“Sir, dinner is served,” Elder said from the doorway.
“Thank you, Elder. We’ll be right in.”
“Daddy, can I go with Elder?”
Darian shook his head.
“Can I go help Ella?”
“Sweetheart, I want you with me. All right?”
Larkin sighed. “Yes, daddy.”
“Let’s eat,” Darian said and led her into the dining room. Larkin went to pull away from him to sit in her usual seat when she wasn’t in his lap. “I want you here,” he said and indicated his lap.
She looked around the room nervously before she sat timidly against Darian’s chest.
Ella and a maid brought in the first course, which was salad.
Larkin scrunched up her nose but opened her mouth when Darian held up a forkful of lettuce.
“See, it’s not so bad,” Darian commented.
“It tastes like grass,” Larkin said, making the men laugh.
“I agree with Larkin,” Kaleb spoke up.
“Just one more bite for me,” Darian murmured and lifted the fork.
Next came the main meal. Prime rib, baked potatoes, and green beans with some kind of sauce on it. The food on their plate had already been cut up so Darian could easily feed Larkin as he kept a conversation going with the other men.
Larkin shook her head and laid it against his shoulder. “No more, daddy.”
Darian glanced down at her. “You didn’t eat very much, baby. Do you feel all right?”
“Yes. I’m just tired.”
Darian kissed the top of her head. “You didn’t get a chance to nap today, did you?”
She yawned and shook her head. “And you kept me up late last night,” she complained.
Darian chuckled. He’d only let her get a few hours of sleep. His appetite for her the night before had been ravenous, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll let you get some sleep tonight.”
She tucked her face against his neck, sighed, and went to sleep.
“She just drops off, doesn’t she?” Patrick asked when he noticed the woman was asleep in his friend’s lap.
“Yes, I learned that the hard way.”
“What happened?” Noah asked.
“I took her to the opera. She was asleep in my lap before the first scene.” Darian chuckled. “Thankfully, we were in a private box.”
“She didn’t like it?” Kaleb asked.
&nb