The harsh lines of his face immediately soften when he spots me. Dear God, I’m knocked breathless every time this stone-hard man’s face softens into a smile. Is the fluttering in my stomach from the baby or the usual butterflies from being around Gray? I can’t tell anymore.
I press my hand to my stomach. “Yes, baby, Daddy’s here,” I whisper.
Gray finishes a complicated series of hand gestures to Remy, then crosses the backyard. I step onto the concrete patio to meet him.
He slips off the ear protection and flashes another quick, warm smile. “Morning, buttercup. We didn’t wake you, I hope.”
“What are you doing?”
He grips his shoulder. “I’m not doing anything. I asked if one of the brothers could help with Emily’s lawn. Dex volunteered.” Gray smirks and glances over his shoulder. “Then, he volunteered Remy and Griff to help him.”
“Thank you. Or thank them.”
“How are you feeling?” He runs his gaze over my body. Now I wish I was wearing something nicer than faded flannel shorts and an over-sized sweatshirt that keeps slipping off my shoulder.
“I feel fine.”
“Yeah?” He steps closer, rests his hand on my hip, and dips his head to brush his lips over my bared shoulder.
“That tickles,” I laugh.
“Does it?” He kisses my neck. “How about here? Does that tickle too?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “But do it again, anyway.” I rub my thighs together. “Now I’m thinking of certain, other places that tickles.”
He growls, a low happy sound that warms me to my toes.
“Are you warm enough out here like this?” he asks.
“I am now.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?” His hand slides lower, to cup and squeeze my butt.
I lean up and kiss his cheek, inhaling the grass and sunshine scent clinging to his skin. “Because of you.”
The hearty buzz of another piece of lawn equipment slices through the air. I pull away. “I’m going to go get dressed. Should I come out and help you guys?”
He rears back like I asked if I should strip naked and run through the yard. “No. We have it handled. It’s just some winter clean-up. It shouldn’t always take this long.”
“Okay.”
“I was going to take the guys out for lunch when we’re done. Would you, Emily, and Libby like to join us? Nowhere fancy. Just the diner.”
“Sure, I’ll ask Emily.” I glance over my shoulder. “Libby was planning to help me test this new violet shimmer eye gloss that was sent to me.” I stop and strike a pose by framing my face with my hands. “So, we’ll be all made up.”
He chuckles softly. “You’re beautiful no matter what, but I look forward to seeing you in purple.”
“Gray, can I tell you a secret?”
“Anything, buttercup.”
I lean up and whisper in his ear, “I love you. And you’re a very sexy landscaper.”
The growly sounds I love so much erupt from him again. He gives me another quick squeeze, then slips on the ear protection and returns to work.
The door squeaks open behind me. “What’s going on?” Libby croaks. “Why are people being noisy this early? It’s Sunday.”
Laughing, I turn and find her squinting at the sun. She thrusts a bottle of water at me. “Em says to drink this.”
I can’t tell if it’s Em’s way to razz me for being hot for my boyfriend or she’s really concerned about my hydration, but I accept it gratefully. “Thanks.” I take a sip and run my gaze over her fuzzy red fleece pants and red T-shirt. “You ready for violet shimmer day?”
Her eyes widen. “Are we still doing it?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“Since your boyfriend’s here…I didn’t know if you…” she shrugs.
“Promise is a promise.”
“Hey, Serena.” Remy approaches us. “Is your friend inside? I need to ask her what she wants to do with those thorny hedges.”
Libby thrusts her chin. “I can help.”
“Who are you?”
“Libby. I live here and I hate those hedges.” She moves into the sunlight, closer to Remy, and rolls up her pant leg, showing off a set of long, thin white scars below her knee. “They’ve bitten me a few times.”
“They definitely need to go, then.” Remy’s ice blue eyes travel over Libby from head-to-toe as she covers her leg and straightens. “Libby, huh? What’s that short for?”
She shrugs. “Who says it’s short for anything?”
He pulls off his gloves and steps closer. “Hmm, Elizabeth?”
“No.”
“Isabel?”
“No.”
“Olivia?”
Libby squints up at him. “You sure know a lot of girl names.”
That’s my girl. I cover my mouth, trying not to laugh.
“What in the sexual harassment hell did I walk in on?” Emily groans next to me.
“Nah, Remy’s a good guy,” I whisper. “Besides, Gray will kill him if he’s rude to her.”
“Great. Just what I want her to learn—wait for men to protect you from other men.” She rolls her eyes at me.
“It’s harmless.”
She gives me another side-eye, then marches off the porch and blasts her stern-mom voice. “Liberty Belle!”