Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Maggie
“I’m stuffed,” Emerson says, plopping down on the couch next to me.
“You and me both. Legend is a master at smoked brisket,” I tell Monroe.
“Shh.” She shushes me. “Don’t let him hear you. It will go to his head.”
“Too late, wife!” Legend calls out, and we all laugh.
I glance over my shoulder to where the guys are all still sitting at the dining room table. We moved to the living room with the kids and more comfortable seating. Especially since Briar and I are both pregnant. Those hard dining room chairs are not where it’s at.
Lachlan turns and catches me staring and winks. I smile and shake my head before turning back to the girls, only to find them watching me.
“So…” Brogan wags her eyebrows. “How’s it going with the baby daddy?”
“It’s… going,” I say, my face heating when I think about last weekend and how he helped take the edge off before putting me to bed. I wanted to ask him to stay. Watching him leave was so damn hard, but my thoughts and feelings were confusing, and I needed time to process what happened.
“What’s that?” Monroe points to my face. “What aren’t you telling us?”
“Pregnancy hormones are a bitch, okay?” I blurt. It’s more like a whisper shout, but they all hear me plain as day.
“Oh, don’t we know it,” Emerson chimes in.
“Is this something to look forward to or dread?” Brogan asks.
“You’re definitely going to look forward to it,” Briar tells her sister.
“Unless you’re pregnant and single as a damn Pringle,” I mutter.
“Why are you single?” Brogan asks. “Lachlan can’t take his eyes off you. Are you not attracted to him?”
“What? You’ve seen him, right? Are we talking about the same guy? Lachlan Noble? The one responsible for this? Okay, half responsible? Yes, I’m attracted to him. That’s the problem. He’s too damn sexy, and he’s doing all these super sweet things for me, and we’re spending a ton of time together, and we’re supposed to be friends.”
“Are you not friends?” Monroe asks gently.
“We are, but then also this weekend, things… heated up a little. He… helped with the ache, so to speak, and then tucked me into bed. He didn’t stay. He didn’t even attempt to stay,” I huff out.
“Did you want him to stay?”
I nod. “More than anything. We had a great day together, and I just… wanted all the warm and fuzzy feelings to be real, or at least pretend they were real just for a night. Gah!” I place my hands over my face. “It’s as if a switch has flipped inside me. I feel like we’ve been dating, but we’re not dating. He’s there for the baby, but it feels like more, and my heart wants it to be more, but we’re friends. We agreed that we were not together but just raising this baby together, and suddenly, he’s all I think about. Well, him and our baby.” I clamp my mouth shut, having already said more than I intended to say.
My four closest friends stare at me, none of them saying a word. Brogan’s eyes flash behind me, and I freeze.
Lachlan’s hands land on my shoulders, something he’s done a lot in the past, but since our night together, my mind reads more into it than I should be. “You need anything, Momma?” he asks. Leaning over, he rubs his hand on my belly.
“I’m good,” I tell him, my body melting under his touch.
“Ladies, do any of you need anything?” he asks.
“Nope,” all four reply.
Lachlan squeezes my shoulder with the hand that’s still resting there before turning and walking away without another word.
“Please, for the love of butter pecan ice cream, tell me he didn’t hear me.”
“He didn’t, but he stood up as soon as you stopped talking,” Brogan tells me.
“I could tell from Brogan’s facial expression it was one of the guys, so I stayed quiet.” Emerson explains.
“We could see him too,” Briar says, pointing at her chest, and then Monroe’s.
I shudder and exhale, and Emerson places her hand on my arm. “It’s fine.”
“Okay, we’ll go back to your speech, but first, can we talk about how he calls you momma?” Monroe asks.
“Forrest calls me that too,” Briar tells us. “I think it’s more because that’s what the girls call me. But yeah, it hits you in the feels coming from them.” Briar nods.
“It’s sweet,” Brogan comments.
“He’s sweet. He’s thoughtful and goes out of his way to do things for me. It’s confusing me. That’s all this is.”
“He’s into you,” Monroe says, taking a sip of her water. “I say go for it. See where it takes you.”
“It’s not that easy. We have a baby to think about.”
“He’s always going to be there for the baby, and for you,” Emerson assures me. “I’ve known these men all my life, and they’re the good ones. All five of them. He’s not going to let something as simple as an intimate relationship not working out keep him from taking care of you or his baby.”
“I don’t need him to take care of me.”
“Sure.” Emerson nods. “There’s always the battery-operated version, but I much prefer the real thing.”
