Chasing Heartbreak (Dark Love 6)

“She started pre-school, so we do the same. She loves spending time with Nash, dotes on him like crazy.”

“How does it feel to be an instant mum, especially to a baby?”

“Noah is great. He’s born to be a father. I’m still learning. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Julian is great, too. He is so hands-on, and without him, I’d go insane. He’s that calm, and I’m the storm.” She laughs, watching Julian outside with Noah and the kids. “But you’re amazing. You’re the glue that holds your non-conventional family together. Both Julian and I learned that family doesn’t mean you have to carry a baby for nine months. It comes in all shapes and forms. I never expected to love a child so much who didn’t have the same blood as me, but I can’t imagine my life without Luna. She was always destined for our family.”

“You guys have always inspired me. And Julian is great.”

As soon as I say the words, Julian and Andy walk into the kitchen. Julian leans over to kiss Adriana on the cheek as Andy steals a piece of cheese from the platter.

“Dad, can we go play ball with Noah when Uncle Lex gets here?”

Julian shares a playful grin. “You think we can beat them?”

“We kicked their ass last time.”

Adriana shakes her head with a heavy sigh. “Language, kid.”

“Sorry, Mom. But it’s true. They’re all talk. Dad and I totally beat them.”

Both Adriana and I let out a snicker. For an eight-year-old, Andy is quite tall, and it won’t surprise me one bit if he grows to be taller than all the men. He absolutely loves sports. Such a boy’s boy, which is fortunate for him since he has amazing men around him.

Lex and Charlie arrive with their family. The girls all run off to the backyard to play with the other kids. Lex goes outside to play ball with the boys while we finish preparing dinner.

“Kate, I can’t believe you did all this. Remember that Thanksgiving at my place years ago when I had to show you how to open a can?” Charlie reminds me with a laugh. “You and Eric watched on, completely clueless.”

“Oh, don’t remind me. How is it even possible that I can close a multi-million-dollar deal but can’t open a can of cranberry sauce?”

“So, no Eric?” Adriana questions.

“Not this time. Eric wants to formally introduce Tristan to his parents. They’re in The Hamptons for the holidays.”

“And Emile, did you invite her?”

“She flew back to Paris to spend Christmas with her family.”

The doorbell continues to ring. Olivia arrives with baby Nash the same time Noah’s mom, Naomi, arrives. Over the past few months, we’ve gotten to know each other more, and I swear, I love her. Naomi knows exactly how to put her son in place and is the extra support we need with the kids.

I offer to take the dish from Olivia’s hands, but she smiles and declines. “Please take Mr. Poopy Pants out of his carrier instead. I’d change him, but he has managed to push all my buttons, literally. He touched my phone, and now it’s all in Japanese.”

Leaning in, I tickle his chubby little feet before unstrapping his belt. His innocent little giggles warm my heart as they have done a dozen times before. But, true to what Olivia just said, a foul odor needs attention.

I take him to his bedroom, changing his diaper before grabbing him a bottle and placing him in his crib since it’s naptime according to my watch. It only takes him minutes to close his eyes before I close the door, leaving a small gap, and head back to the kitchen.

“It smells delicious, Kate,” Olivia compliments, taking a glass of red from Adriana. “I can’t even remember the last time I’ve been to a Christmas dinner. I was always working.”

“Me, too.” I laugh, raising my glass in the air. “Shall we toast?”

“Yes.” She follows as does Adriana and Charlie. “Salut!”

Olivia and I are very similar. Much like me, she spent years away from family just working. Her chilled nature makes it easy to chat, and quite often, she comes over and has dinner with us. Noah is also relaxed around her, and although they only had one night of passion, the two of them communicate without the tension.

The doorbell rings again, so I excuse myself to answer.

Morgan is at the entrance with her new partner, Callum. He’s a nice enough man, much older than her but polite and always attentive. According to Noah, he’s a director, which is how Morgan met him through her sister, Scarlett.

Jessa runs up to me, wrapping her arms around my legs. “Kate, look what Mommy did to my hair?” She parades her cute pigtails.