Page 140 of Donovan's Men

“I’m taking the full year.” Caressa eyed the baby in her arm as she latched on. “But I’m not going back.”

I cocked my head.

“Emergency medicine isn’t where my heart is anymore. I want regular hours and a predictable schedule. No more insane overtime. No more swapping shifts. No more chaos.”

“She’s thinking about taking a wellness-check nursing job.” Michael leaned against her leg. “Working with recovering addicts.”

That surprised me. Caressa’d grown up with an abusive addicted mother. Michael’s parents had enjoyed imbibing, and Cole’s father’d been a nasty drunk.

“I think it’s time for me to put the past behind me once and for all.” Caressa toyed with Becca’s dark hair. “And I still have lots to give. I just want things to be different.”

Cole sighed. “I hate that I have to go back to work in a couple of weeks.” The studio had arranged for him to have a couple of months off. Caressa had qualified for the government maternity leave. Not that they needed the money. But she’d worked hard and earned her rest.

“I have to go back this week.” Michael sighed. “We’re at a critical stage of the construction of this building, and I’m not fucking leaving it up to—”

“Hey. Shush.” Cole hissed as he pretended to cover Beau’s ears.

The baby belched.

We all laughed.

Cole turned his attention to me. “Did you sign on to the project?”

I grinned. “An action film starringtheCole Hamilton andthePeter Erickson? Nothing would stop me.” My grin didn’t falter, but I added the amendment that if either Hamish or Tyson needed me, I’d drop the project in a heartbeat.

Cole winked.

Ah.He knew. Of course he knew. Because he felt the exact same way.

Hamish leaned against me. “We said we’d buy dinner for them, right?”

Caressa squealed.

Michael groaned.

Cole grunted.

I held up my phone. “Any preferences?”

Five people all named five different restaurants.

In the end, we chose a local burger joint, acquiescing to the new mother’s craving for onion rings, and we hunkered down for an enormous meal while juggling two infants and six of the happiest people in Vancouver.

That night, as I settled in our huge bed with my men, and as Tyson fucked Hamish while I tugged one out, I acknowledged what a lucky bastard I was.

Even later, as we lay replete in each other’s arms, I gave a little thanks to my sister for having instilled the ability to love in me. I would never run out of love—and my men would never tire of it.

Lucky bastard indeed.