Piper stood in the doorway of Michaela’s bedroom—once an office where she’d spent her first night back in Oban hating on her future husband—and watched West go misty-eyed over their daughter. Actually, she guessed he was misty-eyed since only his bare broad back bent over the crib was visible by the night-light’s dim glow. The Christmas stocking filled with little presents for Michaela was propped on the room’s rocking chair and soft whuffling sounds came from the sleeping girl. Piper had sent West in to drop off the stocking, but obviously he’d become distracted mooning over their daughter.

“Busted, you sexy Santa, you,” she said, not bothering to whisper since Michaela asleep meant nothing short of the apocalypse would wake her. Which was just as well, as the newest additions to the Westlake family had yipped loudly in protest at being shut in the laundry room for the night.

West started, his head whipping around toward her. She caught the flash of a sheepish grin as he spied her leaning against the doorframe.

“How long have you been there?”

“Long enough,” she said and walked over to stand beside him at the crib.

Michaela slept on her stomach with her cute little rump pooching up the quilt covering her. Her cheeks were flushed and her rose pink lips parted, smacked together, then opened to let out a soft snort. The girl was gonna be a snorer just like her mum. Piper leaned over and straightened the mussed quilt.

“Still the best Christmas present ever,” West said.

“She is, isn’t she?”

He ran his hand down the back of her sleep tank and cupped an ass cheek. Her skin prickled in delicious anticipation and she dragged her gaze up from Michaela. West’s blue eyes crinkled in the corner, his glance zipping down to not-so-subtly check out her rack—what there was of it. Even after all this time the heat in his gaze inexplicably triggered a visceral reaction of need.

“I wasn’t just talking about Michaela.” His hand continued to rest on her ass while he didn’t make any effort to conceal his attempt to see down the front of her tank top.

“Oh?” She straightened. “I’m included, then?”

“You’re the heart of this family. The best part of me.” He gave her a gentle squeeze then his hand dropped away.

Piper leaned into him, inhaling the faint trace of fresh pine on his skin, left there by the sticky needles as they’d placed Michaela’s presents beneath the sparkling tree.

She kissed the smooth skin of his shoulder and slid her arms around his waist, dipping her fingers below the waistband of his sleep pants. “If we’re talking in metaphors, then you’re our anchor.”

“Dragging you down, you mean?”

“Down into the depths of everlasting lurrrvv.” She arched her chin back and nibbled along the underside of his jaw—a different spot than the one Moe had play-nipped earlier. That’s right, West had named his puppy after The Simpsons’ bartender. She, on the other hand, named her pup Dallas, after the classy fictional detective. “You know what I mean. You keep us safe and grounded through life’s storms.”

“Good comeback.”

“I thought so.”

He angled his head, neatly avoiding her mouth as she rose to kiss him. “Are you truly happy here in Oban? Do you miss what you had back in the city?”

She twisted her lips in pretend thoughtfulness. “Which part? The exciting job, the five hundred mile distance from my crazy family, the absence of dirty nappies or tantrums in my daily routine?” Bumping her hips against his, she grinned up at him. “Or did you mean the no-strings, different-man-every-night hot sex?”

His eyes narrowed. “Different man every night?”

“Sure,” she said. “By the time I’d met you I’d gone through Ryan Gosling, the Hemsworth brothers, and was seriously considering poaching Joe Manganiello off Shaye.”

“Smart-arse.”

She narrowed her eyes right back at him. “As my mother always says, ‘Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.’ Of course I miss the city sometimes, but not in a reminiscing way of what my life was like before you charmed me out of my panties.”

That made his frown tip upside down.

“But in the way of thinking that you’d enjoy checking out the pub and restaurant scene—Wellington has more cafés, pubs, and restaurants per capita than New York City, did you know that?” she continued. “Or that Michaela would love the indoor kids’ playgrounds or running around the national museum or being let loose in the huge public city library.”

“Maybe we should take a vacation up there next year,” West said.

“Maybe we should. You know what else Wellington has?” Piper wrapped her arms around his neck and crooked an eyebrow. “A really good maternity hospital.”

West stilled. “Pipe? Are you…”

“Nuh-uh,” she said. “Not yet.”

West grabbed her ass with both hands and hauled her up in his arms. She squeaked, giggled, and hooked her ankles around him. Michaela snuffled and softly farted.

“You sure you want another baby?” he whispered, even though their daughter hadn’t even flinched at the sound of Piper’s laughter.

“As sure as Santa’s heading south on his sleigh tonight,” she said. “Now let’s go practice, just to keep our skills from becoming rusty.”