Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,90
the only reason. I thought they were perfect for each other.”
He laughs. “Glad to have you guys across the street.”
“Thanks, bro,” I say. “Can we count on you for babysitting?”
“We’d love to,” Josie answers for him excitedly.
“We get first dibs,” my mom pipes up.
“I’m here whenever you need me,” Mrs. Bianchi says. And she’s not even a grandmom to our kid!
“Thanks, Mrs. Bianchi. We really appreciate that.”
She beams, walks over and pats my cheek. “We’re family. Besides, I know a thing or two about raising strong daughters.”
My mom joins us. “And I know about raising strong sons.”
They lock eyes and then burst out laughing.
“You sure do, Tara,” Mrs. Bianchi says.
“Oh, you too, Donna, you too,” my mom says. “I’m so thankful to have Ariana in our lives. And you too, of course.”
They hug and then break apart, smiling.
“Any other takers on the babysitting gig?” I ask jokingly.
A chorus of enthusiastic replies goes around the room. Wow, I didn’t expect so many offers, even Jack and Riley with their two-month-old son, Aiden, chime in. Everyone except for Dylan.
“No?” I ask him, pretending offense.
He shrugs. “We’ve got three kids under two. We were kinda hoping you’d help us out.”
“We’d love to,” Harper says. “Olivia is darling, and I’m sure the twins will be just as wonderful.”
Just then the twins burst into wails, waking from their naps in their infant car seats.
Olivia slaps her hands over her ears. “Take them back! Take them back!”
Dylan shakes his head as Ariana and Mrs. Bianchi go to pick the twins up from their car seats. “Olivia keeps asking us to return them to the store. Says they’re too noisy.”
“C’mere, Olivia,” my mom says. “I’ve got a special job for you.”
Olivia runs over, and my mom puts her on her hip, talking to her as she gathers napkins from a cabinet.
Harper turns to me. “Having a baby is going to be some ride. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Bring it on.”
She winces. “My new sisters-in-law gave me some straight talk about the birth. Not pretty. I’m trying not to freak out.”
I put an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, if I can stand watching it, you can stand doing it.”
She laughs. “The good news is, they said they’d give me any baby gear they were done with.” She goes up on tiptoe to whisper, “They must know I can afford to buy gear, but they’re being so generous.”
“Ya know, I’m starting to see what Josie was talking about with you being like Marian the librarian, emerging as the trusting happier person in the end.”
“I am happy.” She throws her arms around my neck and kisses me. “So, so happy.”
“Eww,” a little voice says. “Mommy and daddy kissing.”
I look down at Olivia. She thrusts a napkin at me, clutched in her fist. “That’s right. It means we’re happy just like your mommy and daddy.”
She sticks her tongue out like blech and skips away.
“Now where were we?” I say, pulling Harper close.
She smiles against my lips. “Mommy and daddy kissing. Eww.”
“That’s right.” I kiss her again and smile.
We join my family gathered in the kitchen once more to celebrate. I look around at all my brothers with their wives, my nieces and nephew, and it hits me how lucky our child will be. Our baby will grow up with lots of uncles, aunts, and cousins, two fantastic grandparents, honorary grandparents (thanks, Mrs. Bianchi!), a one-of-a-kind great-grandmother, and us, two loving parents. I was the last born, last for everything, but I’m the one who brings the most important piece of the puzzle. With me and Harper getting married, the Rourke family is now complete.
And it all started when this beast finally met his beauty in a case of mistaken identity that turned out to be fate.
Would you like to read more about Garrett’s friend, billionaire Wyatt Winters? How about struggling restaurant owner Sydney Robinson? They’ll meet in Fetching! Get ready for Unleashed Romance, a new steamy romantic comedy series, where dogs are part of the family!
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Fetching
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