Page 66 of His Playground

“How? What did I miss?”

“You, spread naked on top of it.” I smirk.

“If you play your cards right, that could happen,” she says, and my cock instantly hardens.

“Don’t you know? I never lose at card games.” I follow her into Jazzy’s room.

“Hey, sweetheart, you ready to be my cohost?” Antonia asks my daughter, who’s wearing a big puffy light-blue dress.

“Look, Daddy, I’m Cinderella,” Jazzy says. “And I’ve got glass slippers too.”

“Amazing. Don’t go losing those shoes, though. We don’t want any princes knocking on the door looking for you,” I tell her. “I’d have to shoot them all if they did.” I mumble that last part under my breath, so only Antonia can hear it. “You both look beautiful by the way. How did I get so lucky to have two gorgeous girls?”

“Daddy, Antonia is a lady. Not a girl,” Jazzy corrects me.

“You’re right. She is a lady, my lady, which is why I can do this.” Swinging my arm around Antonia’s waist, I dipher backwards and fuse my lips with hers. Jazzy squeals and then laughs. I love hearing her laughter. It’s a joy I’ve never experienced before.

When I tug Antonia upright, she has a huge smile on her face. “Okay, let’s do this. The first Bianchi dinner party.”

“Is my name going to be Jasmine Bianchi now?” Jazzy asks, and I pause.Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?

“It is,” I tell her.

“You should let her choose, Carlo. Or at least hyphenate her mother’s name and yours,” Antonia whispers to me.

She’s right.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I tell my wife before turning back to my daughter. “We can talk about it later, Jazzy. Your name can be whatever you want it to be.” Truth is, I have every intention of having my lawyer add Bianchi to her name.

At the sound of the elevator doors opening, Antonia’s eyes widen.

“You’ve got this,” I assure her. “There is nothing you can’t do.”

“I can’t be blonde. I tried that once. It wasn’t a good look,” she grumbles as she walks out, and I recognize the hidden meaning in her words. She thinks I prefer blondes, because that’s what I made her think for years. I keep reminding myself that it’s going to take time, but we will get there.

Louie and Charlotte are the first to arrive. I’m not surprised. Louie is all about punctuality.

“Hey, thanks for coming.” I shake hands with him, and then hug Charlotte, kissing her cheek. Only to have Louie drag her away from me.

“Come in. Do you want a drink? Anything?” Antonia asks.

“Whiskey?” Louie questions.

“Sure, of course.” Antonia nods. “Charlotte?”

“Ah, water, please,” she says while looking at Louie.

“You okay?” I ask Charlotte.

“Fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” she throws back at me.

“No reason.” I shrug. It’s not like her to drink water when there’s plenty of wine to choose from. “Come in, sit down.” I lead them into the dining room.

The elevator doors open as we’re walking away. Turning back, I find Sammie. He’s not alone. He’s brought Lailani with him. I raise a brow at him in silent question, to which he shakes his head.

No, my ass.If they’re not together, why does he keep bringing her to these things?

“Jazzy, take everyone through to the dining room. I’m going to help Antonia,” I tell my daughter.