“Aw, come on. Give me a break, will you two? I need the damn desserts going, or our guests will be eating leftover cheesecake, and there goes my reputation right out the window like a fluttering fucking slip of paper.”
“Suck it, E,” Gash shot back. “I know how you and Clara have misused the kitchen.”
Eagan’s gaze narrowed. “You know nothing. I’m smart enough to cover the cameras.”
Gash gave him a blank stare. “Exactly. So I’m aware of just how many times you’ve misused it.”
Eagan crossed his arms, staring Gash down while Bailey strangled back a giggle.
“Fine, damn it. Fine,” Eagan said, walking away. “Five minutes, Bai. If those cakes aren’t in the oven in five minutes…”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” Gash warned, but she could see the playful gleam in his eye. Her tough man liked having brothers to play with. Ones he trusted and could be at ease with.
Bailey let her happiness out in a bubbling laugh, and Gash swept her into his big arms, pushing his face against her neck and inhaling deep before meeting her gaze again.
“What are you doing coming in here and getting me in trouble.”
His lips tilted up in that small way of his, but it was his eyes that let her know he was smiling deep and wide on the inside.
“You’re not in trouble.”
“Yeah, Eagan’s all talk.”
“Heard that,” Eagan called back from the front.
“Meant for you to.”
He grumbled out a reply about irresponsible newly-mates, and Gash pulled her toward the storage closet.
When they were shut in, he said, “I’m here because you sent me a kiss through the camera.”
“Oh.”
“But see, I can’t kiss you back through the camera.”
“Ah.”
“So, I had to come and give it to you in person.”
Bailey nodded. “Yes, that makes perfect sense.”
Gash ran his thumb gently along her full bottom lip. “This mouth… it needs kissed frequently. So when you send me a pouty little thing through the camera… what am I to do with that? Huh, mate?”
Bailey pretended to think about it. “Lemme see… march down the hall, barge in here like a bull, give my boss the what-for, and kiss me breathless?”
His eyes went all fiery, the way they do when she’s done something that has his cat reacting. “Exactly.”
His mouth came down on her smile, pulling her in with the ferocity of his kiss. Bailey melted against him with a moan, letting her softness mold against his solid chest. She was so damn happy.
This time, her mama was wrong. She didn’t need to be anyone but herself to find a male of worth that wanted her. And all she’d had to do to keep him, was love him. Which came so easy, it was almost second nature. No, it was instinctual. She was made to love Gash, and she’d spend the rest of her life making sure he knew it.
Gash ended the kiss with a growl as he nipped her lip with his teeth. Bailey grinned up at him.
“How’s the little tiger?” he whispered, his sexy gaze turning soft and private.
Her hand went to her belly to cradle a baby bump that didn’t quite exist yet. “Good. Still wiggling like an itty bitty worm.”
“I scent him strong now.”
Bailey nodded. “It might be a she, you know.”
“Right,” he murmured. “What should we call him until we know?”
“Little tiger is just fine, I think. But then… he could be a lion or a jag. Or both, like you.”
“Mmm,” Gash mused. “Maybe we should call him bubble.”
“Bubble?”
“Yeah, ‘cause he’s going to be living in a fucking bubble until he’s a teen. Not taking any chances with my young.”
Bailey laughed. “You’re still calling him a him.”
“So are you.”
She frowned. “Ooh, you’re right.”
“Five minutes is up,” Eagan called through the door. “Getchur ass back to work.”
Bailey laughed, pressing her forehead to Gash’s while his hands roamed her ass. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, Bailey.” His voice was rough. “So much those words aren’t enough. I can’t believe this is my life. My life.”
His little confessions always melted her heart to a puddle. “Believe it,” she whispered.
“And I love you too, little bubble,” he gruffed, letting his hand slide down to tenderly cradle her belly.
Bailey kissed her man’s cheek, letting another happy sound bubble up from her throat.
Sometimes the road to happiness is a bumpy bitch, but it’s worth it when you finally reach your destination. Bailey wasn’t afraid of the bumps anymore. Grab a four-wheeler and ride that thing whoopin’ and hollerin’ to the end. The good stuff happened along the way, all mixed in with the bad stuff. There was never one without the other.