Rules of Desire: Protecting Erin(12)
He had a feeling he wouldn’t like it. The way the other man looked at Erin already set his teeth on edge.
Confident that Jared and Duncan would want to hear what the other man had to say, too, Reese ignored his wife’s warning look and sent them a text to tell them about their visitor.
Following Erin and the attorney to the large kitchen, Reese watched the other man’s face, pleased to see that Cramer appeared decidedly uncomfortable.
The attorney’s look of disdain increased Reese’s dislike of him, and with a frown, he looked around the kitchen, wondering what the hell looked so unappealing.
With Boone and Chase’s help, they’d completely remodeled the kitchen to Erin’s specifications. He and his brothers had labored over the custom cabinets, which, he had to admit, looked stunning.
Erin kept the entire house spotless, but she didn’t mind the small amount of clutter that made it feel more like a home.
The unwelcome doubts about Erin’s move from a big city to a small town like Desire had him looking around the kitchen in a new light.
On the table close to Reese’s coffee cup lay one of William’s rattles, a container of baby wipes, a small stuffed bear that Erin had just washed, and a pair of his tiny socks.
The high chair stood in the corner, one of their niece’s dolls sitting in it until William could use it.
He saw nothing but a clean, inviting kitchen.
Home.
The home they’d made together.
What does Erin see?
He knew she’d lived a more sophisticated lifestyle before she’d arrived in Desire.
Does she miss it?
Does she miss being wined and dined by men like Wes Cramer?
Suddenly resenting the attorney’s attitude even more, Reese gestured toward the chair next to him. “Have a seat.”
Nodding and looking at Erin, his gaze raking over her even more voluptuous figure, Cramer took the seat across from him. “Erin, you have a kid?”
Erin’s eyes narrowed, a warning that clenched his and his brothers’ stomach—when it was directed at them.
Since it was directed at Cramer, Reese smiled and sat back with his arms crossed over his chest, prepared to enjoy the show.
Erin fisted a hand on her hip, the other plopping a cup of coffee in front of Cramer. “We have a son, and please keep your voice down so you don’t wake him.”
Cramer lifted his cup, eyeing Erin warily. “Sorry. I didn’t know. I’m surprised to see you’ve become so…domesticated.”
Erin’s eyes went wide. “Domesticated? I was a wild animal before? Just because I wasn’t as dainty as the women in the office—”
The back door suddenly opened, and Wes jolted, spilling coffee on the back of his hand. “Ow! Damn it!”
Erin actually snarled, glancing toward the living room, her voice a furious whisper. “Quiet, damn it! You’ll wake the baby.”
Everyone stilled, the silence in the kitchen broken by the unmistakable cry of William being woken from his nap.
Wes dabbed at his hand with a napkin, his eyes going wide. “Well excuse me! The damned coffee’s hot.”
Smiling at the identical looks of disgust from his brothers and their wife, Reese rose to his feet and went to the sink, turning on the cold water. “Run your hand under here.”
Keeping a wary eye on Jared and Duncan, Wes went to the sink. “I’m Wes Cramer, a friend of Erin’s.”
Duncan smiled, showing far too many teeth. “I’m Duncan, and that’s Jared. We’re Erin’s husbands.”
Wes’s jaw dropped, his look of stunned disbelief priceless as he turned to Reese. “I thought you were her husband.”
Enjoying himself, Reese grinned. “I am.”
Jared handed Wes a towel and started to wash his hands. “All three of us are married to Erin.” Once he finished, he took the towel from Wes and moved aside to make room for Duncan. “You got a problem with that?”
Erin came into the room just then, one of William’s baby blankets draped over her shoulder, concealing the baby at her breast. “Jared, behave. I thought it was odd, too, when I first came to town.”
Reese smiled at the sight of Jared moving to stand behind Erin and lifting the blanket from her shoulder to see their son. “How’s he been today?”
Erin smiled and leaned into Jared, who wrapped an arm around her to pull her closer. “He’s great. Once he eats again, he should go back down.”
Wes gaped at Erin. “You know, there’s a law against having more than one husband.”
Jared replaced the blanket, tucking it securely to make sure it didn’t fall. “Not in Desire. Besides, it’s really none of your business.”
Reese pushed his chair back and motioned for Erin to sit on his lap, sliding a hand under the blanket when she did to help support the baby.