Stitches

Gwen glances between us uncertainly. “Oh, dear. When does Sebastian get home? Maybe I should have you babysit later. I don’t want to give you baby fever when your husband isn’t here and your man candy is.”

“I think he has to go back to work anyway,” I tell her. “It’ll just be me.”

“How about this instead? Mr. Beef Cake here leaves you with all your eggs unfertilized, I stay here and you explain to me how all this works, and I’ll run errands some other time?”

“God, Gwen, you can’t just talk about the fertilization of my eggs in mixed company,” I tell her.

“She also called me a beef cake,” Griff states.

Gwen holds a hand up toward the ceiling and bows her head. “I’m doing God’s work here. I will not be leaving you two unchaperoned. My brother-in-law will approve and he buys really good Christmas gifts.”

I quirk an unimpressed eyebrow. “I pick out your Christmas gifts.”

“And pay with his money,” she states.

I roll my eyes. “Our money.”

“You have a prenup, too,” she reminds me.

“We’re business partners,” Gri

ff states. “I can fund the same Christmas gifts he can. You’re allowed to like me.”

Gwen leaps to conclusions at his wording. “See? Mr. Beef Cake wants to replace your husband. I’m staying until Seb gets back. Just try to get me out of here.”

Griff shakes his head. “All right, I need to get back to work anyhow.” I lean away from his arm as he moves, so he rests a hand on my hip and attempts to get his finger away from Layla. She doesn’t let go. “Can I have this?” he asks her.

She blinks at him and keeps his finger in a death grip.

Gwen untangles her baby’s fingers, telling Layla, “We like Uncle Sebastian, you let go of that giant finger.”

14

Sebastian

As soon as I walk through the front door, I see Moira pacing, looking down at a tiny bundle of blankets in her arms. Since Moira did not have a baby when I left for work this morning, I look around for its mother.

My sister-in-law is sitting on the couch, popping grapes into her mouth and watching television. Her gaze brightens when she sees me. “The boss is home,” she announces.

I smile faintly. I like Gwen. A little loud for my tastes, but she knows who’s in charge. “Hello, Gwen. Are you staying for dinner?”

“I was staying for the free babysitting,” she announces. “I adore Layla. Motherhood is beautiful and fulfilling and wonderful, but you know what no one tells you?”

“What’s that?” I ask, though I’m not even mildly interested.

“It’s exhausting and you don’t get a break. Ever. One might think that since I have a husband, I might get a break, but one would be wrong.” She lifts her eyebrows. “Side note, do you rent Griff out? And if you do, can you talk to Carl and convince him that letting his wife have a hot boyfriend who helps around the house is a good idea?”

A hot boyfriend who helps around the house?

I don’t immediately understand, but then Griff comes back to Moira’s side with a pink pacifier he must have just retrieved for her.

Aw, shit. Those two are going to get sucked into the “babies are cute, let’s have one” vortex, aren’t they?

Now that I’m here, Moira turns and hands the baby off to Griff. She beams at me and hastens over to throw her arms around my neck, leaning in to give me a lingering kiss. “There’s my handsome husband. I’ve been missing you all day long.”

I briefly kiss her lips before glancing past her and pointing out, “Seems like you have a lot of company.”

“Mm hmm,” she agrees, running a hand down my chest. “But none of them are you.”