Be My Hero(40)

"I know. I heard. My window was open, and oh my God . . . " I leaned in,  lowering my voice. "The things men will talk about when they don't  think a woman's listening. They make us think it's all cars, and sports,  and sex with them. Well, I mean, there was plenty of sex talk but-"

Reese gasped and stopped patting Skylar's back to grab my arm. "I knew it! Mason spilled about the jelly, didn't he?"

I bit my lip, but my expression gave me away.

Her mouth fell open. "I am so going to kill him."

I stole Skylar back before she really did turn homicidal. "I don't think  he meant to let it slip, if that's any consolation. They were giving  tips to Quinn because he'd just slept with his first girl and-"

"What? Wow. Quinn was a virgin? But he's so hot."

"I know! Apparently he was raised by his grandma and didn't even know about going down on a girl. Plus, he's like super shy."

"Holy shit, E." Reese pulled back and shook her head. "How the hell long did you listen to those guys?"

"Oh, they were a fountain of juicy gossip."

I settled Skylar into the bouncer on the table and helped Reese prepare  our impromptu picnic. I was telling her how Gamble and his teacher  girlfriend were back together when the back door opened and Mason popped  into the kitchen.

"Hey, babe," he told Reese as he swooped in behind her to draw his arms  around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. "The grill's fired up  and ready to go, and Noel's family just showed up." A strange expression  crossed his face before he added, "They agreed to stay for lunch, which  brings the head count up to eleven and one beautiful little baby." He  released Reese to turn to Skylar, pull her out of her chair, and rub his  nose into her belly. "Hello, little girl."

It still shocked me how affectionate he was with her, and how willing he  was to hold her. As he cradled her and cooed to her, I glanced Reese's  way. She'd pressed her lips together tight and was holding both hands to  her heart as she watched him with this love-struck grin on her face.  When she caught me watching her, she fanned her face with a hand and  mouthed the words, "Isn't he amazing?"         

     



 

I rolled my eyes, but grinned, because yeah, she'd found herself an amazing man.

"Mind if I take her outside and show her off to the guys?" Mason asked,  glancing at me. "I think Pick's about to chew his arm off if he doesn't  see one of you soon."

There was just no way I could deny him such a wish, so I waved him on.  But at the door he paused, and turned back to Reese. "Oh, and Dr.  Kavanagh's here. She and Noel are back together."

"Oh, I know. Eva was just-" Realizing she was about to give away the  source of her gossip, Reese clamped her lips shut and then  over-exaggerated big time as she burst out a fake gasp. "Really? Wow,  that's great. I like her."

"Yeah, but Noel warned us not to call her Dr. Kavanagh. He didn't want  to weird her out and remind her how we used to be her students."

"Sure. Sure. Wait? What is her first name?"





Chapter 16


EVA


Reese and I whipped up a fine spur-of-the-moment backyard barbeque, if I do say so myself.

Aspen-never to be referred to as Dr. Kavanagh again-and Noel's sister  Caroline found their way into the kitchen at one point. They helped us  out a lot, and we had our own round of juicy gossip, talking about all  the guys while veggies were chopped and hamburger patties were formed.  Skylar remained the main attraction of the day and went from outside, to  inside, to outside again as more people than I could count passed her  around, taking their turn at holding her.

By the time I finally left the kitchen, carrying Reese's legendary  potato salad into the garage, a table and chairs had been set up,  spilling out into the front drive. Pick shut the hood to Reese's car and  was describing to Mason everything he'd fixed, while Ten and two  younger boys were making fun of how uncomfortable Noel looked holding  Skylar.

"Don't listen to them," I told Gamble as I scooped my baby from his  arms. "You're doing just fine." I turned away, looking for a place to  sit, only to find Pick's gaze on me.

"So you really were inside," he murmured, strolling forward. "I was  beginning to wonder when you were ever going to make an appearance."

My heart fluttered in my chest as he grinned down at Skylar.

"Reese has been working my ass off in the kitchen. But I think we just  about have everything ready. Have you already taken your turn holding  Skylar?"

