We texted Jess, and he brought the kids back. I’d showered and was in my bathrobe when they stormed in. Jess congratulated us and left as our three older children crowded around me. Skye and Fraser got on the sofa and peered at the baby.
“Is this our sister?”
“She’s so small.”
“Where’s her fire?”
They peppered me with questions. We hadn’t chosen a name, but that could wait until the morning.
Though the kids had been excited about the baby, I’d wondered how they’d accept a new tiny person in our lives. But my heart swelled with even more love and pride at how their horizons expanded to include their baby sister.
“I’m so proud of our kids, all four of them.” My mate was cuddled into me, and our three older children were curled around us. The baby was in her crib at my side, and I reached out, making sure she was still there.
“Me too, but it’s you who deserves a medal. You carried and birthed a dragon today.”
“You make it sound as though the baby had scales, spikes, and fire.” That sounded owie.
SIXTEEN
THERON
“Daddy, the bow.” Skye had her back to me.
Ledger had done her hair earlier, but she’d been playing with Fraser and the bow in her hair had come undone.
“Okay. Hold still.” I’d never been great with hair. A ponytail was the most I could manage, and bows were a mystery to me. “There. I think it’s as good as Dad does it.”
Skye stood side on to the full-length mirror and gave me a look.
“Dad, can you do my bow?” She raced toward Ledger who was in our dressing room.
“I need to take bow-making lessons.”
I leaned on the door and folded my arms as I watched my mate expertly fix Skye’s hair. When it was done, our older daughter was satisfied.
“Yes, Daddy.” Skye was serious as she gave Isobel a toy, and her younger sister giggled as she sat in her chair.
My mate fastened a bracelet around our younger daughter’s wrist. He’d made it out of leather for Isobel during this pregnancy, and I’d added the special charm. Isobel was tooyoung to produce fire, but she always wanted to be like her older siblings.
“I have one shoe.” Fraser appeared at the door of his room.
“And one sock.” I herded him into the room and found the shoe and matching sock in the hamper.
Ledger adjusted his tie and asked me how he looked.
“Do you want in-front-of-the-kids honest or for-your-ears-only truthful?”
My mate stood on tiptoes and whispered in my ear, “The latter.”
I grabbed him and hugged him close. “You’re sexier than the day we met. My stomach flips when I catch sight of you, and I want to rip your clothes off.”
Ledger pursed his lips. “That’ll do. Well done.” He picked up his dark gray jacket. “I’m definitely hotter than I used to be.”
“And we have our Isobel to thank for that.” I picked up our youngest and kissed her.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Ledger giving me the grin he kept just for me. If we weren’t headed to his graduation, I would have canceled and had Jess take the kids out for the day.
Isobel wanted to get down. She was a year old and had started walking at nine months as my other kids did. She toddled toward Rory who got on the floor and opened his arms to her.
