“How and when?” I asked, motioning to them; I didn’t expect to see Loreli here.
He shrugged, turning around to gather ingredients, “I was up early and asked them to bring Emmett, I didn’t want to leave Loreli by herself so here we are.” He set the ingredients on the kitchen island and went back to grab mixing bowls. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” Holden’s voice sang from the front.
“I really shouldn’t have given him a key,” Caspien muttered.
Cali walked into the kitchen, stopping in her tracks when she saw Loreli.
She was wearing one of Holden’s white button-downs with her belt around it. Her hair was everywhere but it looked windswept somehow. She looked like she just walked out of a magazine shoot instead of like like she rolled out of bed. “Baby girl,” She placed kisses on Loreli’s cheeks and head, “I missed you.” Loreli pushed her off and laughed. Cali ruffled Emmett’s hair and gave him a kiss on his head too.,
“What did I miss?” She asked, crossing her arms surveying the kitchen.
I opened my mouth to say something.
“Don’t.” Caspien pointed a spatula at me and I shut my mouth.
Cali was about to say something, but Holden came in behind her grabbing her from behind, he looked up and saw the kids and dropped his hands, backing up a few steps. “Is that?” Holden pointed to the back of Loreli’s head.
Cali and I nodded.
Holden put a hand over his mouth, “Wow,” He breathed.
I looked at Cali and she rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile.
“May I?” He looked to Cali, who snorted.
“She’s not a dog,” She shook her head, “You can talk to her. Or try,” She whispered.
Holden took a few steps up and around the side of the island.
“Hi Holden,” Emmett said, Holden gave him a bright smile and a wave.
“Hi,” Holden held out his hand to Loreli,” I looked at him and shook my head, and he moved his hand away.
“I’m Holden; I’m your mom and Willa’s friend.”
“Eh,” I butted in and he scowled at me.
“Not helping,” He muttered before turning to Loreli, “What kind of pancakes do you like?”
“We’re making waffles,” Emmett corrected him, and Holden paused.
“Okay then,” He took a deep breath closing his eyes, “What kind of waffles do you like?” He said a bit slower.
“Strawberry,” Loreli went on babbling about waffles and powdered sugar and summed up Mr. Baker and Caspien’s show leaving Holden and Cali completely confused.
“Well, that sounds absolutely amazing,” Holden smiled at her, he looked at Loreli with so much affection it warmed me. I looked at Cali and she gave me a slight shrug, but I could tell she was melting too. “Can I get you some coffee?” Caspien asked Cali.
“A red eye,”
“Same please,” I added.
“What?” Caspien looked between us.
“A shot of espresso in a cup of coffee,” Cali pulled her hair back in a ponytail.
“You guys are tired?” Holden asked dragging his attention from Loreli for a second.
“Exhausted doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Cali responded.
“Cas, are you tired?” Holden looked to where Caspien was starting to make coffee at a machine that looked like something from Star Trek.
“I’ve never been more invigorated in my life, I woke up early,” He glanced at Holden with an almost playful smile.
“Same, I’ve never been more awake.”
I stared at them crossing my arms; Holden gave me a sly grin.
“But I guess if you guys are too tired,
“Maybe it’s because we were doing most of the work,” Cali raised an eyebrow at me.
“Not in front of the children,” Holden scolded.
“You started it,” I argued.
Caspien brought us our coffees, and after I drank mine in silence I felt almost awake.
We all ate breakfast together. Caspien made waffles with the help of Emmett and Loreli, and Cali helped squeeze juice as I set out the table.
Loreli climbed onto Holden’s lap by the end of the meal after he showed her how to make a cabin out of waffle pieces. Emmett was intrigued and we spent a while trying to make a volcano at his request. “She looks just like me,” Holden held Loreli facing us. Her strawberry curls, blue eyes, and pale skin were a slight contrast against Holden’s golden skin and blonde hair.
“Um,” Cali tilted her head.
“You both are, um, human?” I said, “Oh wait,” I laughed, giving him a look, he glared at me.
“Can we keep him?” Loreli squished Holdens cheeks
“Can we?” Holden asked Cali a broad smile on his squished face.
“Let me think about it; he’s not house-trained yet,” Cali responded dryly with a cunning smile.
“That was low,” Holden scowled, Caspiens shoulders shook in a silent laugh.
“I can train him,” Loreli looked at Holden and squished her nose against his.
Cali insisted on helping me clear the plates.
“Not because I’m domesticated or anything, but I want to hear the gossip.” She flipped her ponytail wiggling a brow, “Also what is that on your neck and how do I get one? Looks kinky,”
I blushed putting my hand to my neck where I held Caspien’s mark, smiling at the fresh memory of it.
“It’s binding, it’s forever. But-“
“You can get one right now,” Holden chimed in, I sighed closing my eyes.
“We also have really good hearing,” I explained, I don’t know why I was still whispering.
She narrowed her eyes, “You have a lot of explaining to do,” I looked away turning on the sink to rinse the dishes.
“Do you believe me?” I asked, worried about her answer.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.