I pressed a kiss to Olive’s head, then Arlo’s, before moving closer to Winnie. The urge to pull her into me was strong, but I knew it wasn’t right to do in front of the kids. I shoved my hands in my pockets instead and nodded towards Sawyer’s living room. “Want to talk about it?”
She looked down at her feet and then nodded. “Birdie. Can you please not make anyone cry while I talk to Olive’s dad?”
Birdie shrugged. “Grandma says I’m not in charge of other people’s feelings.”
Before Winnie could pull her hair out, I chanced touching her to take her arm and pull her from the room. I led her to the other side of the house, taking the chance to get her alone.
“I really am sorry if I stepped over the line or said anything offensive, Beck. It seems that Birdie isn’t the only Lane woman who speaks out of turn.”
I glanced back to make sure we were alone, and then I grabbed Winnie’s face and pulled her in for a kiss. The way her body automatically curled into mine was sexy as hell, and the way her mouth opened for me without hesitation made me insane with need.
I pushed my luck and backed her into a wall, desperate to satisfy the hunger that had been wracking my body for days. It’d been stronger than ever, knowing she was in my office, hanging out in my space.
Winnie’s back hit the wall, and she gasped before ducking out from under my arm and putting several feet of space between us. “The kids…”
I pulled my hand down my face and tugged at my beard. “Sorry, Win. Now’s not the time. I know that. Just can’t help myself.”
She licked her lips as her eyes moved over my face and chest. “Um… I needed to apologize. For upsetting you yesterday.”
“You didn’t upset me, Win. You managed to describe my art in the sexiest fucking way I’ve ever heard, all while mentioning barbeque, of all things. I was hard as a rock and wanted to nail you to the wall, right then and there. The only reason you got out of my office with your clothes still in place was that Sawyer was there.”
Her chest rose and fell faster, and I could see arousal clearly on her face, but she was still in control of herself, unlike me. “Well… I’m glad I didn’t offend you.”
“I’m thinking of having you do the marketing for my shoots from now on, Win. And no, you didn’t offend me. I’d love it if you came to my office tomorrow and we spent some time talking about it, though.”
“Mom! The terrible two are fighting again!”
Winnie blinked a few times and then flashed me a warm smile. “I’ve somehow become referee between the twins. Y’all are going to be lost when I leave.”
I stood there, rooted to the spot as she hurried away, feeling something akin to dread in my stomach. I didn’t have time or room for a relationship, but I knew Winnie had a really good chance of being right. If I wasn’t careful, I would be lost when she left. I couldn’t afford to get attached to another woman. It was even messier with Winnie. Both Jack and Sawyer were interested too. One wrong move and things could blow up in my face.
“That’s it. In the yard with the both of you. I don’t want to see either of you until one of you has poo on you.”
“We don’t have a dog, Win. There’s no shit out there.” Sawyer sounded concerned.
I could hear Winnie giggle. “I guess you boys better get going then. You might have to bounce around for hours before one of you loses.”
“Will you watch us?” Silas sounded eager.
“Shoot.” Winnie’s voice was full of mischief and humor. “I think you’re going to get out of it this one time. Only because Birdie and I have to go home, though. Instead of poo, I think the two of you should have to help your dad fix his pe— elephant.”
I heard Sawyer complain about it being considered punishment to help him, but more than that, I heard the twins rush to be near their dad and knew Sawyer was over the moon. Once again, Winnie proved that everywhere she went, she made things better. Even the fucking office had seemed brighter with her sitting at the front desk. People were in better moods. She had somehow threatened to make kids play in shit and still had Sawyer’s house calmer than I’d ever seen it. It made no sense, but I was starting to think that maybe some of Winnie’s mom’s magic had passed on to her daughter.
That feeling of dread grew. I didn’t see how anything good could come out of the three of us best friends all hanging all over the same woman. Especially not when she was already talking about leaving.
29
Winnie
Iwasaballof nerves, just knowing that Beck was a few walls away and that he wanted to talk to me later. I had thought about the way he’d looked at me as he said those words all night. I’d also tossed and turned thinking of Jack and Sawyer, too. It was insanity. Spending the evening at Sawyer’s house had been a mistake. Not only had I seen a different side to the guys, a more human side that made them less perfect, but I’d instantly fallen for their kids. Birdie had, too. She’d spent the entire drive home the night before asking me when she’d get to see Olive again.
Normally, seeing Gabe relaxed me and put a smile on my face, but when I saw him walk into Myers Photography, a mischievous smile on his face, every warning bell I had started going off. It didn’t help that I was already operating under a powerful amount of duress. Seeing Gabe’s sneaky look had my body clenching. He strolled straight up to the desk and around, not hesitating to pull me up and into his arms.
“Babe, you look beautiful.”
I hugged him back, even as I frowned. “What are you doing?”
He nuzzled his face into my neck and lowered his voice. “Putting on a show for the furious man watching us.”