32. Sylvie
THIRTY-TWO
SYLVIE
Every year in the Midwest, there was one day in March where the sun warmed and you got irrationally hopeful that spring had finally arrived.
Unfortunately for all of us, and despite the fact we knew this happened every single year, winter clung to our bones for a few weeks longer.
But by mid-April, the first signs of spring stuck around for more than a few days in Outtatowner.
I stood in the middle of the sidewalk with my face tipped to the warm afternoon sun and breathed in the crisp April air.
I could smell the Lake Michigan water on the breeze, and I hummed to myself as I sighed.
My black leggings were pulled high over my belly, and two side slits in my cozy camel-colored sweater allowed ample room for moving through the Sugar Bowl while not overheating.
Despite Huck constantly hounding me to sit down, my white sneakers were comfy, and I had fully leaned into loving what pregnancy had done to my body.
Duke had loved it too.
A racy thrill danced through me as I thought of the new and creative positions Duke had dreamed up.
Earlier in the morning, he’d stripped down these very leggings and taken me from behind just as I was sipping the hot tea he made me every morning.
The way his rough hands glided up the back of my thighs nearly made my knees buckle.
Whether it was the hormones or not, I was insatiable when it came to that man, and Duke didn’t seem to mind it one bit. He couldn’t keep his hands off me.
Birds were calling in the trees that lined the main thoroughfare through town, and it was our yearly reminder that soon our quiet streets would be crawling with tourists looking to escape to our cozy coastal town.
“How is it that you look so cute?” Sloane’s voice cut through my daydreams of ravishing Duke when I peeked open one eye to look at her.
I grinned at my friend.
“Seriously.” She rolled her eyes. “When I was as far along as you, I looked like a house. There was no glowing, only profusely sweating.”
“Aren’t the twins’ birthdays in August?”
“Exactly. My armpits soaked through three outfits a day, and here you are looking all coastal granny chic .”
I laughed, and Sloane wrapped me in a hug.
“Where are Ben and Tillie?”
Sloane waggled her eyebrows. “Fishing with Granddad. I’m kid-free all afternoon.”
I looped my arm through hers and leaned into her as we meandered down the sidewalk. “My feet are swollen. Want to dip our toes in the water?” This time of year, the beach would be quiet and the icy water would feel glorious on my ankles.
As we walked, townies smiled and nodded in greeting.
Much of the town gossip about Duke and me had faded from an outraged roar to soft murmurs.
Only the occasional curmudgeon slid me an aggressive side-eye, but that was to be expected.
Outtatowner had gone generations with Kings and Sullivans at odds with each other, so the current truce between our families was new territory.
I peeked into King Tattoo as we passed, and after I caught Royal’s eye, he tipped his chin and raised a hand. I was surprised when he swiftly rounded the counter and pushed open the door. “Hey, Syl. Sloane. You ladies out for a walk?”
In the months since I’d lost my shit on my brothers, they’d been putting forth a little extra effort to be kind and inclusive. Nerves bunched in my chest. I still wasn’t totally used to the genuine interest in me or what was going on in my life.
Is this what normal families are like? I laughed to myself, because if the Sullivans and how they were always in each other’s business was any indication, this was exactly what normal families were like.
“I’m going to dip my toes in the lake and then get an ice-cream cone the size of my face.”
“I’ve got work in”—Sloane checked her watch—“forty minutes, so I’m just keeping our girl company.”
Royal crossed his arms. “How is working at the brewery? Is Abel treating you all right?”
Sloane’s eyebrow lifted at Royal’s question. “Abel isn’t exactly the chatty type. I swear the man hasn’t said more than six words to me. He communicates mostly in grunts and grumbles.”
I laughed softly at my friend’s very accurate assessment of my older brother.
Royal nodded. “Well, if he gives you any trouble, just let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
“Oh...” I looked wide eyed at my mischievous brother. “Kind of like how someone took care of Lee Sullivan by rearranging all of the furniture in his living room?”
I didn’t miss the twitch in Royal’s cheek. “I have no knowledge of that. Talk to Whip.”
He rocked back on his heels, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Well, I’ll let you two gorgeous ladies get on with your walk.” He offered a jaunty salute before disappearing back inside his shop as Sloane and I laughed.
