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“Sorry, buttercup. My folks are long gone and they weren’t wise.”
“My mom’s probably still out there running around somewhere.” I flip my hand at the windshield. “But I sure as fuck wouldn’t let her near my kid.” I stare straight ahead, feeling childish. “Sorry I’m being so whiny today. I’m just in a mood.”
“We got good news. Doc says the baby looks healthy.” He slides his hand over mine. A soothing gesture to go along with his gentle, coaxing voice. “Why don’t we start telling people now? I think Hope and Lilly would be happy to share some advice with you.”
“You think so?”
“Yes, I do. Heidi’s pregnant too. Only a few months ahead of you. She can probably give you a lot of current info.”
Are Heidi and I ready for that kind of friendship? “Maybe.”
“How about Thursday?” he suggests. “Family dinner night. We can tell everyone at once.”
“Let’s see who shows up first.”
“Are you worried?”
“That someone might say something snarky about me getting knocked up so quickly? Yes, I’ve already told you that.”
“Then you should know,” he pauses and glances over at me, “the first person who opens their mouth and utters an ugly word is getting punched in the throat.”
For some reason, that cheers me up. Impending motherhood must be making me bloodthirsty.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Serena
“Are you sure this looks okay? I’m barely showing. No one’s going to believe me.”
Gray studies me with a critical eye. It only makes me fidget more. “Stop staring at me.”
“You asked me to look at you.” His voice holds only a fraction of frustration. “Yes, you look lovely. I like that shade of blue on you.”
I reach up and fiddle with the straps of my dress. “It might still be too cold. I’m going to grab a sweater.”
Gray follows me up the stairs to my room. “You’ve done a nice job in here.” He stands in the doorway.
“You can come in. Sorry I haven’t had you come up since we moved my stuff in. We’re always in a hurry to go somewhere.”
He steps inside, closing the door behind him. “We’re not in a hurry tonight.”
“No?” I push hanger after hanger aside, not finding a sweater that will match my cobalt blue dress. “Doesn’t dinner start at a certain time?”
Gray’s strong, rough hands grip my hips and yank me against his hard body. His warm breath skates over my shoulder and neck. “Don’t know. Don’t care right now.”
I laugh and jerk my shoulder as his beard tickles over my skin. “That tickles.”
“Yeah? How about this?” He nips and sucks at the sensitive spot between my neck and shoulder.
My knees turn to jelly and I sag against him. “Tickles in a different way,” I murmur.
“When’s Emily coming home?”
“I don’t know. Not for a while.”
“Mmm,” he growls against my neck. “Whole place to ourselves?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
He slides his hands under my dress and trails his fingers over the backs of my legs.
I dance in place, wiggling but not really trying to get away. “That tickles even more.”
“Trust me, I’m not trying to tickle you.” He hooks his fingers in my underwear and tugs.
“I shouldn’t bother getting dressed before you pick me up.”
He releases me and steps back, the warmth of his body disappearing.
“What’s wrong?” I turn to face him.
“Nothing. You’re right. I shouldn’t start groping you the second I see you.”
By the crinkle between his eyes, I can tell he’s serious and not trying to lay a guilt trip on me. “I was kidding.” I step closer and pull my dress over my head, dropping it on my dresser. “I like your hands on me.”
“That’s one thing we have in common, then.” His greedy eyes roam over my body and his mouth curls at the corners. “Your underwear matches your dress.”
I stare down at my sheer mesh and satin bra and panty set. “I like to match inside out sometimes.”
“I like. Very much.” He curls his finger at me. “Come closer.”
I stop to take off my sandals first.
“I liked them on. Puts you at a nice height for me,” Gray says.
“Sorry.”
He holds out his arms, waiting for me to come to him this time.
I happily close the distance, snuggling up against his chest.
“Mmm, that’s better.” He kisses the top of my head, then wraps his arms around me and lifts.
“What are you doing?” I squeal, grabbing onto his shoulders.
“Exploring my girl.”
“Exploring?” I kiss his cheek and tease my fingers through his hair. “Have I ever mentioned how much I love your hair?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I’m a bad girlfriend, then.”
He laughs, a low, happy rumble, and sets me on the bed. “You’re welcome to run your fingers through it anytime, buttercup.”
I reach for his belt but he closes his hand over mine, stopping me. “Not yet. Stretch out on the bed for me.”
“Stretch…how?”
He cocks his head like it’s a silly question but I’m really not sure what he’s asking.
