Be My Hero (Forbidden Men #3)(65)

"I actually can't stay long. Saturday is always my morning with my kid. I'm already missing out on some daddy time."

"Okay, no problem," Reese said, but she didn't sound convinced.

"I still want to see Eva and Skylar before I go, though," he called just as I heard the back door to the garage open.

Since Skylar was done eating, I climbed off the bed and carried her toward the kitchen, burping her as I went.

"There you are!" Reese cheered as I strolled into the room. She set two overflowing bags on the table before turning to me and snatching Skylar from my arms. "I was just coming to check on you."

"I know. I heard. My window was open, and oh my God . . . " I leaned in, lowering my voice. "The things men will talk about when they don't think a woman's listening. They make us think it's all cars, and sports, and sex with them. Well, I mean, there was plenty of sex talk but—"

Reese gasped and stopped patting Skylar's back to grab my arm. "I knew it! Mason spilled about the jelly, didn't he?"

I bit my lip, but my expression gave me away.

Her mouth fell open. "I am so going to kill him."

I stole Skylar back before she really did turn homicidal. "I don't think he meant to let it slip, if that's any consolation. They were giving tips to Quinn because he'd just slept with his first girl and—"

"What? Wow. Quinn was a virgin? But he's so hot."

"I know! Apparently he was raised by his grandma and didn't even know about going down on a girl. Plus, he's like super shy."

"Holy shit, E." Reese pulled back and shook her head. "How the hell long did you listen to those guys?"

"Oh, they were a fountain of juicy gossip."

I settled Skylar into the bouncer on the table and helped Reese prepare our impromptu picnic. I was telling her how Gamble and his teacher girlfriend were back together when the back door opened and Mason popped into the kitchen.

"Hey, babe," he told Reese as he swooped in behind her to draw his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. "The grill's fired up and ready to go, and Noel's family just showed up." A strange expression crossed his face before he added, "They agreed to stay for lunch, which brings the head count up to eleven and one beautiful little baby." He released Reese to turn to Skylar, pull her out of her chair, and rub his nose into her belly. "Hello, little girl."

It still shocked me how affectionate he was with her, and how willing he was to hold her. As he cradled her and cooed to her, I glanced Reese's way. She'd pressed her lips together tight and was holding both hands to her heart as she watched him with this love-struck grin on her face. When she caught me watching her, she fanned her face with a hand and mouthed the words, "Isn't he amazing?"

I rolled my eyes, but grinned, because yeah, she'd found herself an amazing man.

"Mind if I take her outside and show her off to the guys?" Mason asked, glancing at me. "I think Pick's about to chew his arm off if he doesn't see one of you soon."

There was just no way I could deny him such a wish, so I waved him on. But at the door he paused, and turned back to Reese. "Oh, and Dr. Kavanagh's here. She and Noel are back together."

"Oh, I know. Eva was just—" Realizing she was about to give away the source of her gossip, Reese clamped her lips shut and then over-exaggerated big time as she burst out a fake gasp. "Really? Wow, that's great. I like her."

"Yeah, but Noel warned us not to call her Dr. Kavanagh. He didn't want to weird her out and remind her how we used to be her students."

"Sure. Sure. Wait? What is her first name?"





Chapter 16


EVA


Reese and I whipped up a fine spur-of-the-moment backyard barbeque, if I do say so myself.

Aspen—never to be referred to as Dr. Kavanagh again—and Noel's sister Caroline found their way into the kitchen at one point. They helped us out a lot, and we had our own round of juicy gossip, talking about all the guys while veggies were chopped and hamburger patties were formed. Skylar remained the main attraction of the day and went from outside, to inside, to outside again as more people than I could count passed her around, taking their turn at holding her.

By the time I finally left the kitchen, carrying Reese's legendary potato salad into the garage, a table and chairs had been set up, spilling out into the front drive. Pick shut the hood to Reese's car and was describing to Mason everything he'd fixed, while Ten and two younger boys were making fun of how uncomfortable Noel looked holding Skylar.

"Don't listen to them," I told Gamble as I scooped my baby from his arms. "You're doing just fine." I turned away, looking for a place to sit, only to find Pick's gaze on me.

"So you really were inside," he murmured, strolling forward. "I was beginning to wonder when you were ever going to make an appearance."

My heart fluttered in my chest as he grinned down at Skylar.

"Reese has been working my ass off in the kitchen. But I think we just about have everything ready. Have you already taken your turn holding Skylar?"

"Not yet." He lifted his hands to show me how black and greasy his palms were. "Lowe's been working my ass off out here. I'm going to go clean up and come steal her from you, though."