Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Arbor
H ayes leads me into his office with his arm around my shoulder and his free hand pushing Gracie’s stroller. He gently but firmly took her from his coworker, and I have no idea why he seemed so upset to see Matt holding her. She’s in that weird stage where, as long as the stroller keeps moving for a while, she’ll probably stay asleep.
Hayes bumps the door closed and stares at me for so long, I start to worry that I have something on my face.
“I finished all the invoices,” I say, in case that’s what this is about. “They’re alphabetized on your desk by last name.”
He growls, edging forward.
I back up as he continues gently pushing Gracie’s stroller with his left hand. My butt hits the filing cabinet behind me, and Hayes’s hand comes to rest on the top of it just above my head. “Matt is charming, but he’s not a good guy. Okay, he’s not a bad person or anything, but he’s not the kind of man you need in your life.”
My forehead wrinkles as I tilt my head.
Matt spent the entire time talking up Hayes. He made sure to tell me that all Hayes talks about lately is me and Gracie. Then he went on to tell me how he hasn’t seen him show interest in anyone ever . Not once since Matt has known him has he ever seen Hayes with a woman.
At the time, I thought maybe he was exaggerating to make his boss, or friend, or whatever, look better.
Hayes’s scent is everywhere. Lightning and electric compatibility flood my nose as he leans closer. The sweaty alpha continues giving me a look I can’t decipher and, combined with the desperate energy spilling off him, I think he might have been jealous.
Did Hayes go all caveman and get protective because I was talking to his friend? I had a similar reaction over Lexie at Gracie’s doctor’s office with Hael, so I get it.
A little possessiveness is hot.
Taking things to the extreme…not so much, but since Adam, I’ve learned to trust my instincts. If I hadn’t been so deep in grief over losing my dads, I would have noticed how my impulses never felt safe around him. Not to mention, while I liked Adam’s scent, and it wasn’t appalling to my senses, my reaction to him wasn’t even a hundredth of the attraction I feel toward Hayes’s.
“I’m not trying to be a controlling asshole, I just don’t think he would be a good match for you,” Hayes says, clearing his throat.
Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around his lower back and bury my face in his sweaty T-shirt. “It’s okay if you were jealous. I would have been too if I saw you talking to a beautiful lady.”
His chest flexes under my face as he continues to push Gracie in her stroller. All three of them do things that Adam never would have dreamed of, and it helps remind my system that they aren’t him.
Hayes pulls his hand off the top of the filing cabinet and moves it to soothe up and down my back. He finally releases the stroller and relocates his hand to my chin. His fingers are scratchy as he brushes them over my skin.
His dark blue eyes are so expressive that I almost ask him what’s wrong, but he bends, crashing his lips against mine.
My fingers dig into his T-shirt as my heart races. Every breath I suck in floods my senses even deeper with his scent. His beard scrapes against my cheek as he tilts his head, nipping at my lower lip.
Everything is intense.
The way he holds me up as I melt into him. How his fingers dig into the back of my head as he wraps them in my hair. Even the commanding way he leads the kiss, fucking his tongue into my mouth. I’m not sure when he released my jaw, but that hand digs into my ass, and holy hell…
Hayes can kiss.
And I let myself just experience it.
It’s nice not having to constantly be in control. He goes from ravenous to slow, sensual kisses that have me whimpering against his lips. I’m not sure how long we stand there, lost in one another, but it’s enough time that my body once again tries to convince me I’m not still healing from giving birth.
Dammit.
I’m so ready to be back to feeling like my old self.
Hayes retreats and pecks a final kiss on my swollen lips. His chest heaves as violently as mine does, and knowing he’s as affected as I am is a heady feeling.
I end up smiling while my fingers dig into his sides.
His eyes sparkle as he stares down at me, and I can’t hold back.
“What was that for?” I ask, trying to catch my breath.
“I really needed to kiss you.” A playful smile takes over his face as his fingers dig into my ass. “All right, let me change out of my sweaty clothes, and we can decide where we’re going to eat.”
Would it be weird to ask if I could have that outfit to hide under my pillow?
Probably.
Maybe I’ll see if I can covertly borrow his clothes out of his gym bag once we get home.
Something changed big time yesterday. I’m not positive what happened, but I’m not complaining.
Hayes takes me to a little Italian restaurant that I haven’t been to before. It’s homey and inviting, and I lean against the stoic alpha in the circular booth as I feed Gracie while we wait.
I keep her blanket covering all my parts because I’m still not completely comfortable nursing in public.
Hayes reaches over, running his fingers over her little socked feet. It’s intimate, and I try not to focus too much on how we probably look like a small family.
I’m sure we do, but Hayes doesn’t seem to mind. He even scoops her up to burp her while I get myself situated.
The waitress brings our plates, and she coos over what an incredible husband I have.
It makes my face heat, but Hayes squeezes my shoulder. “Trust me when I say I’m the lucky one.”
