Alec
There was no time to cook, so we ordered in for a change. We didn’t eat in the kitchen—Nick put a movie on in the living room instead.
I barely watched it.
I watched Rowan.
He was the most intelligent man I knew. Watching him fall for Ella without realising it cracked me the fuck up.
Ella leaned over and stole fries from Nick’s plate.
“Hey—eat your own,” he started, then stopped and slid the plate toward her. “Never mind. Here.”
Rowan didn’t notice. His attention was fixed on the screen.
Warmth settled low in my belly. We were relaxed. Ella was comfortable. For once, the house felt like something real—like a home.
She probably didn’t realise it, but the way she’d come apart in the garden had lodged itself in my head. Framed by sunlight and grass. Taking everything Rowan gave her. Staring straight into the lens while we watched.
The break had changed things. Brought us closer.
And I was the only one clocking how the balance was shifting.
I waited until Ella finished her food—and Nick’s.
“Come sit on my lap, darling,” I said sweetly.
Rowan’s head snapped around so fast I nearly laughed.
“You’re welcome to join us, Rowan,” I said, smirking.
His gaze flicked to Ella, then back to me.
“Sure. Why not.”
I shifted slightly, and Ella settled onto my lap. Rowan took the seat beside me without hesitation.
“Can I sit on your other leg?” Nick asked dryly.
“No,” I replied, deadpan. “I won’t be able to see the TV.” Then I glanced at Rowan. “His lap’s free.”
Nick chuckled and leaned back, attention returning to the movie.
Ella eventually fell asleep, and we eased her down so she lay across both of us, Nick securing a blanket over her with quiet care.
“She’s sleeping more,” Nick whispered.
“We need to go easier on her,” Rowan murmured.
Nick snorted softly. “Was that you going easy on her today?”
I stayed silent, a faint smile curving my mouth as my brothers bickered in low voices.
There would be plenty more of that to come.
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“I think I should stay with her today,” Nick whispered.
“No. You need to catch up on collections,” Rowan whispered back.
I sighed and lifted the covers, peering at them over the edge. They were arguing over Ella like she was a fragile heirloom.
“I can work from home,” I offered mildly—purely to fuck with them since they’d woken me up.
They both said no at the exact same time.
I chuckled and pulled the cover back over myself.
Nick was on the far side, so at least I didn’t have to worry about his rancid morning farts. We’d started kicking the covers off or heading to the bathroom for Ella’s sake. Unfortunately, she’d laughed at one of his outbursts, and now he treated it like a party trick.
Ella groaned.
“I need to rest,” she muttered. “I’m sure I’ve picked up a bug or something. Why don’t you all just go to work?”
I heard her shift between them.
I poked my head out again.
Nick and Rowan were locked in a silent stand-off.
Rowan broke first, stalking off the bed like a scorned madam. The bathroom door snapped shut a second later.
I slid across the mattress and tucked myself against Ella.
Wouldn’t mind a lie-in, actually.
I draped my arm and leg over hers and closed my eyes. Ella sighed and snuggled closer. The mattress shifted and Nick left. At least his bitch fit remained on the inside.
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She hovered over the display of peaches and nectarines, poking and prodding each one until she seemed satisfied. When she finally placed a few into the trolley, she looked up at me with a faint frown.
“I’m craving rice pudding with peaches,” she said, hope shining in her eyes.
“Hot or cold?” I murmured.
That was all it took for her to smile.
“Cold,” she said, already selecting more fruit. “Creamy and sweet.”
Nick and Rowan left for work, leaving us to sleep in. I let her rest before we came out. We were almost out of coffee, but I wanted her to pick fresh fruit and vegetables. Something simple. Something normal.
It felt too early for cravings.
And yet there was something perverse in knowing we’d bred her and she didn’t have a clue. Her eyes had lingered on the prenatal vitamin I gave her this morning. Just long enough to register it. It still hadn’t stopped her from swallowing both pills.
I checked the peaches she’d chosen.
Large. Ripe. No yellow spots.
She moved on to the bananas.
My eyes lingered on the curve of her arse as she reached, casual and unaware. Her diet would need monitoring. So would what we did with her. Did the guys even read about relaxin? The hormone that loosened ligaments in preparation for childbirth. Increased flexibility. Increased risk.
But a quick one-on-one should be fine this afternoon.
I followed her to the banana section with all sorts of ideas on how to feed her the defiled fruit.
She was oblivious to my thoughts as she placed a small bunch into the trolley and moved on.
I didn’t.
I rummaged through the pile and chose the right one.
Firm. Curved. Long. Thick.
Perfect.
Then I dropped it in beside the rest and pushed the trolley forward like nothing had happened.
I enjoyed grocery shopping with Ella.