Never Say Never: Gravel Hill Boys Book Two

23. Ian

“So, Bails,”I said, wanting my assistant’s full attention. “Now that you’ve met Madison, you should know she’s pregnant with my baby.”

Madison’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she hadn’t expected me to lay claim to what was mine.

“Wh-what?” Bailey looked at Madison’s belly, then for some odd reason, my crotch. “Are you serious?” Okay, that was weird.

“I mean. You? You’re having a baby?”

I pointed at Madison, who stood as still as a one of the scarecrows in my granddaddy’s fields, a stylish one, but still stiff as a board.

“I’m not. She is, but I put it there.” I still wasn’t on board with this whole baby thing, but I had to admit, saying that out loud was empowering. Having super sperm that made their way through a piece of latex made me feel ultra virile. I couldn’t hide my grin. “I planted my seed and it sprouted.”

“Oh for goodness sake,” Madison groaned.

“Ew…” Bailey muttered simultaneously.

“Whaddaya mean, Ew?”

“I said what I said. Ewwww.” She expanded on the sound for emphasis.

“Nice,” I muttered, leaning over the island to check out the assortment of appetizers, salads, and entrees I’d ordered. “You’re fired.”

“Good,” she responded. “And on that note, I’m outta here. The beast is due for his walk, and if he has to wait much longer, I’ll have to sell my house.”

Madison arched one of her perfect eyebrows.

“She has a Tibetan Mastiff,” I explained. “It’s bigger than she is.”

Bailey laughed. “He weighs more than me, that’s for sure. But despite his size, he’s a sweetie pie. He was supposed to be a watch dog, but unless you count smothering someone in kisses, he’s a lost cause. Kinda like your baby daddy over there.”

“I’m sure he’s delightful,” Madison said with a sour look and a shiver.

“Not a dog person?” Bailey asked.

“Not really. And certainly not big dogs. All that hair and slobber. Ugh.”

“He’s a lovebug. It makes the rest of it worthwhile.”

The look on Madison’s face said she wasn’t buying it.

“Madison, it was nice to meet you. Congrats on the baby, and please, if there’s anything I can do, just let me know. Ian pays me well, so I’m at your disposal.”

“And Ian, congrats on your super sperm,” she laughed. “First thing in the morning I’ll contact Guiness World Records and apprise them of your biological contribution to society.”

I hit her with a glare. “Goodnight, Bailey.”

She responded with a salute and left.

Madison handed me a plate. “You two have an interesting relationship. Was she ever a girlfriend?”

“I don’t do girlfriends.”

Avoiding my eyes, she bustled around the food, opening lids and closing them again. “Have you ever slept with her? She’s very pretty.”

A slow smile spread across my face. “Jealous?”

Her eyes snapped up. “Absolutely not.”

“No worries, sweetheart. For all her snark and sass, Bailey is a friend and the best assistant I’ve ever had. I’d never risk losing her for a one and done, so there’s no need for you to worry. Learned that lesson the hard way.”

“Really, Ian. How does that head of yours fit through doorways? I’m not worried. I don’t care what you do or who you sleep with.”

“Good, because my sex life is none of your business.”

With that pert little nose of hers aimed right at the ceiling, she said, “Just like mine is no business of yours.”

Hold up a minute. “You’re having sex?”

“I just said that’s none of your business.”

“It certainly is my business.” I jabbed a finger in her direction. “That’s my kid in there.”

“So.”

“So?” She was kidding right? “That’s my kid in there. I don’t want anyone else’s swimmers anywhere near it.”

“You do know that I can’t get pregnant while I’m already pregnant?—”

I huffed. “I’m not an idiot.”

Madison huffed, so I returned the glare.

“Second, if I was having sex, which is my prerogative, I’d use condoms if I wasn’t with a regular partner.”

I gawped at her. “Do you have a regular partner?” The conversation was ruining my appetite.

She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it and pursed her lips. The glare softened. I could be wrong, but I swore I felt a little flicker in my chest.

Madison’s hands dropped to her tiny belly. “Look, can we table the sex talk please. I’m starving and all this food smells so delicious. I really need to eat.” She looked over the collection of containers covering the island. “Why on earth did you order so much food?”

“For you.”

“You expect me to eat all of this? It would take me weeks.”

“Of course not. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I ordered an assortment.”

“An assortment? Looks like the entire menu.” She peeked under the lid of the container closest to her.

“It kinda is.”

She looked stunned at first, but then her face softened and the smile she shared was similar to the one that she hit me with the night we’d made junior over there. I liked it. A little too much.

“Thank you, Ian. All of this…wow. I feel spoiled.” A vulnerable look passed behind her eyes. “I think it’s just what I needed, so thank you. Despite that, I’m still not eating it all, but I’ll do my best to put a dent in it.” She laughed, and with that, my little mama-to-be dove in like a champ. Who knew such a little bitty thing could throw down like that, and well…when she slid a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth and moaned, my dick twitched.

Excusing myself before I totally embarrassed myself, I stepped out of the kitchen. He and I needed to have a little talk if we were going to be around Madison Enright regularly. Especially after it dawned on me that this was the first time I could recall that I really and truly wanted to fuck a woman for a second time.

I was going to need to check out that pregnancy book for men. I’d already read that pregnant women had a whole mess of hormones to deal with.

Did baby daddies have them too? If so, that might explain whatever the hell was going on with me.