"But—"
"Sounds like you still need to learn the parts of a woman," Pick said. "Next time you guys are together, don't be afraid to explore. She won't mind. If you're touching, licking, kissing, and nibbling on every little place you go, she'll actually appreciate it. Trust me. Get down there at eye level with everything and just . . . look around. Test it out with your tongue. She'll let you know what she does and doesn't like."
"Loudly," Noel added.
I sighed a little, wishing I'd met Pick years ago. He sounded like a very considerate, thorough lover. I doubt he'd even let me zone out and try to escape to my safe, numb place. I bet he'd be able to show me what good, pure, honest sex was supposed to be like.
Regret burned my throat because I'd never had that, never enjoyed an intimate moment with a guy.
"I'd listen to Pick. The man knows what he's talking about."
"What the hell?" Pick answered. "Did I just get a compliment from Ten? Are you okay? Oh shit, are you dying?"
"Shut up."
Pick's chuckle warmed me from the inside out, just as Gamble spoke up. "Shh. Woman alert. Lowe's old lady is walking up the drive."
The men instantly settled down. A few seconds later, Mason called, "Hey, Sweet Pea." I could picture him snagging her around the waist and pulling her down onto his lap.
"Been grocery shopping, huh?" Ten asked. "Run out of jelly again?"
My mouth fell open, hoping to God Reese had no clue what he meant. But when she said, "What is he talking about?" a little too sharply, I just knew she'd caught on and was sending Mason the evil eye for sharing too much with his friends.
He must've put on the perfect innocent face, because after he answered, "I have no idea," Reese dropped the subject. I envisioned her popping off his lap with a refreshed smile and carrying her bags of groceries toward the back door. "Where's Eva?" she asked, and yep, her voice sounded a lot closer to where the door was.
"Haven't seen her yet this morning," Mason answered. "She must still be in bed. I know I would be. I swear that baby was up every hour."
I rolled my eyes. It'd been every two hours, not one. That had been the recommended feeding schedule the nurses had given me.
"Why don't you go see if she's up yet?" Pick said. "And drag her out here. I haven't had my Tinker Bell fix for the day yet."
I instantly smiled. He wanted to see me. That was so—
I bit my lip to kill the grin. Bad Eva. I had to stop thinking about him this way, even though his wife was like a sister to him and he'd only married her for insurance purposes. This was the worst time for me to develop honest feelings for a guy. I had baggage, issues, and trouble stamped all over me. And despite how obvious it was that Pick didn't mind wading through that kind of crap for a woman since he'd married an ex-crack whore just to help her out, I still didn't want to pile any of my crap on him.
He was too amazing to deal with the likes of me.
"Sure. I'll check on her," Reese was telling him. "Hey, are you guys staying for lunch? I could make Mason fire up the grill."
"Say what?" Mason started while Ten hooted. "Free food? Hell, yes. Count me in."
"Thanks, but my family's going to pick me up soon," Gamble said, to which Reese answered, "They can stay too. We'll make a party of it. The more, the merrier."
"Well, okay then. Count me in, too."
"I could eat," Quinn added.
"And I'm not letting you say no, Mr. Ryan. After the way you saved my E., I'd feed you every day for the rest of my life."
"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."