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Zoya is telling something to Declan, her arms flying around in exaggerated motions. Zach stands beside them, mirroring his father’s stance—spread legs, hands in their pockets, bored expression. Or… actually, there is some softness in Declan’s face as he listens to his little girl.

Zach’s face lights up a bit when his grandma brings him a piece of cake. Corm mended his relationship with his mom, and I’m so grateful, because I found a mother figure in her.

And as I look around the patio, I realize I found a family with these people.

Xander is all flirt and fun, already schmoozing with Cora and Lily at the bar. It’s so nice to see Cora relaxed and outside of her work.

Not sure what Xander is saying, but Lily’s cheeks are aflame. But when I look closer, her eyes are on Declan. Or is it on little Zoya? I didn’t know my friend liked kids so much.

Cal is doting on Celeste, who plopped on to the lounge bed the minute she arrived, her swelling belly huge.

Roxy is turning the meat on the grill while the chef we hired talks to her. Interesting.

“Here you are.” Corm snakes his arms around my waist from behind.

I lean into him. “It’s fun having people over.”

“I prefer having you for myself.” He kisses my neck, and I shudder.

“Behave, Mr. Quinn; we have guests.”

“Maybe we can sneak into the pantry for a quickie?”

I laugh and turn to him. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Guilty as charged.” He kisses me. “I love you.”

“So, is this a good time to ask if I can adopt Rolfie?”

He groans. “Not this again.”

“Come on, Corm, that dog needs a home, and he won’t get adopted. He’s attached to me,” I plead. This is not the first time we’ve had this conversation.

“I’m attached to you, and so is Coco. There is no room for a dog here.”

I roll my eyes. “There is plenty of room. And he won’t be your responsibility.”

“Baby, you know I’d do anything for you, but this is a hard no. I don’t want a dog.”

I sigh, but I don’t push it further. Though I’m sure he would take to that puppy as he did to Coco, despite his initial hesitation. “Let me get a drink.”

He grabs my wrist and yanks me to him, seizing my lips. It’s not a sweet peck; it’s an X-rated, panty-melting assault.

It doesn’t make me feel better about Rolfie, but it does make me feel all giddy about this man who loves me. I guess we can’t always agree on everything.

The kiss also earns a lot of cat-calling from the other men here, and hooting from Cora and Roxy.

I’m breathless when he lets me go.

With his hot gaze still on me, he wipes the corners of his mouth with his thumb and then turns to our guests.

“I want to thank you all for coming tonight. When Saar was in the hospital, I vowed to bring her friends around as often as possible. To help her to never feel lonely.”

He looks at me, winking. His reference to his fake post on my feed isn’t lost on me, but it doesn’t impact me much. I guess some things I forgot are better staying there, lost in my mind. And I know his words are not fake anymore.

He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “I grew up in a loving family.” He looks at his mom and then his brother. “And I owe my parents a lot for the man I became, and for what I achieved. Saar, on the other hand, became the amazing woman she is despite her upbringing, despite being forced to fend for herself since she was a teenager. Despite growing up under the scrutiny of the public. I admire the shit out of her for that.”

My stomach constricts, and a blush rushes to my face. God, this man!