Together we continued our walk down the sidewalk and past the marina. “Seriously, though... working for Abel is going okay?”
Sloane shrugged. “It’s fine for now. The boss man may have a giant stick up his ass, but he is flexible with my schedule, and both times my babysitter has fallen through, he’s not once complained about the kids hanging around the back while I waited for Granddad to swing by and pick them up.
” A sly smile deepened the dimple in her cheek.
“And getting under his skin is a definite perk.”
I grinned. “Good for you. Abel needs a little goading in his life.”
No matter how many times I swept or dusted or ran a rag over the baseboards, I couldn’t seem to feel like the farmhouse was clean enough.
I had spent my day off fluffing pillows and washing sheets before tackling the upstairs bedrooms. I was about to start in on the nursery and demand Duke finally let me see what he was doing beyond its locked door when my hand slid over the matte-black doorknob.
“What do you think you’re doing.?” I jumped and screamed when Duke’s grumbly voice startled me. I turned to see his grumpy face and his hands planted on his hips.
I didn’t even bother fighting the grin that split my face. “Have I ever told you how handsome I think you are?”
Duke shook his head and pointed a finger at me. “Don’t you try to get out of trouble by being sweet to me.” He prowled forward, but a grin slowly spread across his bearded face, sending a jolt of heat down my spine and pooling between my legs.
God, there was already so much pressure constantly there, and I felt like one wave of his hot breath against my ear would send me straight into an orgasm.
“I was definitely not about to clean the baseboards.” I blinked at him innocently and tucked the yellow rag behind my back.
“Mm-hmm. I call bullshit.” He pulled me closer and laid a kiss on my neck just below my ear. “Come on, you little liar. I want to show you something.”
Duke’s palm caressed the inside of my elbow to my wrist before capturing my hand and leading me toward the nursery room door.
Just outside the spare bedroom door he paused. My heart danced as I looked up at him hopefully. “Is it time?”
Duke had been working on the nursery—something he said was important to him—and he wanted to surprise me.
I had agreed to not peek, and the anticipation had nearly killed me.
Duke slipped a slim key from his pocket and popped open the lock.
Clearly he hadn’t trusted me that much, but I couldn’t blame him.
His slight mistrust was accurate, because a time or two, I did test the handle, only to find it locked.
Honestly, I didn’t even fully trust myself not to look, because I was so anxious to see our baby’s nursery.
Duke took a steadying breath. I had never seen the man so nervous, and a fresh wave of love and affection rolled over me.
I placed a hand on his bearded cheek. “It’s going to be perfect. Thank you for doing this.”
A low grumble sounded in the back of Duke’s throat as he nodded before pushing open the bedroom door.
My mouth dropped open, and my eyes went wide as I took in the nursery.
The late-afternoon sun slanted through the plantation-style shutters, flooding the space with soft, ethereal light.
Duke stepped inside our baby’s nursery and ran his hands down his jeans.
“I, um...” He cleared his throat. “I hope it’s everything you dreamed of. ”
My nose burned as I struggled to find the words.
Against one wall a wooden dresser that appeared handmade and solid also had a changing pad on top.
A matching highboy-style dresser stood against the far wall.
A gorgeous crib was in front of the most stunning mural I had ever seen.
It was moody and slightly masculine while being light and airy. Absolute perfection.
“Annie painted the mural.”
“How did you, when did she . . .”
“Her flexible schedule helped. I mostly snuck her in while you were working at the Sugar Bowl.”
Every detail, from the gliding chair and matching footrest to the oversize yarn blanket draped across it, was as if it were plucked from my imagination. “Okay, Duke... how did you?—”
My fingertips came to my lips as I continued to take in the absolute perfection of the nursery.
Duke stuffed his hands into the front pocket of his jeans and shrugged. “I found your Pinterest page.”
My eyes searched his as a soft blush stained his cheeks.
“I wanted this to be a space where you felt safe, where our baby and you—all of us—could spend time together. Where he knows, no matter what, he is loved for exactly who he is.”
Tears tumbled over my lashes and streaked down my cheeks as I launched myself at Duke. This man, this beautiful, gorgeous, brooding, hulking beast of a man had the kindest, sweetest heart I had ever known. He kept that heart so guarded, but I was the lucky one. He had shown it to me.
“Thank you. It’s absolutely perfect.”