Lost and Found (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #2)(59)

“I’m going to enjoy it,” Erin said, a sparkle in her eyes. “The last time we stayed at a luxury hotel, I got pregnant. I can’t get more pregnant, but I can order all the room service since it’s on Big Tag’s dime.”

“You can’t be sure you got pregnant at any one time unless that was the only time you had sex,” Tucker pointed out. “It’s a myth that women can tell.”

He expected Erin to argue, but a secretive smile transformed her normally tough expression into something infinitely feminine. “I know when this one was conceived. I know it in my bones. We stayed at the Joule downtown for our anniversary. We were going to try to get the bridal suite, but someone had taken it. I know it sounds insane, but I could feel something coming from that room.” She shook it off. “It was weird, but I’ve never had such crazy sex as we had that night. Theo was on, if you know what I mean.”

Theo grinned, obviously used to his wife’s oversharing. “I ran down to grab a couple of bottles of water and ran into this dude in all white. He told me he hoped I liked little girls. At the time I kind of thought I should call security, but now I think…well, there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio and all that.”

Erin snorted. “Don’t think he came up with that himself. When we told Jesse and Phoebe the story, Jesse thought we’d had too much to drink and Phoebe merely pointed out that we don’t know everything. Still, we thought TJ was a miracle. I wasn’t supposed to be able to get pregnant again and here I am. I think this one is a girl and I’m naming her Devon. I don’t know why, but that’s this kiddo’s name.”

Theo’s hand tightened around her waist. “I thought we weren’t talking about names until…”

She turned in his arms, her hands coming up to cup his face. “It’s fine, babe. This one is sticking. I don’t know how or why I know it, and if Tucker says one damn thing about feminine intuition being a myth, I’m going to make his balls a myth. It’s fine this time. We’re good, baby girl and me, and we’re going to stay that way.”

Theo leaned in and kissed his wife.

“Feminine intuition is a beautiful thing,” Tucker said with a nod.

He was a smart man.

“All right, then.” Robert looked like he was definitely ready to move on to more professional matters. “How did things go last night?” He winced a little. “I do not need a rundown of the actual act. I saw enough of that last night on the island.”

Erin groaned. “He’s got a one-track mind, and he’s prissy about sanitary food practices. But he’s got a point. You’re here awfully early for a man who had a good night. You playing hard to get?”

He felt his face flush. “It went fine.”

Tucker held up a hand. “I know what that means. Fine means not fine. Ever. Which makes me wonder why we have the word at all.”

Robert stood, crossing his arms over his chest. “What went wrong, Owen?”

“Not wrong, precisely.” He didn’t want to have this conversation. He wanted to write it up in his daily report and then not talk about it at all. Subject enjoyed coitus and then wanted to see if she would enjoy it with someone else. Fuck. “She’s got a date.”

Erin’s eyes went wide and then she was stifling a laugh. “She blew you off.”

If he never heard that phrase again it would be too soon. “We’ve agreed to keep things casual. She’s been out of the dating game for a while and she wants to see what’s out there. That’s all.”

Robert seemed to consider the problem. “Okay. We need to figure out how to change her mind.”

“I don’t think I can,” he admitted. “I promised her that we could see each other and have a sexual relationship without strings. When she’s with me, we’re together, and when she’s not, we’re free to pursue whatever we like. I didn’t know how else to make her comfortable.”

Erin sighed and kissed her husband again. “This one is all yours, babe. If anyone knows how to deal with a skittish chick, it’s you. Take Owen to your man teat and let him suckle at the fount of your knowledge.”

“You are in so much trouble,” Theo whispered to her before giving her arse a nice smack as she picked up the bag of Timbits and strode toward the bedroom. “Don’t think I’ll forget that, She-an.”

She laughed as she walked away.

“She-an?” Tucker asked.

“She and Ian.” Theo was shaking his head but there was a smile on his face. “It’s what I call her when her resemblance to my brother becomes creepy. I apparently have a type. Some women marry younger versions of their father. Same with men and their moms. I married the feminine equivalent of my oldest brother. Why couldn’t I have gotten She-Sean? At least she would have cooked.”

“I heard that, Taggart,” she yelled from the bedroom.

Theo didn’t seem phased. “But she’s right about me understanding skittish women. Unfortunately, you don’t have a couple of years to wear your stubborn chick down. Dr. Walsh went through a divorce, right?”

“Yes. He cheated on her.” He’d considered this. “It’s why I’m playing it cool. I’ll let her come to me next time.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my man,” Theo said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Taking a step back could make it obvious to her that you’re serious about compartmentalizing. Maybe if you had all the time in the world that would work, but the clock is ticking here. Especially with Green in town. You need to up your game. So did you start a completely casual relationship with her?”