Page 85 of Billionaire Bachelor

I’m glad my brother got another chance with Penny, especially after our last talk, but I may be a bit salty that Logan left my apartment for nothing last night. It turns out, Ryan’s date went so well, he stayed the night at Penny’s. And since she’s off work today, he was continuing theirdatethis morning.

In other words, my brother wanted to get laid again before taking off.

My dad barks in laughter. “Good for him. Nothing wrong with starting your day with a little Morning Glory, if you catch my drift.” He wags his dark, bushy eyebrows.

I gag. “People in Tokyo are catching your drift, Dad.”

My dad is nowhere near as bad as my mom, but the man has a shocking number of euphemisms at the ready.

“Well, mum’s the word, sweetheart, but like I told Logan, I’m happy for you guys. It’s about damn time.”

“Thanks, Da?—”

“Daddy, save me!” A loud squeal follows the lilting voice.

A second later, Hudson’s oldest daughter Lily races by, with two of my younger cousins in hot pursuit. Lily’s golden pigtails bounce with each step, her sparkly pink princess dress billowing behind her.

Hudson scoops her up, saving the damsel in distress, but then he takes her to the ground and starts tickling. The other two kids dogpile on Hudson’s back, trying to rescue their princess from the dastardly Tickle Monster—aka Hudson—as they all dissolve into a fit of giggles.

My ovaries swoon, and I finally get what Sylvie’s been saying all these months. She swears watching Hudson be a dad is one of her biggest turn-ons. According to her, anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a greatdaddy. Hence, why she’s always mauling him after the girls go to bed.

I smile as I take a moment to soak in the pandemonium of a Morales-O’Hare family gathering. It’s oddly comforting, the dependable chaos is reassuring, like a warm hug.

You know, if warm hugs felt like swimming in a washing machine during the spin cycle.

I make my way over to my mom, setting a wrapped gift on the table beside her and kissing her cheek. “Happy birthday, Mom.”

Logan’s deep, rumbly laugh rolls through me from somewhere behind us, and I have to resist the urge to turn around like a lovesick fool as a shiver rakes down my spine.

My mom’s eyes light up as she pats my hand. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Sylvie sidles up to me, tucking her arm into the crook of my elbow. “Hey, you.”

“Hey.”

Olivia stretches a chubby arm toward her mama, so Sylvie bends down to take her from my aunt. “Come here, my little lovebug.” She sighs as she breathes in her daughter’s sweet baby scent, placing a soft kiss on top of her dark mop of curls.

Then she tugs on my elbow with her free hand. “Excuse us, mothers. I need to harass this one for a minute.”

My mom and aunt chuckle as Sylvie drags me away. Once she’s deemed us out of earshot, she asks, “So, today’s the day, huh?”

“Guess so.” I shrug. “When the party dies down, Logan’s going to take him for a drink somewhere close by.”

“And once the overprotective ass knows Logan’s feeding you the D, everyone else can know?”

“Yep.” I smack my lips together, popping the P. “Minus the pornographic phrasing.”

She shifts Olivia in her arms, the baby babbling against her ginormous chest. “Well, good luck with that.”

“Yeah, thanks.” I run a finger over Liv’s tiny, soft hand. “How is it possible she’s grown so much in just a week?”

Sylvie snorts. “Because she never gets off the teat.” Olivia just happens to grab a handful of boob at that exact moment, proving her point.

I laugh. “Like father, like daughter.”

Sylvie grins, looking across the yard for Hudson. He catches her eye instantly, and they exchange a smoldering look so intense it should probably come with a warning label.

“Save it for when you get home, you hussy,” I tease.