"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."
I nodded, unable to stop smiling at him. I hadn't seen him since his last visit to my hospital room to deliver Skylar's stuffed pig. That had been way too long ago. Just gazing into his warm, brown eyes refreshed something inside me.
He paused a moment as if he wanted to say more. Then he shook his head, smiled, and turned away. I watched him disappear into the back door, and let out a little sigh, already wanting him to return.
Shaking such strange thoughts from my head, I made my way to the chairs set up out in the driveway where Mason was flipping burgers on the grill. I found the nearest open seat and sank down, holding Skylar to my chest.
I guess I should've known better than to sit by Ten, though.
He sent me a chin bob and wiggled his eyebrows. "How's that breastfeeding coming along?"
Oh, good Lord. Really? I sent him my best dry stare. "About as well as your ability to sleep with married women, it appears."
"Oh, snap. That was low." He scowled at me before glancing around and lowering his voice. "How do you know about that, anyway?"
I tipped my head to the front of the house. "Window to my bedroom's open."