Vivienne hugged the sleeping girl to her chest.

Amber Rose smelled lovely like only babies could. Breathing in the girl’s scent, Vivienne thought there wasn’t anything else in the world as perfect as the mix of talc powder and the unique aroma that was Amber Rose. When she inhaled again, she recognized the faint trace of Max’s scent as well.

Now that she had spent some time in close quarters with Max, Vivienne’s werewolf nose could sense that unique combination of odors that marked him and the baby as father and daughter.

As she neared the living room, she heard the animated conversation taking place between one of the social workers, the PI, and the lawyer. Max kept silent, and it was probably for the better. Earlier, Vivienne had felt his mood darken and acted on impulse. Her touch seemed to have calmed him somewhat, but she was still worried he would snap and make the situation even more complicated than it already was.

Vivienne hurried back to him, rocking Amber Rose slightly.

“I’m not sure what you are trying to imply,” Mrs. Grace said, staring daggers at Mrs. Lanetti.

“I thought it was self-explanatory.” The lawyer smiled. The room’s temperature dropped to chilly.

Vivienne’s entrance stopped the bickering.

The two social workers stepped forward. Before they could come close to Amber Rose, Max moved between Vivienne and the women, effectively shielding her and the baby with his large frame.

“Mr. Prize, move aside.” Mrs. Quinn’s voice didn’t falter.

Vivienne pressed her hand against Max’s back. “It’s okay,” she whispered, knowing that he could hear her fine.

After a moment of hesitation, Max stepped aside. He towered over the rest of the room with his menacing presence. A coiled darkness emanated from him, but when Vivienne raised her eyes to his face, she saw the fear in his gaze and the subtle shake in his fisted hands.

A realization hit her. Max was terrified.

Nodding at him, she gave him a small smile and repeated, “It’s okay.”

His chest rose and fell fast as if he were trying to calm himself, but eventually, Max nodded back.

Vivienne stepped forward, angling Amber Rose toward the women. Mr. Stamper and Mrs. Lanetti craned their necks to take a glimpse of the baby, too.

“The baby seems well enough,” Mrs. Grace said, her rigid posture relaxing.

“We’ll take it from here,” Mrs. Quinn added, extending her hands toward Amber Rose.

Max stepped in front of Vivienne once again. “My daughter stays here, with me.”

Cold anger radiated from him.

To the social workers’ credit, they flinched but didn’t cower before him. “This baby girl is an orphaned minor and—”

Max’s roar filled the room. This time, Mrs. Grace jumped back while Mrs. Quinn scrambled a few steps to the left. Valiantly, the policeman stepped forward, gun in his shaking hand. Max only had to slightly turn toward the man to make him lower the armed hand.

“Nobody is going to take my daughter away. She is exactly where she should be, safe and well cared for,” Max said, using his alpha voice which resonated loudly in the living room. Shifters and mortals alike reacted to an alpha exercising his powers; it was impossible to resist the pull to submit.

It was also foolish of Max to unleash his alpha on mortals, but Vivienne understood he was under tremendous pressure.

In the astonished silence that followed, he strode to Vivienne and took Amber Rose from her arms. The baby had woken at her father’s outburst but didn’t cry or fuss. Instead, she had angled her head and watched Max the whole time. As she handed Amber Rose to Max, Vivienne saw the girl’s big eyes shine a bright yellow and hoped the social workers didn’t notice.

“Now, leave.” Max turned his back to his audience and proceeded to rock Amber Rose, murmuring sweet words.

“We’re coming back,” Mrs. Quinn warned, fisting her hands. She gave Mrs. Grace a pointed look before pivoting on her heels and heading out.

Mrs. Grace and the policeman followed soon after.

“Well done,” Mrs. Lanetti said, sarcasm dripping from her polished words. “There were several ways to deal with this problem and only one to screw everything up.”

“The baby needs some peace and quiet,” Max said. “It’s getting late. Thank you for coming, Mrs. Lanetti. Mr. Stamper. We’ll talk tomorrow morning.”

Dismissed, the two professionals left after exchanging a few words with Wilson, who afterward excused himself and left the room, too.

“Are you all right?” Vivienne asked Max, who stood in front of the glass wall, still slightly rocking on his feet, even though Amber Rose had fallen asleep.

“I will be,” he answered without looking at her.

She could see his face mirrored in the window in front of him. His troubled expression matched the rigidity in his pose. Max was furious, and yet, he was keeping it together for the little bundle he cradled in his strong arms.

Vivienne’s heart expanded in her chest. Loving dads were her Kryptonite. She could resist the billionaire jerk but was defenseless before Max Prize, hyper-protective father. There was no sense in denying the obvious. The sight of this powerful man brought down to his knees by a tiny baby girl evoked in Vivienne the sweetest of emotions. She was falling for him. It defied logic that she would feel anything for him in such a short time, but the affairs of the heart seldom made sense.

Max adjusted his hold on the baby to free an arm he wound around Vivienne’s shoulders. “I need you,” he said, releasing an army of butterflies in her stomach.