Page 109 of Ransom

Her gaze darts from one person to another, then she slowly shakes her head. "This is a lot. We were just going to have breakfast. That's all. We're supposed to be taking things easy and now…"

She's slipping through my fingers. Desperate to settle her before she decides to write me the fuck off, I cup her elbow. "You're absolutely right. We're a lot to take. A lot. Maybe give me an hour, then I'll come find you. I'd like to spend the day with you?"

She's still looking at everyone, looking a little like a deer in the headlights. "What about them?"

"They'll either climb back on that bus and head back home, or they'll spend the afternoon running amok in town. Either way, that's not our problem. They're grown adults."

"Uncle Ran!"

I drop Blair's elbow immediately, turning and crouching just in time to catch my little Mia. "Hi sweet girl. I missed you."

"I missed you too! You were gone sooo long!"

"I know. It's forever. But see, I had to come visit my friend. Would you like to meet her?"

Mia nods emphatically, her curls bouncing. Holding her tightly, I stand and turn back to Blair. Thankfully, Blair doesn't look like she's about to bolt anymore. Instead, she's smiling, eyes locked on my little princess. "Blair, this is Mia. Mia is my favorite niece. She's the prettiest, smartest, most amazing little girl in the world."

Mia grins, slaps my cheek—her version of a little love tap—then blows a raspberry on my neck. "Hi. You pretty," she saysto Blair, then reaches out to her. Blair takes a step forward, and Mia's hand wraps around the thick braid laying on Blair's shoulder.

"Hi Mia. Nice to meet you."

"Meet you too," she mumbles, caressing the braid. She brings the end to her nose and tickles herself, then, laughing, she tickles me until I pretend growl at her.

"She's beautiful," Blair murmurs.

"She is. Inside and out."

Mia, still caressing the braid, suddenly shouts, "Puppy!" and squirms to get down. Janey's close by and takes Mia's hand as I put her down.

Blair is forced to crouch. "Um, Mia. Could I have my braid back?"

Mia grins, releases it, and tugs Janey down the sidewalk toward an older man I don't recognize and his very old, little dog wearing a sweater.

"Give me an hour," I say, stepping closer to Blair. "Let me get them settled and I'll come by the garage." I'm only guessing that's where she would head, but luckily, she nods.

She exhales and gives me a steady look. "An hour. See you then." She's slipping away, nodding at my family as she heads across the street.

"Ransom, look!" Kade's voice booms across the square. "They've got a fucking coffee shop! Am I smelling peaches?"

"I'm starving," Cara announces. "Let's grab some breakfast and talk."

"Badgers are nocturnal," Jonas informs everyone. "Perhaps we should return after dark."

"No one is staying until dark," I say, but half of them are already filing into the diner. The rest wander off, peering in store windows. Looks like we're doing this.

"Fine. Breakfast."

"Oh dear," the waitress, Macy, says, clutching her order pad to her chest as my family pours through the door.

"We got this." Nick grabs one end of a table while Zach takes the other. They start arranging furniture like they own the place.

"Sorry about this." I catch Macy's eye. "They're house-trained, I promise."

"Mostly," Cara adds, sliding into a chair and crossing her legs. The red sole of her high heel flashes as she idly swings her foot.

I take my usual spot at the head of the table, watching them settle in. Micah and Nick battle each other for a chair. Micah wins, seating Holly first then taking the chair next to her. Nick drags another one over while giving Micah the evil eye. Declan, Zach, Maverick, Bree, Cara, and Colton all settle in too. There's another little fight when Zach tries to take Noah from John, which leaves Zach sulking and John looking pretty fucking satisfied with himself.

I'm really fucking lucky to have all of them. But also, "I love you assholes, but you're all cockblocking me right now."