by BJ Harvey
Gel is drizzled onto my stomach. Ezra gives my hand a gentle squeeze. My eyes meet his, and he nods toward the monitor.
“Look, sweetheart,” he says as the air fills with the glorious sound of a strong, healthy heartbeat.
I shift my gaze to the screen and see our beautiful peanut—actually looking like a real baby now rather than the bean-shaped blob it was at our last scan.
I whisper a quiet thank you to the universe and watch the miracle in front of us.
Ez stands and leans over me, pressing his lips to my temples. He rests his head against mine, and we watch Cade take some measurements and glide the ultrasound wand over my tummy.
Ezra’s breath catches “Wait… is that…?”
“Ez…” Cade warns, his eyes dancing with amusement.
My head switches between the two of them. “What?”
Cade faces me. “Your boyfriend here almost let the cat out of the bag.”
My brows bunch together. “God, don’t tell me there are two in there. There are far too many twins in this family already.”
Cade is a twin. He also has twin girls with his wife Abi, and then there are Jax and Bry too.
Cade chuckles. “No, there’s definitely only one cooking in there. But do you want to know the sex?”
I gasp and turn to look at Ezra.
He shrugs and grins down at me. “It’s up to you.”
“We never talked about it. I kind of want to know, but if you don’t, we can just wait. They do say it’s one of the biggest surprises you can have in life.”
“I think we should find out.”
“So, is that a yes?” Cade muses.
I nod up at Ez, who beams at me, kissing me with a huge grin. “Let’s see if we’re having a mini Gilly or a mini Ez,” he says against my lips before straightening. “Tell us, Doctor.”
“Gilly, why don’t you tell me what you can see?” Cade says, sliding the wand to one side.
Ez doesn’t need to say a word because our baby boy is in no way shy.
“He’s certainly not hiding anything, is he?” Ez says with a laugh.
I snicker and arch a brow. “Takes after his father then?”
“Maybe,” Ez muses, kissing my forehead again.
“Okay, Gilly. Doctor speak now.” Cade’s expression turns professional. “Pelvic rest, real rest, and stay hydrated for a couple of days at least. If you can call off work, do it. Then just book in with your OB for a checkup, and he’ll come up with a management plan. Okay?”
Tears—happy ones this time—fall down my cheeks, and I nod vigorously. I can work from home if need be—or maybe not at all. “I’ll tell Dad I’m sick with food poisoning or something.”
Cade’s eyes widen. “You haven’t told them yet?”
I scoff. “Have you heard about my parents?”
He arches a brow. “Do you know who mine are?”
I look at his badge, making the connection for the first time. The Carsens live just down the street from my parents’ overly ostentatious house. Cade’s father ran for mayor years ago, then left office after a big scandal. “So, yours aren’t a lot better then?”
“Nope,” Cade replies, and we share a look of understanding. High-browed, too-rich-to-know-better parents suck.
Cade grabs some paper towels and wipes the gel off my stomach, stepping back and rolling the ultrasound machine to the side of the room.
Ezra moves my top back down, and I fix my pants when I stand up.
“I’ll put the urine sample in to the lab, and then I’ll send my notes and the results through to the OB.”
Ezra walks over to Cade and shakes his hand. “Thank you. We really appreciate you seeing us.”
“Not a problem. I was here anyway, and I’m always happy to help.” Cade looks over at me. “Just take it easy and try and relax.”
“Easy for you to say; you’re not growing a human being.”
Cade’s lips quirk. “Believe me, I know. You’ve met Abi, right?”
“She’s amazing.” I reply.
He nods, and his moony expression is that of a man who loves his wife. “That she is. I’ll see you both soon. Have a good night.” He jerks his chin up to Ezra before opening the door and disappearing down the corridor.
Ezra moves in front of me, his hands resting on my hips as he grins and rests his forehead on mine.
“We’re having a baby boy,” I whisper, my lips curving into a big real smile.
“Yeah, sweetheart. Let’s get you and our son home.”
“Okay,” I say, lifting up on my toes and kissing him soft and slow.
I think you’re goddamn perfect, Ezra Baker.
I don’t say it.
But something tells me that sometime soon, I will.
Ezra
“Hey,” I say, walking into the top-floor apartment of the Cook brothers’ current house-flip project.
Jamie, Jax, Bry, and Cohen are all standing around a newly installed kitchen counter, each with takeaway coffee cups in their hands.
“Look who it is. Ezra ‘never on time’ Baker,” Jax says, nudging me with his elbow when I get close. I grab the spare coffee left on the bench and take a much-needed swig. “It’s eight a.m. This is early.”
