Page 78 of Triple Protection

Amelia comes bouncing up to us with Liam trailing behind her. I've never hidden my breastfeeding from her, so she doesn't even notice, but Liam's darkened stare and my one exposed breast has me rolling my eyes.

"Daddy said we could eat ice cream before dinner, but Dada said that was against the rules and that you wouldn't like that." She puts both hands on her hips and gives me a pointed stare. Her beautiful blonde curls are wet from sea, but she still looks like an Angel.

I'm usually the bad guy because the boys are so smitten, and someone has to teach her some discipline. I give her a fake-stern glare.

"Dada's right. If you have ice cream before dinner your tummy will get upset."

"Papa, what do you think?" she turns and asks Brick.

"I think you should listen to your mother. She's the smartest one out of all of us." Brick's low timber warming my insides.

"Daddy, why are you promising our little girl something you know she shouldn't have?" I shoot him a warning glare.

"Mmm I like it when you call me Daddy." He says with a wink, trying to distract me from my scolding.

Amelia doesn't miss a beat and spins on him. "What else would she call you. That's your name." She says with all the confidence and sureness that only the young possess.

"Why don't get go inside, get cleaned up and have dinner and ice cream early?" I offer. I know she doesn't like that answer, but Liam scoops her up and takes her into the house before she can argue. Alex, Brick and I take our time packing up the beach supplies into a cart. Who knew kids came with so many accessories? A beach day, even if our villa is only one hundred feet from the shore, feels like moving an army.

We finally get everything moved back to the villa, our sandy feet washed in the outdoor shower, before walking into the house. And finding Liam sneaking Amelia ice cream straight from the tub, both of them giving us apologetic grins.