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“We have a baby! And he’s the most perfect little boy who has ever existed.” Chief Brooks sounded breathless and so, so happy.
It almost felt as if the universe was giving me a sign that my wanting a family wasn’t crazy, even if none of my friends my age were thinking such things.
Maybe I’d just found my way to my true path early somehow. Just because it was different didn’t mean I was wrong.
I watched Christian talk to the Chief out of the corner of my eye. He seemed genuinely happy for his boss. And maybe a little bit wistful.
I was probably imagining things.
He clicked off with Jared after promising to come see Gina and the baby once she was home and settled. I was still sort of shocked he’d offered to of his own free will.
“If you’d like me to, I’d be happy to come with you.”
His head swung toward me after he parked at the curb near the bed and breakfast. “You’d be willing to do that?”
“Free baby cuddles? Absolutely. Plus, I can try out my new duck onesie pattern I want to make for baby Mavvan.”
“Please tell me they aren’t naming their child that.”
I laughed. “No. Just my couple name for the baby to annoy my brother.”
“Whew.” He got out and came around to my side, opening my door with a flourish then grabbing my cold hands to warm them in his own before he helped me step down. “You’re sure it’s not too late?”
I waited until his arm settled around my shoulders before I lightly dug my knuckles into his disturbingly tight abs. I knew he got good use out of that lap pool in his house, along with the rowing machine I’d noticed in his small gym on my early morning self-escorted tour. It was hard to get the full scope of a place if you didn’t check it out on your own, and I was a nosy bish. “I’m good. What about you, old man?”
“Thirty-six isn’t old.”
“It absolutely isn’t. I just like yanking your chain.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I do.” Discreetly, I dipped my hand down to cup his cock. “Especially this one.”
Unfortunately, my timing was epic, because Sage, the proprietress of The Hummingbird’s Nest, picked that moment to pop out the front door to clap her hands at our arrival. And possibly strain her eyeballs at the current placement of my hand.
Quickly, I dropped it and pretended to be brushing nonexistent hay off Christian’s pants.
“There you two are! I was coming out to see if you’d arrived yet.”
“Sorry, Sage.” Christian flashed her a tight smile. “Our hayride went long.”
“Oh, no worries. That’s so awesome that Laverne arranged for you to have your own after hours. I just love going to the orchard. My girls do too.” She patted her softly rounded belly. She’d recently had her second child. “Well, the new one only went via her mama, but I know she’ll love it just like Star.”
More babies. Babies everywhere. Was it any wonder I had them on the brain?
“Star is so cute,” I offered, still mortified to be caught groping. Luckily, Sage hadn’t made a thing out of my latest indiscretion.
“She is. So’s Stella. But I haven’t been making the rounds yet because she’s a tiny little thing. Soon, though. I’ll bring her in to see Tabitha and get an eclair. Okay, maybe the eclair is for me.” She charged up to Christian and thrust her small curvy body into his arms. “Do you know how long it has been since I’ve seen this man?”
“No?” It was a genuine response. I didn’t realize they were old friends. Or old something from the way she was pawing him.
“For-ever. Why don’t you ever come see me, you big oaf?”
I lifted my brows as Christian hugged her back enthusiastically. I mean, she was a very married woman who’d recently given birth, and her husband Oliver was hotter than Hades in his three-piece suits, but still. “Some of us have to work.”
“Oh, please. Maybe I should jaywalk, so you’re forced to give me a ticket.” She stuck her tongue out at Christian, who only laughed. “I dated this oaf’s brother in high school though I gotta say, I had trouble deciding between them. But Moose was too shy to talk to me, so I looked at him as a personal challenge. This one wouldn’t shut up.”
“Christian? Are you sure you have the right man?”
