Birthday Kisses(3)

I was in awe of her. I still am.

Now we’ve got this adorable little human being in our lives and I can’t get enough of our daughter. We spend a lot of time at home, the three of us. And while I know Wren loves our apartment—she fell in love with the place on sight after Aunt Gertrude died and for whatever reason left it to us—I also think Wren is restless.

She wants to do something.

I just don’t know what.

When I’m not at home, I’m in the office. I work for my brothers’ real estate company, and while they’re selling flashy homes in new buildings with every modern convenience, I’m the one who’s selling brownstones on the Upper West Side. Many of them in my own neighborhood. Both Grant and Finn think I’m ridiculous for focusing on the old stuff, so they leave it all up to me.

And I’m making a shit ton of money in commissions, thanks to those brownstones being in high demand. Not that I need it. The Lancaster wealth is vast and feels never-ending, but I could never just not work. I’d get bored.

I’m at work right now, sitting in my office when my brother Grant strolls in like he owns the place—he does—settling into the chair directly across from where I’m sitting with a shrewd gleam in his gaze.

“What do you want?”

Grant’s brows lift. “Is that how you want to greet your oldest brother?”

“You want something from me. I can tell.” I lean back in my chair, contemplating him. “It’s three days before Christmas, Grant. I shouldn’t even be here.”

“You’d rather be at home with the wifey and baby, I get it. That’s why I’m here. Alyssa and I got to talking last night and she made me realize something.” He clears his throat and sits up straighter, like he might be uncomfortable. “We’d like to give your wife a birthday present.”

I frown at him. “Okay.”

“A special one.”

“That’s…great.” I have no idea what he’s trying to say.

“You’re going to benefit from it too.”

“Amazing.”

Grant lets out an exasperated growl. “I’m trying to offer our services to you both, Crew.”

“Services?” I’m more confused than ever.

“Alyssa would like you or Wren to drop off the baby with us and we’ll take care of her. Overnight.” Grant grimaces, like he can’t stand the idea.

But he has three children already, all under the age of five. Which tells me without actually saying the words that he loves his children and his family with everything he’s got. Despite his grumpy demeanor and the scowl he wears pretty much twenty-four/seven, deep down he’s a complete softy for his wife and children.

“You’d do that for us?”

He nods, the grimace still firmly in place. “Alyssa mentioned Wren’s mother isn’t in the country at the moment, so we know you two are pretty much on your own right now.” I start to say something in my defense, but he holds up his hand to stop me. “And while I appreciate you trying to defend yourself and saying how much you love your child and she’s the absolute light of your life, you and Wren most likely need some…alone time.”

“We get alone time.” I frown, thinking of the last couple of times when we tried to have sex. One night, things were becoming especially heated between us when we heard Willow whimper from her room thanks to the camera—and my wife’s breasts started to leak milk.

There’s some kinky shit about breast milk or whatever on porn sites, but that’s not something I’m particularly interested in. Especially when my wife is climbing off of me and rushing to our baby, leaving me aching with a throbbing hard-on.

When that sort of thing happens—which is often—Wren always ends up frustrated and so do I. Meaning my brother might be onto something.

“But it’s almost Christmas,” I remind him. “And don’t forget Wren’s birthday is actually on Christmas. You have family stuff to attend to.”

“So do you. That’s why I’m making this offer right now.” He reaches inside of his suit jacket and withdraws a slim brochure from within, slapping it right in the middle of my desk. “One night at this hotel on Madison. Alyssa booked it for tomorrow tonight. She also scheduled a hair and spa appointment for Wren at Bergdorf’s at three.”

“Tomorrow?” I’m blown away by my brother and sister-in-law’s generosity and speed.

Grant nods and rises to his feet. “Have Wren drop Willow off at our place tomorrow at noon. Alyssa will be expecting her since she’s at home with the kids.”

“And she wants to add one more baby to the mix?” I’m incredulous. Bowled over by the offer.

Grant makes a grunting noise. “We have nannies, Crew. Alyssa won’t do all of this alone.”

Alyssa is a very hands-on mother, but she does employ staff, and I can’t blame her considering she has three children and they’re all Lancaster heathens.

Wren refuses to hire a nanny. She wants to spend all of her time with Willow, considering she doesn’t remember her mother being around much when she was younger. And I love that Wren wants to be there for our baby. I feel the same way, but I don’t think Willow will remember anything at this young of an age…

Grant snaps his fingers, making my gaze jerk to his.