to clean the house or buy groceries or take a bubble bath…that would be amazing.”
“It sounds like you need a Daddy,” Georgia said. “They are annoyingly overprotective about bucket lists, but they’re pretty awesome otherwise.”
Connor’s vision went red. The idea of another man living with her… helping with the babies, touching her… his hands curled into fists. He didn’t have the right to feel this way. He knew it. But that didn’t stop the surge of possessive anger.
Tazzy said gently, “The right Daddy could make all the difference, you know.”
Bliss made a small, helpless sound, her eyes finding Connor’s before darting away. “I wouldn’t even know where I’d start trying to find a Daddy now. No one wants a Little that comes with three babies to feed.”
“Oh, I’ll bet we could find someone just right for you,” Georgia said.
Connor shoved his chair back. He was done sitting there pretending he wasn’t listening. Like hell she was finding somebody else. He stepped over to Bliss’s table. All three women looked up at him.
Connor walked around the table to the empty chair. “Mind if I sit?”
Georgia and Tazzy exchanged glances. “We should get back to work,” Georgia said. “Come on, Tazzy.”
She grabbed Tazzy’s hand and dragged her back to the counter.
Connor dropped into the chair. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Connor forced himself to look at the babies. Two little girls sat in the stroller munching pastries. Another slept against Bliss’s chest.
Something tugged at his heart. A strange pull he’d never felt before. It unsettled him because it was a line he couldn’t cross. Not with his family history. He cleared his throat. “How's your day been?”
Bliss gave him a small smile. “Okay.”