I can’t help it, I burst out laughing, as do the others.
“What’s going on over here?” Legend comes strutting over with Kane in his arms. “You ladies are having too much fun.” Kane sees his mommy and lights up, reaching for her. Monroe takes him from Legend’s arms and smothers him with kisses, making him laugh.
There is nothing better than baby giggles.
“Just catching up,” Monroe tells her husband.
“Uh-huh.” He smiles, leaning down to kiss her. He takes Kane from her arms, and he’s gone as quickly as he arrived.
“I want that,” I confess. My words are quiet.
“I think you could have that. I think you’re scared,” Emerson tells me. “Your ex was an asshole, and I know there are some confidence issues, but Lachlan isn’t your ex.”
“There is so much at stake.”
“But what if it all works out?” Brogan asks. “I know about being scared and letting your past hinder your present and future, and I had to take a leap of faith. Take things slow, feel it out. Maybe work things out in your head. Give yourself the freedom to picture life with him and then take it one day at a time.”
Tears well in my eyes. “I love you. All of you. I couldn’t do this without you. Lachlan, the baby, all of it. I’m so grateful to have each of you in my life.”
“Same,” the four of them respond.
I don’t know what my future holds, but I do know that I have four incredible friends who will be there with me every step of the way.
“So, did you see the house?” Brogan asks.
“The house… yes, I saw it, and it’s gorgeous. It’s completely remodeled inside. Seriously, I can’t wait for you all to see it.” I smile when I think about how excited Lachlan has been all week. He put in an offer and it was accepted that day. He’s already been back, taking his parents to look at it the next day. He asked me to go with them, but I was exhausted after working all day on my feet. He stopped by after with dinner, and he was so animated about all he wants to do with the house. He plans to build a shop, and paint, and his enthusiasm was contagious.
“Mad is pumped. We’re going to be neighbors,” Brogan tells me.
“Me too,” Emerson chimes in. “The three of us all live close. I’m glad you and Maddox will have Lachlan close, and who knows, maybe our girl here will be living there soon too.”
“I don’t need you putting more thoughts inside my head,” I tell Emerson.
“Come on, Maggie. Keep an open mind,” Monroe teases.
“Really, guys, I’m so excited for him. He was like a little kid on Christmas morning after they accepted his offer.”
“Well, driving by, it looks stunning. I can’t wait to see it,” Brogan replies.
I give her a grateful smile, and the conversation turns to Kane’s first birthday, which will be here before we know it. It’s hard to believe the little guy is already turning one. Time really does go by in the blink of an eye.
A little while later, I’m sitting on the couch, where I’ve been since we finished dinner, and my eyes are getting heavy. That’s something else that’s a side effect of growing a tiny human. I seem to always be exhausted.
Lachlan appears beside me and kneels next to me. He reaches out and pushes my hair behind my ear. “You ready to head home?”
“How do you do that?” I ask.
“How do I do what?”
“Always know what I need?” I reply softly.
His eyes do this thing where they look softer and even more blue. “Because I know you, Mags. I pay attention.”
“I’m ready to go home,” I say, because I don’t know how to reply to that. He does know me. I’d wager a guess that this man knows me better than anyone. That includes the four women I’ve spent the night catching up with. They’re my closest friends yet Lachlan knows me better.
“Come on, Momma.” He stands and offers me his hand, and because I’m tired and pregnant, I allow him to help me from the couch. Except he doesn’t stop there. He drops my hand and slides his arm around my waist. “We’re headed out,” he announces.
“Yeah, we need to go too,” Monroe says. “Kane conked out a while ago.”
We say our goodbyes, and Lachlan leads me out to the truck. He opens the door for me, like the gentleman he is, waits for me to be strapped in before he closes the door, and walks around the front of his truck to take his seat behind the wheel.
“I should have driven so that you don’t have to take me all the way home, then back to your place,” I tell him, covering a yawn.
“I don’t mind.”
“That puts you home late.”
“I’m a big boy, Mags. I can handle it.”
I don’t reply because he’s right. He’s a grown-ass man; he doesn’t need me worrying about him, but I do. He takes such good care of me and our unborn child, but who takes care of him?
I could be that person for him.
That’s my last thought before I drift off to sleep.
I jolt awake to being carried up the steps of my front porch. I lock my arms around his neck and hold on tight.
“I’ve got you,” Lachlan murmurs.
