The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(65)

A few hours later, the children were all fed and finally asleep—Charlotte with Ava and the boys together in my bed. I snuggled against Sebastian’s side on the couch.

“Erica said she’ll be here first thing in the morning to get her children ready for school. No surgery, just stitches. She’s driving Bob home now. She was going to pick the kids up, but I told her they were all sleeping. You don’t have to stay.”

“I don’t mind. I’m glad it turned out less serious than she thought.” He yawned. “I can’t believe you actually got Kevin and Tyler to go to bed. Those boys don’t stop.”

It was my turn to yawn. “It helped that we took them to the park after they ate. They’re good kids; they just have a lot of energy.”

“Four boys, how did my mother do it?”

“I was an only child. One is easier, but when I see the kids all playing together, I wonder—”

“Would you like more?”

“In the right situation, yes.”

He cupped my chin and turned my face so our eyes met. “And what situation would that be?”

“It’s not something I’d want to do alone, and I could only do it with someone who could love Ava as much as I do . . .”

Sebastian kissed me on the lips gently. “You left something out.”

“Did I?” As was often the case, I couldn’t concentrate when he looked at me with desire burning in his eyes.

“You’d only want to make that family with someone you loved.”

“Ah yes.” I traced a finger over his lips. “I might know a man who fits that description.”

“This man should be equally, madly in love with you.”

Heat surged through me. “Do I know someone like that?”

He nuzzled my neck. “You do.”

Even though nothing further was possible, being in his arms was enough—for now. “Sebastian?”

“Yes?”

“This weekend Ava is meeting my father, but next weekend”—I stopped, then took a leap of faith—“next weekend I’d love to meet your family.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO



* * *



SEBASTIAN

I don’t like feeling powerless. Even though Heather was putting on a cheerful face for her daughter, her hand was tense and cold in mine. I wanted to reassure her everything would be okay—her father would show up with presents for Ava and a heartfelt apology for not immediately accepting her.

I didn’t fucking know what we were walking into.

At a red light I glanced at Ava in the back seat. She’d brought her entire wolf pack and had given each a distinct voice. If things worked out, I would suggest her father buy an even larger wolf—and call him Grandfather or whatever Heather’s father chose as his title.

We parked, and although it wasn’t an easy feat, Heather convinced Ava that a strawberry festival was too messy a place for stuffed animals. She reminded her daughter that they couldn’t go on the blow-up slides or the bounce house . . . and Ava wouldn’t be able to either if she had a wolf pack to look after.

Before leaving the car, Heather turned in her seat and said, “Ava, we’re going to meet someone today. I think my father is here.”

“You have a father?” Ava asked in awe.

“I do. He lives far away, which is why you’ve never met him, but he’s here to meet you.” When Ava didn’t immediately answer, Heather looked to me for confirmation that she was presenting the meeting correctly. I took her hand in mine and gave it a squeeze.

“I have a grandfather?” Ava asked slowly.

Looking like she was smiling but was also close to tears, Heather nodded. “You do. Would you like to meet him?”

Ava turned to me. “Sebastian, do you know him?”

“This is the first time I’ll meet him as well,” I answered.

“Are you scared?” she asked.

God, that girl knew the way into my heart. I could tell then that the boys in her future would fear me because I would slay dragons for her—and do worse to anyone who dared break her heart. I raised the hand I had linked with Heather’s. “Nothing scares me when we’re together.”

Heather held out one hand to Ava between the seats.

I held out mine to Ava as well.

She took both of our hands, and a huge smile spread across her face. “Nothing can scare me now.”

Heather sniffed, but she was still smiling. “Me either.”

We dropped hands and climbed out of the car. As we walked across the grass parking lot, Ava took her mother’s hand, then mine. I exchanged a look with Heather. If we were alone, I would have pulled her into my arms and assured her that everything would be okay, but I settled for letting my eyes tell her how much I cared.

I knew the moment Heather spotted her father because her face tensed. He was younger than I’d thought, somewhere in his fifties probably, and conservatively dressed in a white polo shirt and khaki pants. His expression didn’t change when he saw us, but he did meet us halfway.

“Hi, Dad.”

He looked his daughter over. “You look good, Heather. Happy.”

“I am.” Heather glanced down at her daughter. “Dad, this is my daughter, Ava, and my, um . . . Sebastian.”