Page 30 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

“Such sweet girls. I’m so glad I can spend the night with you.”

Bryant was charming his brother’s kids like there was no tomorrow. For a guy who said he had no experience with kids, it was pretty amazing.

Of course, he’d known them from the very beginning, the very day they were born. That made for some grand memories, he supposed. He chuckled. Surely he wasn’t jealous.

No. But he was seeing a side of Bryant he hadn’t before, and it was eye-opening. So he had to just take it all in.

If they were going to be friends, if they were going to be colleagues—they had to re-learn each other. He liked that Bryant was willing to throw himself into helping, and that he’d heard Lars’s worry.

Bryant began to make pancake batter, and by the time the first set was done, Lachlan was landing outside on the patio, having decided not to drive.

“Hey, you two. Look! It’s Bryant’s twin. They’re twins too.”

The girls stared at Lachlan, then at each other.

About the time Lars began to worry, Ari held her hands up to Lachlan to be held.

Lachlan came to her and picked her up, smiling down at her. “Hello, little one. What is your name?”

“Ari! Dis Mari!” She waved toward her sister. “Da have baby.”

“Yes, I heard. My brother told me. I brought a bag with some things for you two. Shall we see them after the pancakes?”

Bryant was smiling at his brother, looking so pleased that he was here.

“Cakies.”

We have our first son. Dakota is doing well.

Oh, thank the goddess.His knees buckled. “We have one little boy so far.”

“Yay!” Bryant put pancakes on a plate. “I’ll let you divvy those up, Uncle Lars.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Lachlan took Ari with him to let in Jake, Gwenyth, Grant, and Samuel. Jake sniffed. “Pancakes?”

“Yes. Do we need enough for Bea and her family?”

“She’s watching the wards. I’m on call. We all wanted to be together.” Jake nodded to Bryant.

Samuel stared at Lars. “Dakota?”

“One little boy so far. He’s well.”

Bryant grinned. “Well, I’ll make plenty.” He winked at Lars, who bit back a chuckle.

“Grant! Dis Lachy! Hims good.”

Grant frowned at Lachlan. “We was sleepin’…”

“Oh, were you all asleep?” Lars moved to kiss Grant’s nose. “But Uncle Dakota is having his babies, love.”

Grant sighed. “Mores babies? Why?”

“More friends. More family. More love,” he answered, taking Grant to snuggle. “We made a pillow fort for our slumber party. Want to come lie down?”

“Yes.” Grant’s lip quivered.

“Then come on.”

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