Page 85 of The Sweetest Mistake

Julia laughed. “We better get back out there before Barbara gets suspicious.”

“Ha. She’d probably be happy if she knew we were talking about loving her sons. That just means more grandchildren for her.”

“Maybe from you and Finn, but Connor and I still have a long way to go.”

Harper shook her head. “I don’t think so, Jules. He already has one child. What’s a few more?”

Julia rolled her eyes, but she was secretly thrilled at the idea. She’d always wanted a big family, and if she were to become part of the O’Brien clan, she’d already be starting out with a large group of people. It was a heady thought, and she practically floated back out to the living room with Ava tucked securely against her hip.

“It must have been a really bad one for it to have taken that long!” Barbara exclaimed.

McKayla was perched on the edge of the chair across from Barbara, looking shell-shocked, and Julia wondered what had transpired between them while she and Harper had been occupied.

Surprisingly, when Harper stood up to leave a short while later, Barbara rose too.

“Sorry for hogging her,” Barbara said as she handed Ava back to Julia. “I just can’t get enough of this little cutie.”

“I understand,” Julia said, following Barbara, Harper, and McKayla to the door.

After exchanging goodbyes and thanking her friends for the gifts, Julia shut the door behind them and returned to the living room. Ava looked sleepy from all the activity, so Julia sat in Connor’s newly acquired rocking chair by the window and gently rocked her to sleep.

Julia must have been tired too because, the next thing she knew, she was being awakened by a kiss on her cheek. Thinking it might have been a dream, she slowly blinked open her eyes to find Connor staring down at her with the sweetest expression she’d ever seen plastered all over his handsome face.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Hi,” Julia said.

“Hi.”

“I must have fallen asleep while I was rocking her.”

“Did she wear you out?”

Julia glanced down at the sleeping bundle in her arms. “No, but I think my arm might have fallen asleep from staying in this position for so long.”

Connor laughed. “Here. Let me take her.”

“Careful,” Julia said as she gently transferred Ava into his outstretched arms.

Ava stirred, but she didn’t wake up.

“What time is it? Where’s Cam?”

“It’s nine o’clock. I convinced Cam to let Ava stay here tonight.”

“Really? Where’s she going to sleep?”

“Cam sent me home with a portable crib. I thought I’d set it up in my bedroom for tonight, but I’ll eventually have to get something more permanent.”

Julia nodded. “That’s a good sign, right? Cam letting you keep Ava overnight.”

“It took some convincing, but yeah. She was exhausted after the move, and I offered to keep Ava so she could get a good night’s sleep.”

“That was sweet of you.”

“It has nothing to do with being sweet. I want Ava with me as much as possible, Jules.”

“I know,” she said, admiring the way he looked with Ava cradled in his muscular arms.