His heart stuttered. Her admission was under her breath, almost as if she was afraid it would upset him. He bent his head to hers. “I wouldn’t want anyone else taking care of me. I’m fond of the way you do it.”

That got a smile.

“You two ready?” Emma asked, as Jake called Kyle and Andraya back into the room. She indicated the two chairs facing the sliding glass door so they’d have the view.

Jake swung both children into booster seats and secured them, dropping kisses on their heads before seating himself beside Andraya. Emma sat next to Kyle.

“Mommy’s going to have another baby,” Kyle announced solemnly.

Catarina smiled at him. “Really? That’s wonderful. What do you want, a brother or sister?”

“A sister,” Kyle said firmly. “Sisters are really good, but you gotta take care of them, right, Dad?”

“That’s right, son,” Jake agreed, putting roast and potatoes on Andraya’s plate and then his own.

Andraya scowled. “No, brothers are better,” she announced. “Don’t like sisters. Brothers are the best.”

“That’s nice that you think so, Draya,” Emma said gently, “but no matter if we have a boy or a girl, all of us are going to love it and take good care of it, right? We talked about it together. The baby will be all of ours to protect and treasure.”

Kyle’s brows drew together. He turned his eyes on Eli. Eli could see the leopard was already strong in the little boy. The eyes were definitely Jake’s.

“Do you like kissin’ girls?” he asked.

“Kyle,” Emma admonished.

Jake grinned and coughed when Emma looked at him.

“I like kissing Catarina,” Eli confessed. “I like kissing her a lot. But I don’t kiss any other girls.”

“Daddy only kisses mommy,” Andraya announced knowledgably. “And us.”

“Your daddy is a very wise man,” Eli said.

“I think so as well,” Emma said, her voice full of laughter.

Catarina seemed to be concentrating on the roast. She glanced up at Emma. “I don’t think I could ever get the gravy like this. It’s wonderful.”

Jake patted his flat belly. “I have to do a lot of . . . um . . . exercise to keep in shape with Emma’s cooking.”

Emma rolled her eyes, a faint blush stealing up her neck into her cheeks at the obvious implication.

Eli laughed. He couldn’t help himself. Catarina looked so happy he reached out to connect with her. He knew he did it often, but that was who he was, and she never seemed to mind, not even in front of others. His fingers settled around the nape of her neck and stayed there for a moment.