Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Mia wrapped her arms around her little munchkin. "What are you giggling about now, you cheeky little rascal? You tossed my pen cap, now be a champ and fetch it back for me."

She set Henry down, and off he toddled, sticking his little bottom out as he picked up the pen cap he'd thrown. Then, with a proud grin, he handed it back to his mom. Watching him, Annie's eyes softened; she had always had a soft spot for kids. "What a good boy, knowing to pick up what he tossed. I just saw Molly's little angel earlier—such a sweetheart, never cries no matter who's holding him."

Mia followed Henry's movements with her gaze. "Annie, since you love kids so much, why not have one with Conner?"

"Wait, what?" Annie was caught off guard.

Mia nodded towards her son. "Go on, have one. Sure, they can drive you up the wall sometimes, but when they love you, you'd give them the world. Before Henry, my brother barely acknowledged my husband, but now he's always turning to him for everything.

You might say my kid's a handful, but Molly's little darling is so well-behaved. Little Sleepy Dragon is adored in our house more than his own parents. Everyone knows Molly can be sharp-tongued, but my dad puts up with it just to get a cuddle with Little Sleepy Dragon."

Mia was sharing her little joys of family life, not realizing her words had struck a chord with Annie, who found herself lost in thought, watching the little carrot-top.

After retrieving the pen cap, Henry ran into his mom's arms, eager for praise. "Mama, look what I did!"noveldrama

"You did great," Mia smiled, then noticed the tooth marks on the pen cap. "Henry! You little mouse, you've chewed up my pen cap. How am I supposed to use it now?"

Henry, realizing he'd been naughty, stomped his little feet and laughed, then bolted when he sensed a spanking might be coming, yelling, "Daddy, save me!"

Annie chuckled at the scene. "Mia, the only good thing about Conner, in my book, is that being with him gives me the chance to be the godmother to a sweetie."

Downstairs, Andre came up, holding his son, who was clinging to the banister, slowly coming down the steps looking for rescue. "What mischief have you gotten into now that you're calling for Daddy to save you?"

"Mama's gonna spank me!"

Andre gently stroked his son's face. "Mia wouldn't want to hit you."

"Really?"

Andre laughed, holding his son in one arm as they headed downstairs. "Mia would only if you've really been up to no good."

In the living room, Henry happily sat on his dad's lap, babbling away in "conversation" with Andre. Andre's deep gaze met Henry's innocent eyes, sparkling like little diamonds, making Andre's smile widen unconsciously. "Really, my boy is such a good kid."

Henry snuggled into his dad's embrace, deciding to be extra good for a while longer.

Conner watched, a bit envious.

Hansen told him, "Conner, no matter how cute other people's kids are, there's nothing like your own. You're not getting any younger, and with

your parents not around, I've got to step in as the elder here."

In Hansen's view, the role of an elder was clear: Got a partner? Married yet?

When are you planning on having kids?

Later that afternoon, Annie and

Conner got up to leave. For some

1.n

reason, Mia felt that Annie's visit had left her preoccupied, her mind elsewhere. "Annie, if you ever get bored, come over to the Ceditlo family's place to hang out with me and the little tiger cub."

Annie nodded, agreeing, and they drove off. Henry waved his little hand goodbye.