The Secret Agent's Surprises (Harlequin American Romance) by Tina Leonard

to have a family powwow.”
    Josiah glared at him. “About putting me in an old folks’ home?”
    “About the babies,” Pete said. “Although you’re beginning to whine like one. C’mon, Pop, let me help you to your feet so you can greet your visitors.”
    Pete gently helped his father up. Josiah gave him a pat on the back. “I think you’re winning her over,” he whispered to Pete.
    Pete shook his head. “Hope springs eternal, Pop.”
    “That’s what I told you, son. I’m glad you’re finally listening.”
    “Yeah. My life is just a rerun of Father Knows Best ,” Pete said, winking at Priscilla.
    She didn’t wink or smile in return. Instead, she shook her head and hurried out the door to greet her friends. Pete had a sudden premonition that his father was right on more than one level. Something was hanging that woman up—and he didn’t have the first idea what it was.

    Chapter Six
     
    Laura and Gabriel sat in the den with their two children. Laura was in the full bloom of pregnancy, due to deliver in May. Gabe was a proud father and a happy husband, that was easy to see. Priscilla enjoyed seeing their happiness. Suzy and Dane, although married only a month, also were clearly in love. Their twin daughters, Sandra and Nicole, were playing with Penny and Perrin, Laura’s and Gabe’s little girl and boy. Penny, the oldest of the gang, was the clear leader of the group; the other little ones seemed content to follow. Perrin, now seventeen months old, was really too small to play yet, but he did his best to keep up. Josiah’s eyes were dancing with joy.
    The old man was in his element. If he’d been slow and tired before, the arrival of the children energized him. Priscilla helped Suzy and Laura serve tea and cookies to everyone—although Josiah insisted he should be allowed a beer, they gave him tea, too—and then they all sat down to hear Pete’s reason for calling them together.
    “It’s come to Pop’s attention that there are four orphaned newborns—quadruplets—in the county who need a family,” Pete said. “Pop came up with a convoluted plan for Priscilla and I to adopt them—”
    This brought whistles from his brothers and laughter from the women. Priscilla could feel her cheeks heat as she shook her head. “Not me,” she said. “You two should know me better than that.” It was important to say that out loud, to stress her noncompliance with Josiah’s machinations so that everyone understood her position—including Pete. She still wasn’t certain of what to make of their kiss earlier.
    They seemed to be treading on dangerous ground.
    “But as you can tell, Priscilla and I don’t think Pop’s plan is entirely workable,” Pete continued to general laughter. Priscilla’s reluctance had been noted.
    “We think it might be difficult to convince child services that an ex-military man with no employment at the moment, and a woman who lives nearly two hours away should suddenly team up and be appropriate parents for the babies.” Pete looked around at his family. “And yet, we do think we have the blessing of resources in the Morgan clan.”
    “That’s true,” Gabe said, “but they’ll need more than that.”
    “And yet it’s a start,” Pete said. “More importantly, beyond money, they need one family.”
    Everyone stared at him silently.
    “You’re the only one who doesn’t already have a family, bro,” Dane said. “Now, I’m willing to help, but I’m still trying to figure out how to be the best father to the twins.”
    “Ah,” Josiah said on a groan, “think about you four when you were young. You weren’t that much trouble, were you?”
    “You said we were,” Pete reminded him. “Although everybody in this town knows you were a pretty tough taskmaster, Pop.”
    “All the more reason you could probably sway the adoption agency to consider you, son,” Josiah said equitably. “I’m sure my reputation precedes me. Honesty, fairness, generosity, excellent