Bianca put down the knife, wiped her hands, and rounded the counter. “There’s my beautiful girl,” she cooed to her daughter.

“She’s gotten big,” Bane commented, staring down at the swaddled bundle.

“You would know that if you visited more often,” Bianca volleyed back, and I got the distinct impression this was an old argument.

“You know how busy I am.”

She stroked the baby’s head. “I know.”

Bane looked up and locked eyes with me. There was such warmth in them. “This is the other female love of my life,” he said. “Valentine.”

Wiping my hands, I walked toward him and peeked inside the blankets. The baby girl blinked...