Bad Engagement (Billionaire's Club #10) - Elise Faber Page 0,21

who held his daughter.

“They’re in Utah,” he answered. “Most of my siblings are there, too. I came out for vet school at Davis, fell in love with the Bay Area, and never went home.” Lacy cooed, drooling against his shoulder, and he smiled down at the tiny infant. Feisty, but also needing lots of love and care.

Kind of like her aunt.

But the good thing was that Jaime had plenty of love and care to give.

“Well, for my Katie’s sake, I’m glad you stayed—oh, hi, honey. Everything okay with your sister?”

Jaime turned, saw that Kate had come back inside.

Her expression was soft, a swathe of pink across her cheeks, but it was her eyes that struck in him right in the heart.

Longing.

He was holding a baby, and she had longing in her eyes.

Their stares locked, held, and suddenly he was in the future.

In the same kitchen, with the same women, but holding a child that belonged to him, to them.

Lacy squawked, breaking the moment, knocking the vision from his mind even as he shifted her. But this time no amount of rocking or circles would calm her.

Kate moved over to a brightly printed diaper bag. “I’ll just see if there’s a bottle in here.”

“It’s in the fridge, honey,” her mom said. “Bottle warmer is on the counter and set to go.”

Kate nodded. “Got it.”

Thirty seconds later, she’d retrieved the bottle, had it in and out of the warmer, and was testing the milk’s temperature. “Gosh,” she murmured, coming toward him. “I haven’t done this since my babysitting days.”

He grinned. “Me neither. None of my siblings have kids yet, much to my mom’s chagrin.” He bounced Lacy gently. “Though, as far as babysitting goes, I guess that’s not entirely true—I spent a few days last spring bottle-feeding a litter of kittens.” A shrug. “I guess that’s a form of babysitting.”

“Please, tell me you’re kidding me,” she said.

“No,” he said. “Is this going to bring about more of your animal obsession?”

“They’re kittens.”

Jake came into the kitchen, headed for the fridge. “That’s a yes, in case you were wondering.”

“Kittens,” Kate repeated, eyes bright. Then she smiled, that big grin that he felt like an actual caress across his skin, the one that made his heart swell and feel more than it had in years, and screwed the cap on the bottle, handing it to him. “Unless, you need a break?” she asked as he accepted it.

“I’m good,” he said. “This involves significantly less of a need for octopus arms.”

She laughed, Marabelle’s chuckle following. “How many kittens were there?”

“Eight.” A beat. “And they all wanted to eat at once.”

“Naturally.” Eyes dancing as she tapped a finger tapped against her bottom lip. “So, a true need for octopus arms.”

He started giving Lacy the bottle, glad when she stopped fussing and began chugging the milk down like a champ. “Yup.” A sly look. “Or an assistant with an obsession with all things furry. Know anyone who might be interested if the opportunity presents itself?”

She kissed his cheek. “No wedding unless you pick me.”

Jaime turned his head, whispered in her ear. “Sold.”

She blinked, lips parting, but then Jake laughed and punched his sister on the shoulder. “You might need to get a bigger yard, sis. If Jaime is in close proximity to animals at regular intervals, I think you’re going to run out of space in that little garden of yours.”

Kate swallowed, her gaze hot, but when she spoke, her tone was light. “He takes care of a rooster named Barry, who walks on a leash.” As if that was the only evidence she needed to win any argument.

Jake glanced over at him, smirked. “I stand by my statement. You need a bigger yard.”

Jaime smiled. “If Kate wants a rooster, she can have a rooster.”

Marabelle beamed.

Jake sighed. “Dude, you’ve got to set the expectations low. You can’t give them everything they want, or you’ll never have negotiating power.”

“I’m telling Steph you said that.”

A narrowed look. “You wouldn’t.”

Kate danced away. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s my womanly duty to inform her of the underhanded tactics her husband uses.”

“Plus,” Marabelle said, “all she has to do is blink those pretty blue eyes and—”

A female voice intruded. “Are we talking about my pretty blue eyes?”

Jaime turned, saw a petite brunette had strode in, a laptop bag on her shoulder. She wore a black business suit and a tired expression. And for all his talk of negotiating power, Jake immediately crossed over to her and took her bag, cupping the side of her