Audrey nodded. “I’m trying.”
Elli smiled. “Then he’ll come, and when he does, you’ll wonder how you went on without him.” She looked down at her growing belly before looking back up at Audrey. “Shea is the best thing that ever happened to me. His love has made me the strong, confident woman who is in front of you. Not only does he love me, but also my rapidly growing waistline. He is the best father imaginable. With just one glimpse of him with his niece and nephew, I knew he would be.”
With those words, Tate came to mind. Audrey wanted to shake the thought away but it didn’t go anywhere. She pictured him playing with Aiden and then holding Posey. He would be the best father ever.
To someone else’s kids.
“Your person is out there, Audrey, don’t give up and don’t settle for crap,” Elli said, bringing her attention back.
Audrey slowly nodded, knowing that Elli was right.
“Now come on, Tate is holding my babies and we have a party to get to.”
Wiping her eyes again, Audrey followed Elli out of the bathroom, through the sitting room, and into the hall where Tate stood with Shelli and Posey. Her heart could have exploded at the sight of him with the two little girls. He was at such ease with them in his arms.
“Give me my babies, Tate Odder,” Elli said, and giggled.
Tate smiled as she took both her babies, kissing them both before saying, “Thank you.” Elli looked between Audrey and Tate before going back to Audrey and pinning her with a look.
“Sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you,” she said. “Don’t be blind, Audrey, it isn’t attractive.”
With that, Elli Adler was gone.
Audrey looked up to see Tate watch her walk away. When he turned to look at her, he shrugged. “That was weird.”
Audrey laughed, and Tate smiled before saying, “Are you okay, I’m sorry for … yeah, I have no clue what I did.”
She continued to laugh, to the point of tears. Tate joined in, leaning against the wall as she held her stomach. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.
“Oh, good,” Tate said in a whoosh. “I was worried that saying you are beautiful was wrong, or something.”
Audrey shook her head, her face starting to hurt from smiling so widely. It was weird how not ten minutes ago she was crying her eyes out, and now, out in the hall, with Tate for only a minute, she was laughing her butt off. He was so easy to get along with when she allowed herself to enjoy him.
“It isn’t wrong,” she said when she finally stopped laughing.
“Well then, really, Audrey,” he started, his voice dropping a few octaves, “you are simply gorgeous today, and every day for that matter.”
God, his voice was orgasmic!
Her cheeks became warm as she looked up at him through half-lidded eyes. “I thought we were friends.”
Tate smiled, his grin wide. “We are. I can think my friend is hot, right?”
Audrey giggled. “I guess.”
“What, you don’t think I’m hot?” he asked with a wounded look. “It’s my beard, huh?”
Audrey was full-out laughing again. If only he knew how much she wanted to lick that beard of his. “Jeez, I thought only girls fished for compliments.”
Tate chuckled loudly. “I am just curious about what you think.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. He was fishing and he knew it. Without thinking, she moved off the wall onto her tippy toes so she was closer to him. Her lips only inches from his jaw, she whispered, “I slept with you, didn’t I? I think that says something.”
Tate ran his tongue along his bottom lip, his gaze holding hers. “Sure it does, but you ran out the next morning. What does that say?”
Audrey knew she was wrong. She was flirting and had no intent of moving forward with him. She couldn’t help it, though; she was so attracted to him.