Rubi slipped her arm around Tessa’s shoulders and pulled her from Zach’s grasp with a haughty “You can have her later.” Then guided her into the house, making introductions. “That hot blond over there is my man, Wes. The biggest kid in the place.”
“I beg to differ,” Lexi said from behind her.
“Pffft.” Rubi shot a careless look over her shoulder. “You and Jax are practically the only sane members of this family. You’re like the parents. Josh comes in a close second. Definitely a big brother with his nose in everyone’s business.”
“For which you’re eternally grateful,” Josh added.
“He’d have won out as the patriarchal figurehead if Grace didn’t make him so loopy,” she told Tessa.
That got a round of laughter.
“I’ve heard you’ve already met Grace”—Rubi lifted a hand to shield her mouth as if she was telling Tessa a secret but spoke so everyone could hear—“and passed inspection, I might add.”
Zach wandered along behind the group as they escorted Tessa into the main, open living space, offering introductions along the way. He couldn’t quite read Tessa’s expression. She looked like she was enjoying herself, but Zach knew this family could come on a little strong at times.
Jax moved into the kitchen and took Tessa’s wine order, filling a glass with red. The women—Lexi, Rubi, Grace, and Tessa—gathered around the island, talking about Sophia. How old she was, what she liked to do, what month she was born, how much she looked like Zach.
In the kitchen, Zach introduced Sophia to the men, all of whom seemed as taken with her as Zach had been. Wes pulled a beer from the fridge for Zach, and Josh leaned a hip against the counter.
“You’re looking mighty comfortable in this daddy role,” Josh said.
“One day at a time,” Zach said.
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“Daddy.” Sophia lifted her head and tensed, pointing out the windows facing the ocean. “Look. The pool.”
“Yep,” Zach said, “with a slide and everything.”
“Whoo-hoo!” Rubi yelled from the other end of the bar, punching a fist in the air. “Sophia, I just got the big green light from Mama.”
“What’s a green light?” she asked Zach.
“Umm, it means Mommy said yes to something.”
“Mommy must have said yes to sparkly nail polish,” Wes said, grinning. “And probably caved to Rubi’s plan of a complete girls’ makeover—hair, makeup, nails. She had an entire spa package whipped up as soon as she heard Sophia was coming tonight.”
Sophia gasped. “Daddy? Can I?”
“Oh, I’m definitely deferring to Mom on this one.”
“Smart move,” Jax offered.
“Mommy?” Sophia pleaded.
Tessa laughed. “Yes, honey.”
Sophia squirmed in Zach’s arms, and he put her down. She ran to Tessa, where Rubi crouched in front of her. “Yay! We’ll do your fingers and your toes. We’ll curl your hair and put it up in a tiara.”
r /> “A tiara?” Sophia said, breathless.
Rubi nodded. “But we should swim first, so your pretty hair doesn’t get wet. After dinner, we can play princess.”
“Oh my God.” Zach leaned his elbows on the counter and watched as the women moved outside, started stripping to their suits, and jumped in the pool with Sophia. “Your women are going to spoil her rotten.”
“Damn straight,” Wes said. “What’s family for? Spoil them rotten, then give them back. That’s the way it’s done.”
Warmth and a deep sense of belonging created a kind of peace and purpose Zach had only ever found on the water. He took a sip of his beer and grinned. “Just remember, payback’s a bitch.”