whole thing, nudged Gunnar’s arm.
Gunnar looked down at her and back at Janie. He cleared his throat and pointed to Joci’s room. “My mom’s having…had a baby. What is it?”
Janie looked at him and shook her head as if letting this detail sink in before looking back to the others. She cleared her throat and said, “It’s a girl. We’re cleaning her up and taking care of Joci. It should be just a few minutes, and then we’ll let you in.”
Janie glanced at Gunnar, shifted her gaze to Emma, and then turned and walked back into the room. JT grinned at Gunnar and nudged Ryder. They chuckled and began talking with each other about the baby. Jeremiah’s brothers exchanged a few dollars; apparently, there had been a bet.
Gunnar heard a cluck and looked down at Emma. “Did you pick her up in a bar or something and not remember her?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her.
Gunnar closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Fuck, yeah—blow job girl on his birthday. He realized she had asked him something and looked back at her. She looked irritated with him.
“Ah, something like that I guess.”
“Pfft. Men.” Emma pointed to the other end of the hall as she looked at Ashley and turned to walk away.
Ashley followed her with a smile on her face. She looked at Gunnar. “Congratulations on your little sister.” She continued walking to catch up to Emma, pushing Tyler in his bassinet.
Gunnar walked back to his family and waited to be allowed to go in and see his new little sister. He watched Emma and Ashley walk down the hall. Just a few moments with her and his cock was wiggling around in his pants and his mind was lost in thoughts of her. She smelled good again, dammit. Fresh and powdery. When she bumped into him and he wrapped his arms around her to keep her from falling, she fit perfectly into his arms. Too perfect.
“She’s very pretty. Who is she?”
Gunnar turned to see Molly looking at him with a smile on her face. Molly, his biological sister—beautiful, with dark hair, bright blue eyes, perfect smile, petite, smart, loyal, talented, and he loved her. They had just met a few months ago, never knowing each other growing up, but they had spent time over the past few months building a relationship and Gunnar was so grateful to have her in his life.
“I don’t know. I met her yesterday at the grocery store. She’s clumsy.”
“Oooo, the bike thing? Yikes. Bad huh?” Molly’s nose wrinkled.
Absently, Gunnar turned his head to watch Emma and Ashley talking at the end of the hall. “Yeah.”
“You’re able to come in and visit, but I’m afraid only a few of you at a time,” Janie said as she tried to avoid looking into Gunnar’s eyes.
Jeremiah’s father, Thomas, stood and stretched. “You kids—Gunnar, JT, Ryder and Molly should be first along with Emily and me.” They walked in the room to see Jeremiah lying in bed next to Joci and holding his daughter in his arms. Joci was lying back, watching Jeremiah, her smokey gray eyes adoringly looking at him. Gunnar walked over and kissed his mom on the head.
“Hey. How are you doing? How’s my little sister?”
Joci smiled at Gunnar and grabbed his hand. “I’m good; she’s better.”
Gunnar looked at his dad and leaned across Joci to pat him on the shoulder.
“You look good with her in your arms.”
“She feels good. You want to hold her?”
Gunnar nodded and walked around the bed. Jeremiah placed the baby in his arms. He watched her little face as his brothers and sister crowded around. Perfect little nose, bowed lips, and a full head of blonde hair. She was going to be a stunner when she grew up.
Gunnar’s mouth was dry, the beating of his heart solid and strong. “What’s her name?”
“Madison Laine Sheppard,” Jeremiah said.
“Hey, Maddie, welcome to the family,” Gunnar crooned to her.
Gunnar flicked his gaze over to Janie, who was looking right at him. Shit, what are the odds she would be the one