Gulp.
His eyes are torn between amusement and desire as they scan me from top to toe, lingering on all my good bits. I feel breathless beneath the weight ofhisgaze.
“Just teasing,” I murmur weakly. “I’ll be back in aminute.”
“Good. Because, babe? We’re going back to my place.” His smile is wolfish. “And then it’s my turn to do theteasing.”
My blood pressure spikes in anticipation. Closing the cab door, I bolt down the empty stretch of sidewalk as fast as possible, heading for the entryway to the Macombers’ townhouse. I’m eager to get back to the truck, and the man inside it. More thaneager.
The things I plan on doing to you require a bit morespace.
My paceincreases.
On their stoop, I do my best to catch my breath. When I’m somewhat more composed, I knock lightly, not wanting to wake the kids. I hear the pitter-patter of paws against their hardwood floors and when the door opens, I’m immediately bombarded by Fenway. His paws hit my knees and he whines excitedly. I know it’s impossible, but I swear he looks bigger than he did when I droppedhimoff.
“Hi, buddy,” I say, bending to greet him. My face is only in range for about six seconds but he manages to get several good licks in before I straighten to meet Joyce’s eyes. “Thank you so much forwatchinghim.”
“Oh, it was a blast.” She grins at me. “Hey, can you come in for a second? The kids are sleeping but Ted and I want to run something by you. It won’t take long. Unless you’re inarush…”
Actually… there’s a ratherpressingneed sitting in that truck down theblock…
“Of course!” I say brightly, internally slapping myself. “No rushatall.”
Luca is going tokillme.
I follow Joyce into the kitchen with Fenway shadowing my every step. As soon as I sit down at the kitchen island, he whines until I scoop him into my arms and hug him close, rubbing his ears rhythmically the way I know helikes.
“Any accidents?” I ask, looking around for signs ofdestruction.
“No, he was great. It helped that it was such a nice night — we played in the yard with him until the kids went to bed, so he didn’t have much of a chance to wreakhavoc.”
I blow out a relieved sigh. “Oh,good.”
Ted walks into the kitchen wearing striped pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt, a paperback poised in front of his face. “Honey, do we have any of that gelato left—Oh!” He finally looks up and notices me. “Hi there, Lila. Didn’tseeyou.”
“Good book?”Iask.
He nods and looks at his wife excitedly. “Did you tellheryet?”
She shakes her head, looking equally thrilled. “I was waitingforyou.”
“Tellmewhat?”
Joyce’s face is split with a smile so wide, just seeing it makes mesmiletoo.
“I’m pregnant!” sheblurts.
“Ohmygod!”
“I know! It was totally unexpected. Obviously. I mean… I’m forty-two. This was not the plan.” She looks at her husband. “Thought Ted was going to have a heart attack when the stickturnedblue.”
“A stroke, actually,” he jokes. “But once I recovered, I wasthrilled.”
“Webothare.”
“I’m thrilledforyou!” I exclaim, hopping down from the stool and hugging them both in quick succession. “This is amazing! Do the twinsknow,yet?”
Joyce shakes her head. “Not yet. We’re waiting a few more weeks. But… well, that brings us to what we wanted to talk to youabout.”