Page 19 of Nothing to Fear

“Introducing our guest to the family, Darroch?” asked Benedict Breckenridge.

“Sixteen and counting,” Alice said, stroking Buoy’s cheek as she smiled down at him.

“I swear she’ll never stop,” Caber said. “We already have four family Christmas trees in the den because all the gifts won’t fit under one.”

“Sixteen beautiful boys,” Alice said, glancing from Caber to Darroch. “And not one of them has brought me a grandchild.”

“I’m working on it down here,” Darroch said.

She bit her lip. Another outburst or disaster wouldn’t ingratiate her with anyone.

In his arrogance there was a tease, it wasn’t ego. He didn’t take himself too seriously. Rare for a man as hot and rich as him. Were all the Breckenridge boys the same? Raised with confidence and, somehow, humility too?

“Is that when you’ll stop?” Caber asked. “When we bring you babies? You know there’s a chance those babies might have mothers who’d want a little input.”

Benedict had an answer for that. “None of you would marry a woman your mother didn’t like.”

“To do that, we’d have to find one first. Mom sees the best in everyone.”

“Not anyone who’d hurt my boys,” Alice said. “Do you have children, Savanna?”

“No. Kids? Me?” Ha. Funny. “It would be an unlucky child who’d have a mother like me foisted on them. That alone would constitute child abuse.”

Buoy blinked up at her with pure innocence glistening in his brilliant blue eyes. Was she allowed to reference abuse in front of a little one? Probably not. Best just eat the soup and be silent.

“I have two boys myself,” Celeste said. “They’re grown and out in the world now.”

“Mine may be grown, but they all have a home under this roof.”

She glanced at Darroch. “You live with your momma? How old are you?”

“Age is just a number. And I have an open account with the Grand Hotel in the city, if we need privacy.”

She didn’t need a hotel for that. “I have my own apartment.”

“Great. We can go there.”

There were those eyes again. Wasn’t she supposed to be eating soup?

“Twenty bedrooms?” Nessa gasped.

Good to know she wasn’t the only one overwhelmed by the Breckenridge clan.

“This is the original house. Each of the retreating wings were added as we increased our brood.”

“Construction is underway on a postern block to enclose the courtyard within.”

“With a dozen more bedrooms,” Caber said. “You need more kids to fill them… or we could open a hotel. How do you think Bastian would like that?”

“I would be delighted to model the block for my grandchildren.”

“None of us are married yet, Mom.”

“My darling boy, there is no need to remind me of that.”

“Imagine a wedding here,” Nessa said, eyes wide as she took it all in. “This would be an incredible venue.”

“Are you involved, Nessa?”

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