Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(96)

“Forget that for the moment. Okay. You need to rest. C’mon. Let’s get you comfortable.”

Tucking her in for the night, I run my fingers through her hair and plant a soft kiss against her lips.

With everything I am, I’m going to protect this girl and her boys.

I pull out my phone and drop Corey a text. He instantly replies.

Appointment made for tomorrow at four in the afternoon.

Checking on the boys before I head to bed myself, I stand in their bedroom doorway and I decide that’s it. We tell everyone after the Winter Ball, and then they’re moving in with me.

Decision made.





CHAPTER 24





Eva

I roll over in Knox’s bed and pick up my smartwatch from the nightstand.

Ten a.m.

I shake my head, unable to recall the last time I slept this late.

Tapping my face with my fingertips, I explore my swollen skin.

I roll over onto my back; I realize I’m alone in Knox’s giant bed. No wonder half the day is gone. The boys must surely be up too. There is no way they slept this long.

Pushing the covers back, I pull my weary body out of the bed.

I feel sore all over.

Stepping in front of the oversized bronze ornate mirror Knox has leaned against the wall, I examine my swollen cheek.

It doesn’t look like me.

Tracing my fingers across my purple skin, I let out a sigh at the realization my poor boys have to see me like this.

It’s now or never.

I make my way down to the kitchen. The sound of laughter drifts into the hallway.

Tying Knox’s robe around me, I decide to listen to what they are giggling at.

“There is no poop in the pool. I promise.” Knox.

“There is!” shouts Archie.

“There isn’t. Now stop being silly and tell me what would make the coolest pool party on the planet?”

My boys make a list.

“A slide.”

“A lilo.”

“A ball.”

“A mingo.”

“A what?” I sense the confusion in his voice. Hamish means flamingo. I hold in my chuckle.

Archie helps Knox out. “He means a flamingo. Oh, oh, oh, a unicorn.”

Knox lets out an exaggerated sigh. “A flamingo and a unicorn. You two are demanding. Okay, I think we have enough on the list.”

He’s up to something. Knox always is.

“Next thing. Can you help me? I need two strong boys. Do you know of any?”

“Me, me, me.”

“Me too. Oh, me too,” Hamish joins in eventually.

“Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? I have something important I need help with. Are you strong boys up for the challenge?”

They both squeal yes.

I lean against the wall outside the kitchen, listening with wonder.

“At the bottom of the garden, I have a pond, and in that pond are some special fish. They are magic.”

“Ooooooo,” the boys gasp.

“The fish are called koi. Have you heard of them?”

“Nope.” Archie pops the P.

“A tale from lots and lots of years ago said that one golden koi fish took over one hundred years to swim up this huge stream and then swam up a waterfall.”

“No waaaaay. Water goes down, not up, Knox.” Archie thinks he’s right about everything. He’s a sponge for this stuff.

“Waaaaaaaay,” Knox says, shocked. “And once he reached the top because he was so brave, the waterfall God turned him into a golden dragon.”

“Wow. A dragon?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have fishy dragons?” Hamish is curious.

“Not yet, but if we make them strong enough, maybe one day one of them will swim upstream and they’ll turn into a golden dragon, and this is why we have to feed them and build up their strength first. That’s where you two boys come in. Do you think you could help me feed them today?”

“Yes!”

“Great. Fist pumps all round.”

I get the overwhelming urge to cry. With joy. Not sadness.

Knox may be a sex god in the bedroom, but he’s also a gorgeous man with a heart made of twenty-four-karat gold.

I walk into the kitchen. Draped over the high bar stools is a white sheet. He’s made them a tent.

Aw. God, my full heart can’t take anymore.

Walking around to the entrance of it, I poke my head in.

“Hey, whatcha doin’?” I ask.

Knox's face twitches when he sees my face. Not drawing attention to it, he simply states what they’ve done. “We made a den.”

Looking at my three boys lying on their backs, looking up at me, I smile. I can’t help it.

“Are girls allowed?”

“I don’t know. What do you think, lads?” Knox looks left and right. “Should we let this pretty lady into our den?”

“Yes.” Hamish punches the air.

“Okay. The boss says yes.” Knox grins at me.

I lie down beside them. Hamish rolls over and touches my face. “What happened, Momma? You have an ouchie.”

“I do. I’m okay though. Mommy fell.”

“Like Mr. Bump?”