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He thrusts a large bouquet of cheery, bright yellow sunflowers at me.
“Oh! Thank you. They’re so pretty.” Realizing he’s still standing outside, I step back. “Come in. Let me put these in a vase.”
“I know they don’t have a lot of scent.” He shrugs. “But I saw them and they looked so sunny and hopeful, they reminded me of how I feel around you, so I had to get them.”
Whatever nervousness I answered the door with fades. Gray always has such a thoughtful reason behind everything he does. “I love them. They’re one of my favorite flowers.” I step closer and lean up to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”
I take his hand and tug him toward the kitchen. One corner of his mouth lifts. “Emily’s not waiting in there for me with a shotgun, is she?”
“She and Libby are in there. But no shotgun that I know of.”
I bustle into the kitchen, my heels clicking over the tile. Libby twists around in her chair and grins at us. “Hi, Mr. Lock!”
“Hey, Libby.”
“Oh, how pretty!” Emily hurries to one of the cupboards. “Let me find a vase for you.”
“Thanks.” I set the flowers on the counter and unwrap them from the bright blue tissue paper.
“Oh, are these from the little shop next to Strike Back? The owner is so sweet,” Emily gushes as she fills a cobalt blue vase with warm water.” Her voice is a shade higher than usual. Is she nervous around Gray? Or is she feeling guilty for being so hostile to him yesterday?
“She always donates to the drama club,” Libby adds.
“Don’t know if I met the owner or not, but whoever helped me was quick and efficient,” Gray says.
I chuckle. It figures those would be two qualities he’d admire.
Emily fluffs the flowers into place and sets them on the counter.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll bring them up to your room if you want,” she offers.
“It’s okay. I’ll take them up with me when I go to bed later.” Gray’s standing so close, I feel a slight shift in his body. Was he expecting me to come home with him tonight?
After a few more seconds of small talk, I link my hand with Gray’s and we head outside.
On the front porch, I check my purse to make sure I have my keys, then Gray leads me to the truck.
I stop and stare at the running boards. Doing a quick mental calculation of where to place my foot so I don’t slip. Between the heels and the dress, I’m worried I’ll end up flashing the neighborhood.
Gray seems to sense my dilemma immediately. He stands behind me, close enough to feel his breath on my neck and his heat against my back.
“Up you go.” He grips my waist and boosts me into the truck. Problem solved.
I cross my legs, smoothing my dress over my knees while I wait for him to walk around to his side.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” I wave my hand toward my shoes. “It was just finally nice out and I never dress up, but I swear I’m not always so high maintenance.” Why am I so nervous I can’t stop babbling? It’s not like we haven’t gone out before. I’m carrying his baby for fuck’s sake!
His brow wrinkles. “What are you apologizing for? You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I gesture toward the house as he starts the truck. “I really love the flowers. They’re so pretty.” I can’t remember a man ever giving me flowers before. Or coming to the door to pick me up like a normal date. It must’ve happened once or twice in my life, but I can’t recall.
“Oh! I have an appointment Friday. It’s early—”
“I’ll be there.” He glances over and flashes a quick, warm smile. “Is that okay? Murphy says he goes to all of Heidi’s appointments, so I don’t think it will be weird. Hope said Rock went with her.”
“You…you asked about that?” I thought we said we weren’t going to tell anyone yet?
“Hell, no. I just overheard the girls talking about it, that’s all.” He chuckles. “It’s hard not to know everyone’s business.”
“I bet,” I mumble. How I hate the thought that I’ll be the topic of conversation at the next Lost Kings gathering. Serena finally trapped a brother. Har. Har. Har. No thanks.
He flips on his blinker and makes a left turn into a small parking lot. “Sully says this is the best place in the immediate area. The joint they all hang at after work is a bar. Figured that’d be too noisy.”
“I’m not picky.”
He shuts off the truck and turns toward me. “How are you feeling? Is everything okay?”
Baby, he’s asking about the baby. “No morning sickness or anything like that, yet.”
“Good, good. If you ever need me to bring you something, just let me know.”
I duck my head, feeling heat spread over my cheeks. “Thank you. I will.”
