Page 54 of One Hot Daddy

His grin turns sinfully hot."Only three times?I was counting four, but maybe I lost track during that bit where you---"

"Shush, Fletcher," I hiss, though my body's already reacting to his teasing."We need to be responsible adults, remember?"

"Responsible adults who just happen to be madly in love."

"And who have four children waiting for them at home."I narrow my gaze and pucker my lips, trying to sound forceful, but I fail.The smile spreading across my face doesn't help matters."Save that look for tonight, after the kids are asleep."

He sighs dramatically, but the smile playing at the corners of his lips gives him away."Fine.But I'm holding you to that promise."

After breakfast, we pack our overnight bags and head to the car.The drive home is filled with comfortable silence and occasional bursts of conversation about what awaits us.Four very excited children, that's for sure.I hope the grandparents weren't totally wiped out.The moment our car pulls up in the driveway, all the kids pour out of the house to attack us with joyful hugs.

This is my life these days---and I love it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Fletcher

Doomsday has arrived on the outskirts of Millbrook Valley in the form of a baseball field.I feel as if a horde of Mongol warriors and their children have invaded my quiet life in Millbrook Valley, Nebraska.Well, my children are always a handful.But now, we must wrangle our own kids as well as those belonging to my friends.Perhaps calling this week doomsday is an act of outrageous hyperbole.

But no, it really is not.

Now, however, we must deal with the impending cricket match.I haven't played the game in years, yet I allowed Dominic to coax me into participating.I hold Jennifer's hand while we approach the well-meaning contingent of Brits, Americans, and Scots who have traveled a long way to "help" me.

Emery MacTaggart, the ringleader of the American Wives Club, approaches us.She offers us a dazzling smile and open arms---literally.She hugs us, then kisses our cheeks.Emery moves with the confidence of someone who seems like she must regularly command boardrooms.But Dominic had confirmed Emery is not a tycoon.She spends most days wrangling her twin children.

"Fletcher Murgatroyd!Finally!"Emery hugs me like we're old friends rather than complete strangers."Your mother has told us so much about you!"

I awkwardly pat her back, shooting Jennifer a desperate glance.My wife---god, I love calling her that---simply grins and mouths "be nice" at me.

"Lovely to meet you," I say."Though I'm still not entirely clear on why you've all flown halfway around the world to...help me?"

Emery waves my question away with a slight laugh."Your mother was worried.She told me you've been working yourself half to death, barely taking time to enjoy your beautiful family."

That's not quite accurate.But I don't get the chance to set the record straight.

Emery clasps her hands under her chin and starts talking again."When we heard about the wedding, well, we just had to come celebrate with you guys."

Behind her, I spot a small army of couples and children milling about on the baseball field that's usually reserved for high-school events.I see Dominic with his wife Chelsea and their two children, looking thoroughly amused by my obvious discomfort.I see a tall man with light-brown hair who must be one of the Scots.He keeps his arm around a petite blonde woman while their children chase mine around the field.

"This is Rory MacTaggart, my husband," Emery explains, dragging her husband toward us.This is the man I'd pegged as a Scot earlier."And that's Keely with the dark hair talking to your Amelia.Keely's American too and married to Evan MacTaggart, a Scottish billionaire."

My head spins while I attempt to keep track of everyone.There are dozens more adults heading this way, but at least everyone's children have gone to the playground on the other side of the green.I won't need to recall their names---not yet, anyway.For the next fifteen minutes, my brain is tested to its limits while I attempt to recall the names of every wife and husband pairing.

Emery helpfully goes on stating their names and even their occupations."You've met my husband.But now let me introduce you to the other MacTaggarts---the ones who could come to this shindig, that is.MacTaggarts are very, um...prolific.Over there are Iain and his wife Rae along with their grown daughter, Malina, who came back from Scotland to join the festivities.She's American, like her mom.They brought their five-year-old son too."

Bloody hell, all these names.I think I'm getting a migraine, though I've never had one before.

Emery won't give up, though.She drags me and Jennifer round and round the green, and I learn even more names, such as Damian and Heidi Petrescu.He's a fortune teller, allegedly, and insists on telling me my fortune.He's clearing having me on.

Damian sandwiches his palms around mine.

He's making me slightly uncomfortable.

"You will find great joy on the cricket pitch tomorrow," Damian intones, his American accent mutating into...Romanian, I assume.Then he closes his eyes."But beware the man in the red cap."

I extract my hands from his grip, trying not to appear rude."Brilliant, thank you.I'll keep an eye out for suspicious headwear."

Jennifer muffles a laugh, squeezing my arm in silent support.