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“Too early,” Corm grumbles, rolling over and covering me with his leg.

“Is Livia here already?”

“I hope so.”

Voices and wailing fill the house, and I sit up. “Is that Coco?”

“Fuck, it’s ten already?” Corm jumps out of the bed. “Get dressed and come down.”

He pulls on sweatpants and a T-shirt and throws a bathrobe at me.

“What’s going on?”

“Hurry up,” he urges.

“Jesus. Let me brush my hair and my teeth at least. What’s the rush?” I slide out from under the covers.

“No time for that.” He puts the robe on me and ties the sash, adjusting the two sides so I’m as covered as possible.

“You’re weird.”

“The surprise downstairs will force you to revisit the adjectives you use when describing me.” He ushers me out of the door.

“What are we going to do with you?” Livia speaks in a baby-like voice, and when I look down, my heart stops and restarts.

I run downstairs and then pause at the last minute, remembering I need to approach carefully.

“Rolfie,” I whisper, and the mutt perks up. The tears fall freely as I lean to pet him in his box. He wags his tail and comes to lick my hand.

“Oh my, this is going to be a lively house.” Livia sniffles.

Sitting on the ground, I carefully lower one side of the box and wait to see if Rolfie ventures out. He doesn’t, but he keeps pushing to the side where I sit, and that’s a win.

Completely overcome with emotions, I find Corm standing at the base of the stairs with Coco in his hands.

My family.

“Thank you.”

“You can thank me later.” He winks, his eyes dark with desire and adoration.

Declan

Fucking hell. Lily is my new nanny.