Page 54 of Knot Her Beta

I huff a quiet laugh and open my arms for the little girl. “Morning, princess.”

Her grin splits wide, and she leaps forward, knees digging into the cushion. She worms her way between Jared and me in the narrow space, snuggling into my side.

I shift, tucking her in close, my arm settling around her narrow shoulders. The scent of baby shampoo and sleep clings to her hair, and I purr with contentment.

Sprinkles wiggles closer and lifts half his body onto the couch, flopping across our legs as his tail wags, thumping the coffee table.

Jared props himself up on one elbow, his hair sticking up on one side, a pillow crease across his cheek. He pats the large Newfoundland’s head, scratching behind his ears, and Sprinkles’s tail thumps faster.

Quinn nestles deeper. “I heard voices last night, but Uncle Holden and Aunt Chloe said it was adult time, and I needed to go back to bed.”

That explains where the rest of the Wrights were during last night’s conversation.

Jared’s mouth twitches. “It was pretty late. What were you doing awake?”

“I snuck a second cup of cocoa before bed, and I had to pee.”

Jared snickers. “Of course you did.”

“Uncle Holden said I wouldn’t get another cocoa at breakfast since I had two last night.” Quinn tilts her head back to stare up at me, her pale brown eyes serious. “Will you sneak me one? I can’t go to school without my cocoa.”

My heart melts. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“I see you’re going to be the fun parent,” Jared says, his palm brushing my stomach. “Does that mean I have to be the strict one?”

My pulse flutters, and I catch his hand in mine. “Shush. Small ears are listening.”

Quinn giggles. “Uncle Nat says that when they talk about things I’m not supposed to hear.”

I tickle her sides. “Were you supposed to wake us up for breakfast? Or should you still be in bed?”

“Breakfast!” She wiggles her way free. “Don’t forget your promise about the cocoa!”

She bolts out of the office, disappearing into the family quarters, Sprinkles on her heels.

Jared and I move at a slower pace, trying to smooth the wrinkles from our clothes and putting our shoes back on. We take the garage stairs as the fastest route to the kitchen, where the air carries the rich, yeasty aroma of bread rising beneath a dish towel.

The main floor of the Homestead takes on a different rhythm in the off-season. No guests mean no staff, no breakfast rush, and no clatter of plates from the dining room. Just the quiet clutter of a pack settling into their day.

Coffee mugs line the kitchen counter, and Jared and I stop to fill ours at the coffee pot. A container of cocoa sits next to the kettle, and I prep a third mug.

Jared rumbles at me in amusement. “She played you.”

“As if Holden wouldn’t give in and let her have it anyway,” I say as I dump in the hot water and stir. “Go get the creamer and whipped cream from the fridge.”

Despite his grumbles, he retrieves both from the fridge, and we finish off our drinks before heading out to the dining room, where the long wooden table is already well-populated with Chloe, Nathaniel, Blake, Holden, and Dominic settled into various points along it, the remnants of breakfast spread between them.

“Look who finally surfaced,” Blake says as we drop into our seats. He peers behind us. “Where’s Quinn? She was supposed to wake you.”

“She took the long way down.” I set my two mugs next to my empty plate.

Holden eyes the one heaped with whipped cream. “Interesting choice since you don’t even sweeten your coffee.”

Feet pound from upstairs, and then Quinn comes racing down the grand staircase with Sprinkles at her side.

At the bottom, Sprinkles trots over to his spot in front of the large fireplace, his massive paws clicking on the hardwood. He circles a couple of times before he plops down with a huff.

Quinn beelines straight for me, clambering up onto the bench at my side, and she reaches for the cup of cocoa.