“Of course you can have company. I’m glad you made yourself at home. Everyone will tromp in here for breakfast. Shall we go putsome other clothes on you? You’re perfect the way you are, but I want you to be comfortable.”
She hesitated a minute before asking, “Everyone else is in their T-shirt. Is it okay for me too?”
“Of course, baby. No one is going to bother you in this group. Welcome to a big family of uncles.”
“I like that idea,” she whispered. “The girls were so much fun last night.”
“Can I show my daddy your picture, Saylor?” Aspen asked from the doorway.
“Of course!” Saylor said, clinging to her daddy as if she wasn’t ready to let go of him yet.
“Everyone get in here. I’m starving. Who wants pancakes?” Max shouted through the doorway.
A flood of chattering Littles and their daddies piled in the door. With no directions, Koa grabbed a couple of lawn chairs from the garage and set those up at the table. Hank raided the pantry for the flour, sugar, and baking powder while Max grabbed a bowl, milk, and eggs. Jerico searched the freezer for a package of bacon and emerged triumphant.
“I knew you had to have some hidden! Shall we eat Max’s secret bacon stash?” Jerico asked the room.
Cheers and yeses filled the space. Saylor stepped into the kitchen, but Max pointed to a chair at the table. “No Littles allowed in the kitchen. With all these daddies tromping around, you’ll get stepped on.”
Saylor took one look at their military boots and followed his instructions. She joined the others already seated at the table. “Don’t we do anything?” she whispered.
“No way. Do not mess with the daddy zone!” Pippa told her.
Max winked at her when Saylor looked back at him to double-check. “We’ve got this, Saylor. I’ll be there soon.”
“Rexy isn’t bothering them at all? Doesn’t he like people food?” Max heard Saylor ask Aspen. He didn’t hear Aspen’s answer, but saw Saylor blink hard. She had such a tender heart.
“Max, three bi…”
Koa whirled to stare at Giana. She stopped in the middle of the word as the room suddenly hushed.
Giana swallowed hard and corrected herself. “Threewomencame over and were pounding on your door when we got here yesterday.”
“What?” Max roared.
“We scared them off, Max,” Aspen said proudly. “And Giana was right the first time. They totally were being Bs.”
“The same trio who followed me home?” Max asked Saylor as he walked toward her. Once at her side, he lifted Saylor onto his lap and hugged her close.
She nodded. “I was scared until Aspen, Brooklyn, Pippa, and Giana showed up. Those awful flirts decided you were an ass wipe with too many women.”
Silence filled the room for two full seconds before Caden announced, “Guess who has a new official nickname now?”
“Ass wipe? Did they really call Max that?” Koa hooted.
“And look who has a harem,” Jerico said.
“Uh-oh,” Saylor whispered. “I should have told you that later?”
He shook his head and smiled at her. “Nah. All these little ears heard all of that. If you didn’t share that information, someone would have. By the way, ass wipe is now on the official do not say curse word list,” Max said firmly.
“You wish,” Koa said.
Everyone laughed. As chatter refilled the room, Max checked quietly on Saylor. “Are you okay now, baby girl?”
“Yes. I was so glad my friends came over.”
“Your friends, huh? I’m glad you got to know everyone. We hang out a lot,” Max told her.