The older woman places down my spaghetti with meatballs, and my eyes widen. Even with the constant hunger that comes from breastfeeding, I’ll have plenty of leftovers for a late-night snack.
Hayes nods at my plate. “Go on, dig in. I’ve got her. She’s all bright-eyed.” He nuzzles his cheek to the top of Gracie’s head and continues patting her back. “I want to soak up spending time with her while she’s awake.”
The waitress sets down Hayes’s plate and catches my gaze, winking. “That one is a keeper.”
I smile, nodding my agreement as he chuckles.
“I’ll have to take you out more often. I’ve got quite the hype team going.” He laughs, low and throaty, and all I can seem to focus on is how much I’d enjoy another kiss…
Possibly more than a kiss.
Hayes is magical. I’m not sure how he manages to eat one-handed while holding Gracie, but he does. Once I’m stuffed, I take her to the bathroom for a quick diaper change and do a double take when I make it back to the table.
Hael pops up, smirking as he eyes me from head to toe. “Hey, beautiful. How are my two favorite girls?” He scoops her out of my arms while I peek around for Morris, but he’s not here.
Hael grabs my hip, pulling me to him. He bends, kissing the edge of my mouth. His scratchy stubble barely rakes over my cheek before his warm, plush lips are gone.
I sputter out, “H-Hi.”
His eyes sparkle as he rocks Gracie against his chest. It’s so weird to see this giant alpha with tattoos down his fingers and up his neck be so tender with my baby, but he’s grown a lot more confident with her over the last month.
He pats my hip. “Slide in. The waitress is grabbing to-go boxes, and I have a question for you.”
I scoot in, setting the diaper bag between Hayes and me. He grabs it and places it on his other side by the car seat before wrapping his arm around my shoulder once more. “I didn’t invite him. He tracked my location. I had no idea he was going to crash our date.”
I’m pretty sure I mouth the word “date?”
Is that what this was?
If so, I’m not complaining.
I’m just a little confused on what changed yesterday to make them all start showing interest at once. Especially since I’ve spent the last few weeks giving myself constant pep talks to not read too much into their kindness.
Last night with Morris and today with Hayes, their intentions seem clear enough that I’m sure I’m not imagining it.
Hael twists toward me and Hayes. He rolls his deep blue eyes and nods at his twin. “He doesn’t seem to want to share you.”
I laugh, but Hayes raises his hand from my shoulder, flipping off his brother.
To defuse the tension, I ask, “How was your day?”
Hael grins. “Better now that I’m with you.” Oh, he’s laying it on thick, and I still smile like a total goofball. “So, I have a work thing tomorrow night. It’s nothing too terrible. I have a new client that I need to woo a little. I mean, he already signed the contract, but he’s weird about family. I was telling him about you and Gracie last night?—”
“Really?” I ask, studying him carefully.
He nods. “Yeah, but now he wants to meet you. Would you be open to going to dinner with me tomorrow night? It’ll probably be pretty boring, but you haven’t had any time to yourself since Gracie was born. And we’ll only be ten or fifteen minutes from home if she needs you.”
Hayes grabs my hand with his, giving it a squeeze. “Morris and I are more than happy to watch the baby, but no pressure if you’re not up to leaving her just yet.”
My eyes fly to Hael’s. He nods like he wants me to know he’ll understand if I’m not ready to be away from her, but he also looks so hopeful that it makes me feel like a jerk that my first instinct is to say no. “How long would we be gone?”
“Maybe an hour and a half or two hours, but I don’t want you to say yes just to make my life easier.” Hael moves Gracie to the crook of his arm from where she was up on his shoulder. “He’s a pain in the ass, but he pays well, and this job could lead to a new vein of clientele. Almost all my business comes from word-of-mouth sales.”
My teeth dig into my lower lip as I think it through. The thought of being away from Gracie makes me panic a little, but all three of these guys have gone out of their way to help me in over-the-top ways.
If Hael needs to make a good impression to secure future business for the shop, then I want to do whatever I can to make that possible.
“I can’t promise how well I’ll tolerate being away from Gracie, but I’ll try,” I finally say, smiling.
“Fuck, yes.” Hael grins back. “How about a practice run?”
“What?”
“I was hoping to take you shopping.” Hael continues bouncing my daughter, who seems utterly content in his arms. “The boutique is only two minutes down the road. What if Hayes takes Gracie home while I take you shopping?”
My eyes widen, and my heart thumps. I thought I would have an entire day to mentally prepare—and probably have a few panic attacks.
Hayes squeezes my shoulder. “I’m positive I can take care of her for the hour or so it would take you to find an outfit, but it’s your call. I’m also happy to come with you to the boutique, and I can watch her in the store while you shop.”
My head shakes. “No, that’s silly.” It takes everything in me to force myself to say, “I trust you to get her home safely.” I look at Hael. “But we need to be quick.”
Hael smiles dangerously. “You got it, beautiful.”