"Not yet." He lifted his hands to show me how black and greasy his palms  were. "Lowe's been working my ass off out here. I'm going to go clean  up and come steal her from you, though."

I nodded, unable to stop smiling at him. I hadn't seen him since his  last visit to my hospital room to deliver Skylar's stuffed pig. That had  been way too long ago. Just gazing into his warm, brown eyes refreshed  something inside me.

He paused a moment as if he wanted to say more. Then he shook his head,  smiled, and turned away. I watched him disappear into the back door, and  let out a little sigh, already wanting him to return.

Shaking such strange thoughts from my head, I made my way to the chairs  set up out in the driveway where Mason was flipping burgers on the  grill. I found the nearest open seat and sank down, holding Skylar to my  chest.

I guess I should've known better than to sit by Ten, though.

He sent me a chin bob and wiggled his eyebrows. "How's that breastfeeding coming along?"

Oh, good Lord. Really? I sent him my best dry stare. "About as well as your ability to sleep with married women, it appears."

"Oh, snap. That was low." He scowled at me before glancing around and lowering his voice. "How do you know about that, anyway?"

I tipped my head to the front of the house. "Window to my bedroom's open."

Ten's face actually reddened as he sank lower in his chair. "Not cool."

The back door opened again, and I forgot about Ten as I glanced over.  But it wasn't Pick who emerged. Reese was the first to come outside,  hauling an armful of hamburger buns and paper plates. Aspen was behind  her, carrying the vegetable tray. Caroline came next, toting a basket of  ketchup, mustard, relish, and other condiments. And then, finally, Pick  drew up the rear, his tattooed arms loaded down with pop bottles, cups,  and bags of potato chips.

"Pick," Reese called over her shoulder to him. "Why don't you just call your family and ask if they want to come to lunch too?"

Next to me, Ten muttered under his breath. "Shit, no. Say no, say no, say no."

Pick gnawed on his lip before casting me a quick glance. Then he shrugged. "Okay."

Ten groaned and sank even lower.

Even though I knew Pick's marriage wasn't a love match and he'd never  slept with his wife, I wasn't sure how to feel about meeting her. I did  want to meet Julian. But Tristy? Not so much. She had his last name, his  beloved time, and so much of his attention. I couldn't help but be  jealous of her.         

     



 

After a minute of pressing his phone to his ear, a worried look crossed his face. "Hmm. She's not home."

"Oh, thank God," Ten whispered.

"So, they won't miss you if you stayed for lunch?" Reese pressed, batting her lashes hopefully.

"Yeah. I guess." But he still looked uneasy. "It's just strange. She  doesn't usually like to take the baby out. I wonder where they went."

Across the driveway, Noel's two younger brothers were trying to teach Quinn how to whistle.

"You have to curl your tongue like this," instructed the oldest brother, whose name I think was Brandt.

Noel chuckled. "Okay, leave him alone. His poor tongue already has enough to worry about."

I glanced at Ten, waiting for him to jump in with his own crude comment.  But he was too busy concentrating on kicking the toe of his shoe into  the ground.

I frowned and jabbed my elbow his way.

He looked up and scowled at me. "What?"

I lifted a hand. "Aren't you going to say something to that?"

"Huh?" He glanced around, obviously clueless.

"Oh my God. Noel left that wide open for you to say something completely  offensive. Hell, even I had something dirty swimming through my head.  What is up with you?"

If anything, he frowned even harder, clearly irritated by my question. "Nothing. I'm fine."

Hmm. Something had definitely changed since more people had arrived to  the party. Thinking maybe he had a thing for Noel's professor  girlfriend, I glanced toward Aspen, but she was busy helping Colton heap  some food onto a Styrofoam plate. That's when I caught site of Caroline  darting a quick glance between us. When she caught my eye, she flushed  and quickly averted her gaze. Her cheeks were still red when I lifted my  eyebrows and turned back to Ten, only to find his attention on her.

Interesting. Very interesting.

I leaned closed to him. "That sister of Noel's is stunningly beautiful, isn't she?"