The Sweetest Gift - Scarlett Cole Page 0,8

the baby whisperer.” She nodded at Noah, who had started to calm.

Lexi pretended to check out the decoration wrapped around the hallway mirror, but he could see her try to bite back a smile. He prayed he could be the same to their baby.

The loud thud of a boot on the front of the door proceeded it being thrown open. “Motherfucker, it’s colder than a—oh, hey, Lexi. Kendalee,” said Lennon, shaking the snow out of his blond curls. He’d grown it again after Georgia had said how much she liked it.

“Dude. Fucking baby,” Jordan said.

Lexi and Kendalee both looked from Jordan to Noah.

Shit. He placed his hands over Noah’s ears. “We need to get these kids ear defenders or something.”

Georgia followed Lennon in. “Want to step out of the doorway there, Sweetie. Nik and Jenny are on the way up the road.”

Jordan stepped into the living room and waited for Jenny and Nik and their three foster kids to arrive. Dark-haired Jefferson, a creative eleven-year-old, was the first through the door. Towheaded Henry, aged nine, was next, and seven-year-old Charlie arrived holding tightly to Jenny’s hand. The brothers had been in the system for four years, just waiting for someone like Nik and Jenny to want them, to accept them as a complete unit. They’d been with them for eight months and there were still adjustment issues.

Nik came in last, carrying his guitar case, which meant he’d been working on a new song he wanted them to hear. “Fuck me, it’s cold.”

“Children,” said Jenny, and Jordan couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’d think we’d have figured that out by now,” Nik said, laughing as he unbundled his scarf.

“Daniel is up in the den if you boys want to go join him,” Kendalee said. He watched as the boys went up the stairs, just as Elliott appeared from the basement staircase on the other side of the kitchen. Elliott held the door open as Holly toddled her way up the last of the steps holding on to her little guitar. The little girl had got Kendalee’s strawberry blond coloring but her father’s determined stare, and her eyes said she’d been crying.

“We’re late, Holly. Look, everyone is here,” Elliott said.

She folded her arms and looked up at him. “No. Play guitar.”

“Come here, Hols,” Lennon said. “Come sit next to me and you can show me how much better you play than your dad.” He patted the sofa next to him.

“Funny fucker,” Elliott said, grinning as he swung Holly up into his arms and placed her down next to Lennon.

“Kids present,” Kendalee reminded him.

Jordan laughed.

The door burst open. “Uncle Jordan,” the voice cried before he could see her. Petal. The apple of his fucking eye. The little girl who saved him when no one else could. “Uncle Jordan, I got a new dress.”

A mop of curls that seemed to change between dark blond and brown bobbed behind the back of the family room sofa before appearing in front of him. “Ta-daa,” she said, striking the cutest pose in front of him in a red satin dress printed with large white snowflakes. Then she turned from side to side. “Isn’t it the prettiest dress you’ve ever seen in your whole wide life? It has a sash that Momma tied in a bow. See?”

Elliott appeared at his side and took Noah from him.

Jordan crouched down in front of her. “I’m going to need to see the back before I decide.”

Petal grinned and turned. “It has white buttons, and Daddy let me wear new white tights because he said I keep ripping holes in them, but he also said a very naughty word, Uncle Jordan. He said the f-word. Fucking holes,” she whispered conspiratorially.

Jordan bit back a laugh and then looked at Dred, who’d finally made it into the family room. “That is such a naughty word. Naughty Daddy. But don’t let me hear you say that word. It’s much too naughty a word for a four-year-old.”

“Well,” said Petal, taking his hand. “I’m nearly five, so it’s cool.”

Pixie joined them, placing a pair of reindeer antlers on Petal’s head, which made her even fucking cuter. “I’m just relieved the f-bomb wasn’t her first word being around you guys.”

Jordan looked around the room. Everyone he cared about was here, in the spot where each and every one had proposed. Even Nik had got down on one knee right where Jordan now stood. It was the place where they made big announcements.

“Before we dive into all the business stuff,” Jordan