He grunts his answer then hangs up. I close my laptop, grab my shit from the drawer, and lock up. Susan’s already gone for the day, and I need to let her know I’ll be out of town until tomorrow, in case there’s an emergency. My calls will be forwarded to her.
When I call her cell phone, she doesn’t answer, so I decide to just stop by her house on the way home. I pull in behind Susan’s car and inwardly groan when I see Remi sitting on the porch. The groan turns into a muted growl when I get out and find Benjamin sitting beside her. I’ve never had a problem with Benjamin, but right fucking now I do. Especially when Remi laughs at something he says and her face lights up.
He’s young, closer to Remi’s age than I am, and divorced with one kid. He’s always been a good guy, but at the moment I don’t find him in such a good light.
I’ve already killed him five different ways in my head by the time I make it up the porch steps. The kicker, I have no damn clue why these thoughts are running through my mind. It has to be because he’s got no business becoming friendly with a pregnant woman who’ll soon be leaving town. It sure isn’t because I feel possessive over her. No way in hell.
“What brings you by, Trouble?” Remi asks, amusement still sparkling in her eyes.
I keep my gaze on her and ignore Benjamin. “Came by to see Susan. She wasn’t answering her phone.”
“I think she was getting in the shower when I came out. Would you like a glass of water or tea?”
When she moves to stand up, Benjamin starts to rise to help her, and it only irritates me further. I stop him with a hand on his shoulder before he has a chance to touch her. Just the thought of it has my fist itching to meet his face. I’m not sure I’d be able to hold back if I saw it. He’s already sitting too damn close to her.
Just calm the fuck down, Trouble, I berate myself.
“Thanks for the offer,” I say between clenched teeth. “But I won’t be stayin’.”
“Everything okay?” She sits forward, a look of concern on her face, and it makes me feel like an asshole for worrying her.
“I’m fine.”
I flick my eyes to Benjamin, and from one man to another, he knows what’s going on. Luckily, he’s smart and gets to his feet.
“I gotta get home. Marilyn is dropping Leddy off soon.”
Remi flashes her teeth. “It was great meeting you, Benjamin.”
His eyes land on me for a moment, and his Adam’s apple bobs.
“And you as well,” he mutters before briskly walking down the steps.
I lean against the porch railing with my arms crossed over my chest.
“He was nice,” she remarks, watching him walk away.
I grunt, because I didn’t find the encounter nice at all.
“Any plans for the weekend?”
“That’s why I stopped by. I’m headed out of town.”
My eyes drop to the front of her shirt. It’s a sleeveless button-up, and the first couple of buttons are undone, showing off a glimpse of cleavage. Of course, being the bastard I am, my body reacts to the creamy flesh. I yank my eyes away and lock them back on her face, where they should stay.
“Oh.” She starts to rock the glider with her foot. “Are you visiting family?”
“It’s for business,” I lie. It’s not like I can tell her what I’m really doing. No one knows what we do on these trips. The less people who know, the better.
“Well, have fun. I’ll go in and see if Susan’s finished.”
She grips the arm of the glider and scoots to the edge to get up. Having been around enough pregnant women, I know how difficult it is to go from sitting to standing. Walking over, I hold out my hand to help her. Unlike the last time, she doesn’t act like she doesn’t see it. Once I have her hand in a firm grip, I grab her elbow and help her up. Her other hand presses against my stomach when she stands unsteadily.
She tilts her head back to look at me. This is the closest I’ve been to her, so I just now notice the faded scattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks. Her fingers flex against my abdomen muscles, and I barely suppress a moan. What I wouldn’t give to have her hand lower, moving against another part of my body.
As if sensing my thoughts, her eyes widen slightly and her breath hitches. The temptation to lean down and taste her lips is one I’m finding increasingly difficult to fight. I’m also finding it tough to hold onto the reason why I should fight it.
She’s pregnant.