“It doesn’t matter who her biological father is,” Roarke explained with exasperation, as though they’d had this argument before. “She’s our daughter. Mine, Sam’s, and Ava’s.”
“Hey, however you want to run your threesome is up to you. I’m just saying you should be grateful she looks like Ava.”
Roarke stood and looked over at her, running his gaze over her. “Hello, you must be Ria.”
She nodded. Connor wrapped his arm around her waist and walked into the room with her held against him. She was grateful for the support. She didn’t think much intimidated her now. But Hunter Black would intimidate anyone. Did he even have a filter on his mouth?
“Just ignore Hunter,” Connor told her. “He’s not allowed out very often.”
“I can see why,” she said wryly.
Hunter raised his eyebrows. “And I can see why Connor plugged you.”
She blushed bright red.
Hunter gave Connor a thumbs up. “Good call, man.”
Connor sighed. “I was hoping Cady would come with you.”
Hunter grinned. “She had to go to another baby shower. I swear everyone around us is breeding. It’s like a damn epidemic.” He shuddered. “Babies, they—”
“I think I’ll stop you there before you do start to insult me.” Roarke moved closer, held out his hand to her. “Lovely to finally meet you, Ria. I’ve heard many wonderful things about you.”
She reached out and shook his hand as Ajax returned with the drinks. He had a nice grip. Not too hard. His palms were dry and warm.
“Although I wasn’t too happy when I heard you jumped into a bar fight after being told to stay back.”
She bit her lip. Unlike Hunter, whose forceful personality was loud and out there, Roarke hid his inner Dom behind a more civilized veneer. But it was definitely there.
“I couldn’t stand by while people got hurt.”
“But it’s okay for you to get hurt?” He shook his head then looked to Connor. “You’ll have to work on that.”
“I will be,” Connor said easily.
She frowned up at him. He gave her his Dom look back. Shoot.
Ajax set their drinks on the coffee table then sat next to Sophie.
“So if you weren’t talking about Roarke’s daughter, who were you arguing over?” Connor asked.
“Roarke bought a rat for Ava,” Hunter told him.
“It’s not a rat, it’s a dog. She’s always wanted one.”
“It looks like a rat. A Rottweiler is a dog. A Labrador is a dog. I’ll even admit that even a Beagle is a dog.”
Connor looked at the photo on Roarke’s phone. Then he grinned. Instantly her whole body warmed. There was just something about that man when he smiled. Who was she kidding? He didn’t have to smile to make her melt. “What is that?”
Roarke sighed. “It’s a Chihuahua.”
“Never thought I’d say this, but I’ve got to side with Hunter. That thing is an overgrown rat.”
Roarke pointed at Hunter then Connor. “Just wait until your women come to you with their big puppy eyes, begging for one of these things. See if you can resist saying yes.”
And just like that her happiness died away. She wasn’t his woman. No matter what she liked to pretend. Turning, she made her way over to Sophie as quickly as she could.
Damn it, was she really waddling like a duck.