Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“I really hope she doesn’t look out the windows on the other side of the house. I was hoping to get her in a good mood before I mentioned the other stuff.”

“What you got?” Little Vicky looked up at him with exactly the same shade of chocolate eyes as her mother. “Muma said no more puppies. You got a kitten, Daddy?”

Flynn ruffled his daughter’s hair, only to have her twin climb up onto his knee and demand her own cuddle. “Is it a pony?” Josie said.

“No ponies, puppies or kittens this time.”

The three-year-olds bounced on top of him, demanding he tell them what he was hiding on the other side of the house. He wasn’t about to give in. Neither one of them could keep a secret worth a damn. Katy laughed, and he narrowed his eyes at her.

“This is your fault,” he told her. “You wanted a sister.”

“One,” his nine-year-old reminded him. “I only asked for one. The other one is your problem.”

“Damn terrorist,” he mumbled.

“Goal!” Katy shouted at the screen, bringing Flynn’s attention back to the replay of the Arsenal game they were watching.

“I like the look of the new midfielder,” Katy said.

“He’s got potential.” Flynn wouldn’t let anyone convince him the team wouldn’t have been better off with him in it. Although they were doing well this season.

Katy grinned at him, probably knowing exactly what he was thinking. She insisted on dressing in head-to-toe pink for every Arsenal game they watched—just to cheese him off.

“Jonathan wants to play midfield this season,” she told him, mentioning the little league team he managed.

“Not happening. You’re the strongest player we have. If he wants another position, he’ll have to work for it.”

Katy nodded. She took the game very seriously. As she should.

“Daddy?” Josie put one of her tiny palms on each of his cheeks. “What do you got in the garden?”

He couldn’t help beaming at her. His girls were perfect, and he’d hit anyone who told him otherwise. But perfect or not, they still couldn’t keep a secret. “I’m not telling you.”

She pouted, followed closely by her twin. They reminded him of his younger twin cousins, a very scary comparison.

“Have Aunty Claire and Aunty Megan been giving you two tips again?” He made a mental note to talk to his cousins. Again.

Identical twin heads shook in unison. Katy had styled their hair with pink glitter and bows for the game. They were innocence personified, but he had years of experience with his eldest daughter. He knew they could be just as much of a terrorist as Katy had been.

“Flynn,” Abby called. “Get in here.”

“Oh, you in trouble,” Vicky said.

“You gonna have to sit on the naughty step,” Josie added.

“Not again.” Flynn moaned. He looked at his eldest. “You told them to say that, didn’t you?”

She nodded with a bright grin. “You never sat on it for me. They might have better luck.”

“Flynn. Don’t make me come get you.” Okay. Abby had reached her limit.

“I need to go deal with your mother.” He lifted Josie off his knee and placed her on the couch. “Be good and shout loudly if Arsenal scores again.”

He found his very pregnant wife staring out of the living room window. Her mother, Victoria, sat on the sofa with her husband Lawrence at her side. She looked amused, which wasn’t a good sign for Flynn.

“What is it, Abby love?” Flynn wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her belly while he did it.

They’d had three scans this time. It was definitely a boy and definitely wasn’t twins. One shock like that in a lifetime was enough for both of them.