Written in Ink (Montgomery Ink #4)(36)

Yes, seven. That man had worn her out six times the night before. She was surprised she’d been able to wake up so they could work. Things were getting a hell of a lot trickier, but she couldn’t regret it. At least not then.

Of course, now she was sitting in Hailey’s café, Taboo, and had a feeling she might start to feel some regrets. It was girls’ night, after all. Meaning there would be Montgomerys and friends of Montgomerys who saw far more than they should.

They would know.

So she would have to find a way to hide it. Somehow.

“You’re here!” Miranda threw her arms around Autumn’s shoulders and hugged her close. “I was afraid Griffin would have you locked up in his tower while he worked on his book.”

Autumn felt her cheeks heat at the memory of Griffin’s hand around her wrists, locking her in place as he pumped in and out of her. He’d locked her up all right…

Miranda pulled back and tilted her head. “Interesting.”

Autumn raised her chin. “What’s interesting?”

“Oh, nothing,” the youngest Montgomery said with a grin. “Hailey pulled out all the stops for our girls’ night.”

Autumn didn’t believe for one second that Miranda hadn’t seen something on her face, but she let it go. For now. Better to ignore this particular problem for the moment.

“Hey, we can’t go out to a bar and drink between the pregnancies and breast feedings, so I thought I’d make lots of baked goods and call it a win.” Hailey winked at her, and Autumn smiled back. The other woman’s shockingly blonde hair had a purple streak in it today that Autumn figured was hair chalk. She loved the way every woman in the room was unique and held a stamp of their own to mark the world.

Only she wasn’t sure who she was.

She pushed those thoughts from her mind. It wasn’t the time or place.

“I love baked goods as much as they seem to love my hips,” Autumn said as she placed her hands on her waist.

“You have great curves, you should own them,” Maya said. She sat next to Holly, which still surprised the hell out of Autumn. She not only hadn’t expected Holly to be there, but the fact that Maya still seemed okay with the other woman’s presence baffled her.

“Oh, I try,” Autumn said and waved the other woman off. “They won’t stop me from trying that, is that a brownie cheesecake?” Her mouth watered.

Hailey held one out on a small plate. “Come closer, my pretty.”

“Temptress,” Autumn teased and took the brownie quickly. She bit into the gooey food of the devil and moaned. “Oh my God. I’m dying. I’m actually dying.”

“And my plan is complete. Though I wouldn’t die yet. I have actual savory food, as well, but I figured we’d go with dessert food first.” Hailey paused. “And last. We’ll just make a mess of it all.”

“I’m fine with that,” Callie said with a grin. The younger tattoo artist licked powdered sugar off her lips and closed her eyes. “I swear I’m craving all things sweet and savory these days.”

“You’re pregnant!” Sierra squealed as Callie nodded, and all of the women in the room joined in, clapping and shouting.

Autumn had known there was something different about Callie when she’d last been in the tattoo shop, but she hadn’t been able to place it. A new baby. How exciting.

“Morgan must be over the moon,” Meghan said as she hugged the other woman. “That man has been waiting an eon for you.”

“Did you just call my husband old?” Callie asked with a wink. “He’s aged just right, thank you very much.” The age difference between the two wasn’t that bad, but Morgan had to be around forty or so if Autumn remembered. Callie was still in her twenties. It didn’t matter in the long run with the way the two cared for each other, though.

Some things were just meant to be.

And Autumn would never have that.

Thoughts of Griffin entered her mind and she pushed them away. He wasn’t for her in the long run. No one was. It was safer if she stayed away. Safer for everyone.

Miranda turned to Hailey and narrowed her eyes. “You totally knew Callie was pregnant before us. You mentioned babies.”

Hailey just shrugged. “I see all. I know all.”

Autumn snorted. “Sure, honey.”

Hailey narrowed her eyes. “I see more than you think.”

Autumn quickly sobered. Best not to anger the woman with sweets.

“I’m so happy for you, Callie,” Sierra said softly. “Austin is going to get a kick out of this, too. He thinks of you as a sister, you know.”

“And he doesn’t have enough of those,” Maya said dryly before bumping fists with Miranda and Meghan.

“You can never have enough family,” Miranda said with a smile. She froze as everyone stared at her. “I’m not pregnant. Decker and I are waiting a bit. I’m still new at my job, and we’re enjoying being able to have sex on every surface in the house without having to deal with others.”

“My baby sister, everyone,” Maya mumbled.

“Jealous?” Meghan asked, a wicked gleam in her eye. “It’s hard to have sex on the couch when you have kids, but that’s what babysitters and school are for.”