Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“I want dessert,” Harper announces. “I already can’t move, so why not go all the way?”
“I’ll dish it up,” I offer, and then turn to Tucker. “Although, I don’t know where everything is.”
“I’ll help,” he replies and leads me to the kitchen.
Greg has already refilled the drinks, and he’s back in the living room. The game is on again, and they’re cheering for Xander.
“This is fun,” I say quietly as Tucker pulls down plates and hands me a knife. “Do you always host?”
“I have the biggest space, but sometimes we go to Harper and Blake’s. Just depends on the night, I guess.”
I nod and cut into the cake and start serving it onto plates. When my finger comes back covered in whipped cream, Tucker gently grabs my wrist and pulls it to his lips, wrapping them around the digit and licking it clean, and a zing makes its way down my spine to my clit.
Holy Christ in a rowboat, I’ve never been this turned on.
I clear my throat. “How is it?”
Yeah, that’s my voice, sounding all needy and rough.
“Delicious. The whipped cream is good too.”
My lips twitch. “Are you flirting with me, Hotshot?”
“Look who’s just catching up. I’m usually the slow one around here.” He grins and leans toward me. I’m positive he’s going to kiss me. Do I want him to? Maybe. Yes because holy shit, Tucker is what dreams are made of. No because I don’t think I could stand to live with only one kiss from this man.
“Where’s the dessert?” Harper yells out, snapping us out of this sexy moment, and I grab a plate and a fork.
“I’d better take this to the pregnant girl.”
Tucker presses his lips together and nods, and we deliver dessert to everyone, then settle in for the rest of the game.
It’s a damn good game, and Xander only spends time in the penalty box twice.
Not ten minutes after it’s finished, Tucker’s phone rings, and he answers it and holds it up for the whole family to see.
“You kicked ass,” Greg says in greeting, and Xander’s whole face lights up.
“Hey, you’re all together for this one,” he says. “What did you eat?”
“You just scored four goals and you want to talk about food?” Ava asks.
“I’m hungry,” Xander says with a shrug. “Hey, who’s the pretty addition you have there?”
I look around the room, and then Tucker laughs.
“He’s talking about you, Duchess. This is Darby. She’s working here on the ranch for a year.”
“Is she now?” Xander winks, and I assume it’s aimed at me. “Do you like hockey, sweetheart?”
“I love hockey.”
“I will kill you,” Tucker says, glaring at the phone, and Xander busts up laughing.
“I’m glad you all watched. I have to shower and get home, but I’ll text the group chat later.”
“Bye!”
“Love you!”
“Make good choices!”
That last one was from Harper, and then the call is over, and everyone starts helping to clean up from dinner.
Everyone except Harper, who really does look stuck on that couch.
“Come talk to me,” she says, holding her hand out to me. “Sit.”
With everyone else in the kitchen, I do as she asks and sit right next to her. Suddenly, Harper’s belly moves. Like the baby’s rolling around in there.
“Wow,” I murmur, watching.
“Wanna feel?” Harper grins. “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”
Tentatively, I lay my hand over her belly, and the baby rolls again, making me smile.
“Well hi there, little baby.” More rolling.
“She likes you,” Harper says.
“I like her too. How are you feeling?”
“Well, let’s see. My ankles are always swollen, my hips hurt, and I can’t sleep because I can’t get comfortable because my hips hurt. I’m pretty sure you could eat off the floor of my house because I can’t stop cleaning it.”
“You’re nesting.”
“I’m psychotic,” she counters. “Blake is great about giving me back rubs and foot rubs.”
“Nice. I need a massage.” But I can’t stand to be touched, so it likely won’t happen.
“Don’t we all?” Harper says with a laugh. “I’m just ready to have this baby so I can love on her and kiss her and Ava can take her to Taylor Swift concerts.”
I lift an eyebrow and Harper laughs.
“It’s something Ava said when we found out I’m pregnant. That she hoped it was a girl so she could be the cool aunt who takes her to concerts and stuff.”
“That sounds like Ava.” The baby moves under my hand again. “She’s active in there. Doesn’t surprise me, since her parents are totally outdoorsy and stuff too.”
“Blake already bought a pack he can wear with her in it when we hike,” she says, and her eyes mist over.
“Oh geez, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“That’s the other thing. I cry all the time. The stupid backpack thing is so sweet and fun, and I can’t wait to hike with her, and it makes me all emotional.”