A few seconds later the door opened, framing Patrick’s comforting presence. He stood grinning at her and then gave an “oof” as he was clipped from behind by his preschooler crashing into him.
“Lucy! Hey!” Patrick Junior hollered as he looked around his father’s legs from behind. “Dad said you were coming for supper. We got plenty!”
Patrick chuckled and moved aside for Lucy to step over the threshold as his son ran back in the house and chattered to her from the kitchen, just off the living room.
Patrick laid a hand on her waist and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, his scent filling her nostrils. “How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have to knock or ring the doorbell? Just come right in.”
Lucy shook her head. “I know. I just feel funny about doing that. What if one of your family members was here and I just walked in like that? I haven’t earned the right to do that.”
Patrick gazed at her and murmured, “I don’t care what they think. You’re mine and I’ve given you the right.”
Lucy paused for a second. Was she his? No, not yet. But she wanted to be and she hoped that evening represented a change in their relationship status. Her pussy quivered and leaked at the thought. His. Theirs?
As if sensing the direction of her thoughts, Patrick said, “Beck’s coming over, too.”
Patrick was easygoing but there was a steel core in him that got things done. She liked that about him, most of the time. If it sometimes led to him being bossy, well, she didn’t mind that so much. She snaked a hand around Patrick’s waist and said, “Thank you. How is he doing? I still haven’t heard from him at all.”
Patrick looked over her shoulder and gestured with his chin. “You can ask him yourself. He’s pulling in now.”
Lucy turned and she let out a slow, calming breath. It would probably put Beck off if she seemed too excited to see him.
“Why don’t you take a few minutes and go greet him and I’ll get Patrick situated with a plate at the table?”
She nodded and noticed that he closed the front door, giving her privacy with Beck. She watched as Beck reached over to the passenger seat of his truck and lifted a bag up before climbing from the truck. She walked slowly over to the driver’s side and smiled at him when he turned.
He seemed reserved as he glanced at her, his eyes taking in the overnight bag hanging from her shoulder, and then he looked down. The pregnant pause hung in the air and lengthened. She was about to speak and break the silence when he beat her to it.
“Lucy, I’m sorry I haven’t returned any of your calls.”
She waited but that was all he offered. “Are you feeling better?”
“A little. I’ve been working—or at least trying to—because I was going stir crazy.” His lips curved into a slight smile, which did a number on her heart rhythm. He rubbed his bearded jaw as he shifted the grocery store bag containing a six-pack of beer and another of wine coolers from one hand to the other and reached up to lightly touch her cheek.
He opened his mouth to speak right as her phone went off in her purse. Seth’s ringtone was loud and demanding as she shut it off then remembered that he’d known she had plans that night. He wouldn’t be calling unless it was important.
Beck nodded as she glanced apologetically at him. She put the phone to her ear and a chill went through her as she heard Toby squalling in the background and multiple voices speaking all at once.
“Hello?” When there was no response, she raised her voice and Beck frowned and concern filled his eyes. “Hello? Seth!” She bit her lip as she heard her sister-in-law’s voice and then muffled noises and finally Jayne came on the line.
“Lucy?”
“Jayne! What’s going on? It sounds like mayhem.”
Jayne let out a long breath. “We’re at the emergency room. Can you come?”
Fear shot through Lucy like a lightning bolt and real concern came into Beck’s eyes as he reached for her. “Of course I can come. Are you at the hospital in Divine?”
“Yes. Seth has injured his hand. We think he severed a tendon.”
“What?” She could hear Seth speaking calmly in the background but couldn’t understand because of Toby’s wailing.
“It’s his left hand, thank goodness, but there’s a lot of blood and Toby was there with us when it happened. I can’t get him settled down. He only wants Seth to hold him and he can’t use his hand so it’s…”
“Crazy. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“See you then.” The line went dead.
“I have to go,” Lucy said, looking up at Beck with regret. Whatever he’d been about to say was lost as he put steadying hands on her shoulders.