Page 180 of Bleed with Me

“Really?” she squealed.

“Really.”

Aryna sucked her lower lip into her mouth, her gaze falling to the floor.

“My mommy gave me a beautiful name,” she whispered, playing with her fingers absentmindedly. It was the first time she ever mentioned her mom. She never spoke about her foster parents or foster siblings.

“She did,” Nina agreed. “Where is she now?” she asked before I could interfere, and my heart clenched.

“Dead,” Aryna replied, raising her head. “Daddy, too.”

“I’m so sorry,” Nina breathed, placing her hand on Aryna’s back, but her gaze crashed with mine. So much sadness flashed through those gorgeous eyes that my heart almost cracked.

“It’s okay.” Aryna shrugged, moving the golden strands away from her face. “I have a new daddy now.” Her tiny index finger pointed right at me, and I smiled despite the ache in my chest. “Will you be my new mommy?”

Nina stared at her in shock, her lips parted, but nothing came out.

“You’ve just met, angel,” I interjected, finding Nina’s amazement kind of funny. I’d never seen her like this. “Give Nina some time, okay?”

“Why?” Aryna asked innocently. “She sleeps in your bed, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“It makes her Mommy.” She crossed her arms over her chest, pouting. “So?”

I bit the inside of my cheek, unsure how to react. It wasn’t my answer to give.

“I don’t know how to be a mommy,” Nina said carefully. “I’ve never been one.”

“It’s okay,” Aryna beamed, forgetting about her frustration. “You’ll learn.”

“Okay.” Nina laughed, glancing at me. “I’ll learn.”

The knot in my chest loosened just enough for hope to sneak back in, and I looked away before either of them noticed the absurd grin spreading across my face.

Maybe, just maybe, I did at least one thing right today.

-71-

Dorian

“I’m still pissed at you,” Nina mumbled when she walked past me to take Aryna’s towel and the yellow pajamas I’d found in the suitcase.

“Noted.” I nodded, leaning against the chest of drawers in our walk-in closet with my arms crossed, watching her every elegant move. “Do you need help?”

“With bathing?” She lifted a brow, shuffling through the colorful socks.

“With anything.” I moved to the side, suppressing a grin when she cursed under her breath. “I’m not a professional in parenting, but I know a thing or two.”

“I’ll manage.” She straightened, casting me a cold look. “Thanks.”

I pursed my lips, following her inside the spacious bathroom. My designer had a list of special requirements for my house, and one of them was an enormous bathtub, now full of menthol green bubbles and foam.

Aryna giggled and splashed water everywhere, on the floor, on the wall, even on the mirror. I glanced down at my wet feet, grimacing, but Nina didn’t seem to mind. She blew bubbles right into Aryna’s face, and they both laughed.

“You two know we don’t have a housekeeper yet, right?” I pointed out, stepping over a puddle, but my socks were already drenched.

“You don’t know how to wipe a floor?” Aryna asked bluntly.