Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(96)

She smiles fondly. “I love Mia like she’s my own, honey. I love Cassidy, and Thalia, too, but Mia has a special place in my heart.” She glances over her shoulder, looking at Grandad and Mia talking by the piano. “It’s thanks to her that Grandad agreed to retire, and I’m sure you’ve noticed it made a difference. He’s happy, Nico. He’s enjoying life for the first time in years.” She wraps her arms around me, curving herself into my chest for a quick hug. “Whenever you’re ready.”

My chest squeezes tightly. I’m grateful. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this grateful, but it’s too fucking soon. We’ve only been dating a few months.

“Thank you. You’ll be the first to know when the time comes.”

“Don’t rush, but don’t wait too long.” She points at herself with a cheeky grin. “You’ll be old sooner than you think.”

“Dress that finger whenever, but no babies until she finishes college,” Jimmy warns, joining Toby in the kitchen.

“It’s my life, Daddy,” Mia shoots back. “You were sixteen when Aisha was born. If I got pregnant now, I’d be—”

“You’ll be pregnant in half an hour if you don’t stop talking.” I gently push her toward the bedroom. The image of her, round with my baby... nope. Not going there again. It’s too soon. She’s too young. “Deal with the diaper, Mia.”

The first time I saw her holding Noah was enough to wake my paternal instinct, stirring brand-new hell inside my head.

We were at my parents’ house. Mom played the piano, and everyone was scattered around the living room, chatting.

I sat on the couch, watching Mia on the other side of the room with Noah in her arms. He grasped a thick tangle of her blonde locks, and Cassidy jumped to the rescue, unclasping his little fist before he tore Mia’s hair out.

“What’s wrong?” Logan asks, plopping down beside me. “You’re looking at Mia like it’s the first time you see her.”

“It is the first time I see her like this.” I motion my chin toward her, squeezing my glass tighter. “She’s too young.”

He turns to me, eyebrow raised as he quietly says, “No way... you want her pregnant? You want kids? I never pictured you as a dad.”

The images of Mia with a bump flicker before my eyes, and even though it’s not happening yet, my protectiveness kicks up some more. I’ll be fucking unbearable when she’ll be carrying my child. It’s good that I’ve got enough cash in the bank to last three lifetimes because I’ll be breathing down Mia’s neck for nine months straight.

“Take him away from her. Now, Logan.” I peel my eyes off Mia, but they snap right back when she laughs, making Noah giggle. “Fuck...” I breathe, rubbing my face while Logan’s barely holding off laughter. “Take Noah away,” I repeat through gritted teeth.

“He likes her, and Cass needs a breather. Noah doesn’t calm down even in my arms these days. Sorry, bro, I’m not touching that kid until your girl hands him back.”

“I’ll get her pregnant while you’re all eating dessert.”

He bursts out laughing, summoning Mia’s attention. She crosses the room, planting her pretty butt in my lap, her back to my chest, and Noah in her arms. She holds him over her knee, bouncing him up and down and singing a nursery rhyme.

I wrap my hand across her middle, kissing her neck. “Unless you want me to put a baby in you tonight, give him back,” I whisper in her ear when Logan walks away to chat with Grandad. “I’m serious, Mia. I see you with him, and I want you pregnant.”

It was right about then that Aisha got pregnant, and two months later, Logan knocked up Cassidy again. Now there are three pregnant women in the family, not helping my case.

Seeing my brothers and Toby so fucking excited when they touch the life-growing bumps, feeling their kids kick...

I’m happy for them, but I’m also jealous.

Even more when we arrive at my parents’ house six hours later where everyone’s congratulating Cass and Logan on their engagement. He got this backward, if you ask me. Marry the girl first, then get her pregnant. But whatever, he’s engaged, has a kid, and another on the way. Theo’s married and about to become a dad, and Shawn’s thinking about adopting a second kid.

Fuck waiting.

I grab Mia’s hand, dragging her upstairs while the family’s preoccupied with Logan and Cassidy, paying us no heed.

“You’re officially the first girl I ever brought up here,” I say, letting her into my old bedroom. “You better feel honored.”

Not much has changed. Mom hasn’t touched a thing in here. The same dark curtains hang around ceiling-tall windows, the same oversized bed stands in the middle, and the same shelves hang on the walls, stacked high with books and CDs.

I prefer my spaces lighter now, less cluttered.

I pin Mia to the wall, devouring her sweet lips the way she loves. This would be better if my pockets weren’t empty. Even better if I’d planned this at least a little but aren’t the best things in life those that happen spontaneously?

She sure isn’t expecting this today.

Even I didn’t expect this until three minutes ago.

“First girl I kissed in this room.”

She smiles, peering up at me. “Are you throwing me a bone? You took my firsts, so you’re finding a few to feed me?”