Page 82 of Pastel Kisses

Liam laughs and wraps an arm around me, guiding me to the table like I’m made of glass. Kamden places a gorgeous plate in front of me—fluffy pancakes stacked high, strawberries drizzled over the top, and perfectly sliced fruit fanned out like art.

“Feed my baby,” Liam says with a heavy smirk, his hand resting protectively over my bump.

The way they dote on me, hover over every bite, and watch for signs of exhaustion would be smothering if it wasn’t so ridiculously sweet. They’re obsessed—in the best, most love-struck way possible.

From across the room, Jax answers the phone brightly. “Hey, Dan, what can I do for—” His smile drops. “Uh... yes, sir. I mean—she did. Yeah. I swear it was her idea... okay, maybe notexactly, but—”

I burst out laughing, syrup-covered fork halfway to my mouth. This is my life now. Pancakes. Passion. Protective alphas and a dad who’s more like the fifth member of their band.

Jaxton looks at me like a deer caught in headlights—only more alpha, less Bambi. His eyes are wide, and the muscle in his jaw ticks as he rubs the back of his neck, a telltale sign of panic. This might actually be the most stressed I’ve ever seen him.

He taps a button and switches to speakerphone, clearly hoping one of his brothers will swoop in and save him from the conversation with my dad.

They don’t. Not a single one.

In fact, Kam snickers behind his coffee mug, Liam suddenly finds somethingveryinteresting on the ceiling, and Lennox just leans back, arms crossed, grinning like this is the best morning show he’s ever seen.

“Technically,” Jax says, dragging out the word like it might buy him time, “this whole thing is Kam’s fault. He’s the one who started it. He’s the one who proposed.”

I blink at him, amused. So much for ride-or-die. He’s throwing Kam under the bus faster than I can saywedding cake.

Through the speaker, my dad doesn’t skip a beat. “Oh? So is Kam the only one who wants to marry my little girl, then?”

Jaxton’s entire body stiffens. His eyes snap to mine, panic fully settling in now, and he immediately backpedals, holding up both hands like he’s surrendering. “No! No, sir. Absolutely not. Weallwant that. All of us. There’s nothing we want more than to spend our lives with her. It was—uh—just... Kam said it first.”

Kamden, who’s been leaning against the counter with the calm of a man who knows exactly what’s coming, lets out a low laugh. “You’re useless under pressure, brother.” He crosses the kitchen, plucks the phone right out of Jaxton’s hand, and holds it to out like he’s answering a business call. “Dan, I promise we’re all madly in love with your daughter and not just tagging along for the ride.”

Dad chuckles, but there’s still a rough edge of playful menace in his tone. “You better be. And for the record, I’m still waiting on an apology for not asking permission first.”

Kam sighs, but his smile is fond. “You’re right. We should’ve come to you first. We didn’t plan it—it just happened. It was an emotional moment, and before we even knew it, the words were out. The last thing we wanted was to step on your toes.”

There’s a pause, then a deep, knowing laugh crackles through the speaker. “Say no more. I know exactly where that moment was headed, and I donotneed the visuals. Save your explanations, son.”

My face flames with heat, and I bury it in my hands while Jaxton groans behind me. Liam snorts into his coffee, and Lennox just mutters, “Yikes.”

Kam’s still smiling. “Understood, sir. No graphic details. Just a promise—we’ll take care of her like the precious pixie she is.”

Dad’s voice softens on the other end. “I know you will. All of you. I trust you with her life. That doesn’t mean I won’t keep an eye on you.”

Kam nods, even though Dad can’t see it. “We’d expect nothing less.”

When the call ends a few moments later, Jaxton collapses into the nearest chair, still looking like he barely survived a battlefield. “I thought he was going to demand a duel or something.”

I lean over and press a kiss to Jaxton’s cheek, trying not to laugh. “You threw Kam under the bus so fast I swear I heard tire squeals.”

He gives me a shameless grin, pulling me into his lap like he needs me close to survive the burn. “Self-preservation, Kitten. Can’t blame a man for trying to dodge the wrath of Papa Dan. But...” His voice softens, fingertips brushing over my belly as his smile fades into something much more earnest. “I meant what I said. I want forever with you.”

My chest tightens in the best way. I let my forehead drop to his, soaking in the warmth of the moment. “I know,” I whisper, my voice thick. “And I want that too. All of it.”

In the kitchen, Kam’s flipping pancakes like a Food Network pro, somehow managing to make breakfast look like a performance. He gives the pan a final dramatic toss, then turns and lifts the spatula like a trophy.

“To forever—and breakfast,” Kam says with a wink, holding up his spatula like it’s a sacred relic. “In that order… but just barely.”

“Barely?” Liam scoffs as he slides into the seat I just left, casually swiping a piece of bacon from my plate like a gremlin. “You’ve got maple syrup in your bloodstream, Kam. I never thought anything would outrank breakfast in your heart.”

Lennox drops into the seat beside his twin with a lazy grin. “Honestly? I’m pretty sure he dreams in waffles. And not the frozen kind either—the golden, fluffy, made-from-scratch ones.”

I squint at them both. “Dreams in waffles? And how exactly do you know that?”

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