Triplets for The Millionaire - K.C. Crowne Page 0,3

I spotted the guest house. It was next to the pool, which was covered and closed for the winter. If the main home was in the style of an elegant chateau, the guest house was more like a cozy little cabin, one you’d expect to find tucked away in the woods, far from civilization.

“I know,” I said. “And I most certainly appreciate the offer. But I’m not anticipating bein’ here more than another few weeks, yeah?”

“Then off to…where?” Finn asked with a smirk. “Crashing in some posh hotel in Prague with all the high-class bankers and espionage artists?”

I shrugged. “Wherever the story takes me. Thinkin’ I might do a little urban shooting in LA for a while, see if I can get enough good stuff to scrounge up somethin’ to sell.”

“Look at you,” Finn teased. “Actin’ like you need to sell your work to get by.”

“Hey, just because I’ve got a nice nest egg doesn’t mean I don’t like to sell when I can.”

“Stay for as long as you like,” Kenna repeated. “I know you like to be on the move, but it might do you some good to settle in here for a little while. The kids love having you here, if that wasn’t obvious.”

I glanced at the twins, who were still going through my photos.

“Hell, don’t be afraid to do some decorating in the guest house,” Kenna offered. “Put up some of your pictures if you like.”

“Nah,” I said, eager to change the subject. “Nesting is the first step to puttin’ down roots. And once you put down roots, you’re stuck.”

Finn swept his hand toward the scene around us – the twins, the home, the fire roaring in the fireplace. “You consider this stuck?”

“Brother, I’m all kinds of thrilled you have the life you do. But livin’ in one place, bein’ a da…it’s just not for me. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t pack it all up and head out whenever I wanted. I’m doin’ what I love, and I’m makin’ a darn good livin’ at it. Can’t think of anything’ else I’d want.”

“You know,” Finn replied. “That’s exactly –”

“Exactly what you said before you got married and found out you were a da,” I said with a smirk. “And like I said, I’m so damn happy you two found each other. But I’m happy with my life just the way it is.”

Finn and Kenna shared a look, one that suggested they knew something I didn’t. But they dropped the subject, the conversation falling to Kenna’s party-planning business and Finn’s job as a pediatrician and the CEO of a local medical charity. They both had great things going, and the flexibility of their work allowed them to spend as much time with the twins as they wanted – which was a lot.

After we’d all put away our share of pizza, the kids hurried to the living room where they enjoyed some ice cream and Scooby Doo. Finn, Kenna, and I had a little wine near the fireplace, continuing our conversation as the kids watched their show.

As I craned my neck to catch a glimpse of the cartoon, the world blurred again. I froze, more than a little concerned. This was the first time it’d happened twice in one day like that.

“Hey, Patrick,” Finn spoke, reaching over and placing his hand on my shoulder. “You alright over there?”

Thankfully, my vision unblurred almost as quickly as it’d started, and I was back to normal.

“What’s wrong?” Kenna asked, concern in her voice.

“It’s nothin’,” I said, shaking my head slowly. “Just…just tired.”

Finn and Kenna shared another knowing glance.

Fuck.

“Hey, babe,” he said, putting his hand on Kenna’s leg. “You mind if I give a quick medical consult to my stubborn brother here?”

She smiled softly. “Of course not. I’ll go put the pizza away.” With that, she rose and left Finn and me alone.

“It’s nothin’,” I said, waving my hand through the air and pre-empting his words. “Just wearin’ out my eyes.”

“It’s not nothin’,” he countered. “Pat, this is somethin’ you’ve been dealin’ with for a couple years. And it’s not goin’ away.” Before I had a chance to respond, he took out his phone and began to type a text.

“Hey, now,” I said, craning my neck to see what he was doing. “What’re you doin’?”

“I’m sendin’ a text to an associate of mine at one of Duncan Pitt’s other clinics in town. Dr. Lola Bridges. She’s the best ophthalmologist in the state.” He didn’t take his eyes off the screen