But now the girls’ motherly instincts have given way to glorious wildness. And while normally I’d be all for the airborne baby dolls and toddler parkour, I don’t have time for it right now. I’m on a deadline.
I’m about to lose my shit and raise my voice when Jasper bursts through the door, every inch my hero. Without hesitation, he hoists a triplet in each arm. The third, Honor — it’s always Honor that has the wildest hair, the most fiercely bared teeth, and the longest hugs — latches onto one of his legs.
Beautiful soul that he is, Jasper staggers out of my office as quickly as he entered, toting the triplets away so I can finish my work.
With a sigh of relief and a swig of tepid coffee, I return to my edits.
A few hours later, I emerge from my office in the thin light of evening, tired but victorious. Shuffling to the living room, I find Jasper on the couch with all three girls snuggled close around him as they watch Frozen for the gazillionth time. The smell of pizza hangs in the air and there are streaks of red sauce on the girls’ cheeks.
“Food?” I ask my husband, full of hope.
“Pepperoni, mushroom, and pineapple pizza,” he confirms, “warming in the oven for you.”
“My favorite. Thank you, love,” I murmur, leaning over to kiss the top of his head before I head to the kitchen for my dinner.
Throwing a couple of slices onto a plate, I return to the living. Hope and Haven, both stationed on Jasper’s right side, make room for me between them.
“C’mere, Mama,” Hope says, crinkling her nose and grinning.
I obey, settling in the space they created for me.
Haven leans in close, sniffing audibly at my pizza. “Yum.”
I lift an eyebrow at her. “You’re still hungry?”
Grinning, she nods.
With an amused sigh, I tear off a corner of one of my slices for her. Then, Hope and Honor’s suddenly hungry eyes heavy on me, I pass a small piece of my food to each of them as well.
Jasper chuckles. “You’d never think they each had three slices of their own, plus some salad.”
I almost choke on the mouthful I’m swallowing. “Three?!” I stare at my daughters, grinning. “You tiny little poachers.” Leaning across my husband, I tickle Honor’s tummy, then throw my arms around Haven and Hope and squeeze them tight. “You want me to get you more slices of your own?”
Honor shakes her head, face solemn. “Yours tastes better, Mama.”
Jasper and I laugh. I can’t think of anything more representative of parent life than your kids thinking your personal food — which is identical to what’s been offered to them — is preferable.
I settle back to enjoy the rest of the movie. Jasper’s hand slinks along the back of the couch toward me. He plays with the hair at the nape of my neck in that special way I love.
Being a working mom of triplets isn’t exactly easy. But doing this parenting thing with Jasper, stay-at-home dad extraordinaire, makes it so much easier. And the way he loves me, in bed and otherwise? Well, that’s just icing on the cake.
I’m a damned lucky woman.
Finished with my pizza, I haul Hope onto my lap and pull Haven close against my side. I allow my head to rest on Jasper’s strong shoulder. His arm tightens around me and my girls, his other already cradling Honor.
I sigh with contentment. I love this my man, the family we’ve created, and our cozy life.
Sure, it’s sometimes wild, but it’s also so sweet. I’d never trade it, not for anything in the world. They’re my biggest dream come true.
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Need more holiday lovin’? ;)
Don’t miss the rest of The Holiday Honeys series of steamy standalone stories.
Happy reading!
Christmas Spirit Renewed by Andrea Marie
Grumpy Santa by EmKay Connor
Holiday With a Scrooge by KL Fast & M.K. Moore
Hot Christmas by Fern Fraser
Joy and Payne by Kat Baxter
One Night on the Naughty List by Amy Pennza
Naughty & Nice by Dee Ellis
Royally Scrooged by Rebecca Gallo — coming soon!
Screwg'd by Willow Sanders
Seducing the Soldier by Julie Scarlet
Sexting Santa by Poppy Parkes
Snowstorm Snuggles by Barbra Campbell
Tempting Scrooge by Loni Ree — coming soon!
Twelve Nights of Christmas by Laney Powell
Wynter's Coming by Penelope Wylde
A Love Note For You
Dear wonderful reader,
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this couple’s love story as much as they did. ;)
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Love,
Poppy xo
Also by Poppy Parkes
The Wayward Brits Series:
Mail-Order Brit
Merry Brit-Mas
Her Cheeky Boys — coming soon!
Down the Shore Series:
Under the Boardwalk
Fireworks on the Beach
Sun Burn
Once Upon a H.E.A. Series:
SWEET
PAID
WAKE
Love at First Sight Series:
Meant to be Yours
Love Tumble
Head Over Heels
One in a Million
The Light Between Us Series:
The Light Between Us
Finding Me and You
Wedding Jitters
Collections & Anthologies:
Love at First Sight
Once Upon a Happily Ever After
The Light Between Us Box Set
Wrangled: The Cowboy Collection
Standalone Stories:
Accidental Valentine
Bodyguard X2
Boo Boy
Cowboy’s Pride
Falling Into You
First Time Player
Giddy Up, Cowgirl
Her Declaration of Independence
Her Winter Cowboy
His Flirty Fondue
His Snow Bunny
Hot for the Holidays
Mister Cowboy
Our Happy Holiday
Sexting Santa
Teacher’s Pet
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About the Author
Poppy Parkes is the author of sweet and hot love stories. Poppy writes, paints, and dreams in the mountains, where she raises her two boys. She is in love with luscious color, moon-gazing, and dancing wild. And coffee. And wine. And chocolate. You know how it is.