“You could have woken me up. I could have walked,” I grumble—not because I’m mad that he’s carrying me. No, I’m moody because he’s confusing me and making me fall harder for him with every single interaction, and I don’t know how to handle it.
“And I can carry you.”
We reach the front door, and I dig my key out to unlock the door. “You can put me down.”
“Just unlock the door, Mags,” he says, chuckling under his breath.
I manage to get the door unlocked and turn the handle, and he steps inside, kicking it closed.
“Do you need anything from out here?” he asks.
“A water. I usually take one to bed with me every night.”
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll come back for it.” He takes off down the hall with only the dim shine of the lamp I left on while I was gone to light the way.
Finding his way in my dark bedroom, he carries me to the bed and lays me down gently. Reaching over, he turns on the lamp, illuminating the room in a soft glow. This time he doesn’t ask where my sleep clothes are. He goes to the dresser but can’t find what he’s looking for as he digs around. I know he’s looking for his T-shirt that I kept, but I’ve worn it the last few nights, and it’s in the dirty clothes.
“Where’s the shirt?”
“I have others.”
He turns to look at me over his shoulder. “I like knowing you’re sleeping in mine.”
“It’s dirty,” I confess, putting him out of the searching game he’s doing in my dresser drawer.
Calmly, he closes the drawer and moves back toward the bed. I watch him with rapt attention because he’s empty-handed. I’m not wearing his dirty shirt just to appease him. I’ve literally slept in it every night for a week. It was time to wash it. Expecting him to go looking in the hamper, I’m shocked when he pulls his shirt over his head and hands it to me.
“Wear this.”
“What are you going to wear?” I ask him as my eyes dart to his chest. I swallow hard to fight back my desire.
“I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m sure I have another in my truck. If not?” He shrugs. “I’m going to let you change while I go get your water.” He turns and walks out of the room.
The first thing I do is bring his shirt to my face and inhale. He smells so damn good—sandalwood and something uniquely Lachlan. I should give him his shirt back, but the idea of sleeping all snuggled up with his scent surrounding me is just too damn tempting to pass up.
He comes back into the room a few minutes after I’m finished changing and gives me a sweet smile. “Looks better on you,” he says, placing the bottle of water on my nightstand. “Here.” He hands me my purse. “I thought you might want to charge your cell phone.”
“Thank you, Lachlan. You spoil me,” I tell him.
His hand touches the side of my cheek. “I enjoy taking care of you.”
“The baby,” I remind him.
“You and the baby,” he amends. “Do you have everything that you need?”
His words roll through my mind. You and the baby. Is he feeling this too? Is it possible that we can be more? I know the girls suggested I think about it and see what happens, but can we?
“Maggie? You okay?”
“Stay.” The word is out of my mouth before I can change it, and it very well might be the one word that changes our relationship. For better or worse, that’s yet to be seen.
“Are you feeling all right? Should we call the doctor?”
I place my hand over his that’s resting against my cheek. “I feel fine. It’s late, and I’ll worry about you driving home.”
“You really want me to stay?”
“I do.”
He leans over, his lips mere inches from mine. “Where do you want me to sleep, Mags?”
I swallow hard. “Beside me.” Two more words that have the power to make a huge impact.
He stares deep into my eyes, looking for what, I’m not sure, but he eventually nods. “Okay. Let me go lock up.” He stands to his full height, and his hand falls from my cheek as he leaves to lock up my house.
I take the few minutes he’s gone to internally freak out. It’s not as if we’ve never shared a bed before. So it was one night, but we’re having a baby together, and we can do this, right? I just really don’t want to be alone tonight, and the thought of him here with me, well, maybe I’ll be able to get a good night's sleep instead of lying awake thinking about how things seem to be changing between us.
He steps back into the room, and I scoot over to the other side of the bed. I watch as he strips out of his jeans and kicks them to the side before pulling off his socks. He’s in nothing but his boxer briefs as he turns out the light and climbs into bed.
We both lie still in the darkness of the room until he finally speaks.
“Maggie?” His voice is gruff.
“Yeah?” Mine doesn’t sound much better.
“If I’m staying here, then you’re going to need to be in my arms. I can’t sleep next to you and not hold you. If you’d rather I leave, or go to the couch, I can do that too.”
“No,” I rush to say, and move to the center of the bed. He meets me halfway. I turn my back to his chest, and he pulls me so that our bodies are flush. He places a kiss on my cheek, and then rests his large palm under his shirt on my bare belly.
“Better,” he murmurs, and within minutes, we’re both drifting off to sleep.