“For architects maybe,” Jamie muses. “So, what’s new? Did you have a good weekend?”
“Yeah. We went looking at baby furniture yesterday.”
“God. Do you know how long we spent walking around, trying to choose between different wood, colors, gender-neutral designs…?” Jax rolls his eyes. “I swear we made things harder for ourselves by not finding out the sex.”
“Speaking of that,” I say, unable to hold back a smile. “Gilly and I ended up going to the hospital last night to get her checked out and discovered we’re having a boy.”
“Look at you go,” Jamie says with a knowing grin. He walks around and wraps his arms around me, giving me a hearty clap on the back. “Congrats.”
“Hang on, is Gilly okay?” Bry asks, his brows wrinkled.
“Yeah. Cade was working, and he looked her over. She’s going to rest for a couple of days and then go see the OB.” I sigh, shaking my head. “Got to admit though, I was worried as hell.”
Jax nods. “Something changes when they get pregnant. It’s like a switch is turned on, and suddenly, overnight, you turn into an overprotective worrywart.”
“I’ve told Faith I don’t want her driving anymore. Can you imagine how that conversation went?” Bry says.
His twin laughs, shaking his head. “Probably as well as it did when I told Ronnie the same thing a month ago.”
“How’s she doing? It’s getting close now,” I ask him.
Jax’s grin is unmistakable. “Forty weeks tomorrow, so basically, it’ll be any day now.”
“You know what would be hilarious?” Cohen says. “If Faith and Ronnie went into labor at the same time. Can’t you imagine? Twins having babies with the same birthday.”
“Oh God,” Bry says, looking at Jax. “Please give me a heads up so I can tell my wife to cross her legs.”
Jax just shakes his head. “Deal. It’s been bad enough having to share my birthday with you for thirty-five years.”
“There was that time when you guys were ten, and Bry demanded he have a different birthday,” Jamie says.
“Yeah. We ended up having two parties, one day apart, and all the same kids turned up for both,” Jax elaborates.
Cohen chuckles. “Wow. Things really have changed now, haven’t they? Soon you guys won’t be talking about sports and construction; it’ll be all about nappies and sleep schedules or the lack thereof.”
“He’s not wrong,” Jamie adds. “But it’s good.” He looks across and meets my eyes. “Really good.” Fuck yeah, it is.
“I do have some other news for a Tuesday morning,” I say, taking another sip of my coffee.
“Do tell…” Bry says, leaning forward.
“My lawyer emailed me this morning. As of yesterday, I’m n
o longer a member of the ‘paying alimony to anybody’ club.”
“Now that might be right up there with the news you’re having a son,” Jax says. “Did ex number one finally find another sucker to hook up with?”
I snort at his apt description of the situation. “Apparently.”
“And ex number two?” he asks.
“Married that baseballer from the White Sox.”
“And that’s why we’re a Cubs family,” Cohen muses.
I bark out a laugh. “Well, that’s a fantastic coincidence, yes.”
“Okay. So as much as I’d like to keep talking shit, we do have something to discuss,” Jamie announces, all business now. Everyone’s attention turns his way. “We’ve been asked to work on a special interest project,” he says curiously before nodding my way. “Even baby daddy over here doesn’t know about it yet.”
I freeze with my cup halfway to my mouth. “What?”
“Gilly wants to renovate the second story of her brownstone. Maybe that’s why baby furniture shopping was on the agenda?” He quirks a brow at me.
I hold my hand up. “This is all news to me.”
The guys frown at each other.
“Wait. I thought you guys were dating?” Cohen asks.
“We are, and it’s going well before you ask.”
“I bet it is after you dragged her out of the house after golf,” Jax mutters.
Cohen sighs. “You’re having a son together, and you haven’t discussed life after the baby comes?”
“It hasn’t come up in conversation,” I reply. But it’s definitely a conversation we’re going to be having rather damn quickly—like as soon as I leave here.
Jax’s head snaps to me. “Wait. What? You haven’t decided or even discussed where you’re going to be living after the baby comes? Gilly’s four months now. Believe me, that second trimester goes lightning fast, and then you’re experiencing the terrifying beauty that is the last twelve weeks where everything hurts and is harder, and the hormones make a triumphant return.”
“More like they sneak up on you and almost rip your head off,” Bry murmurs.
I narrow my eyes at him. ”You’re talking about my baby sister there, Bry.”
He smirks at me. “And I love her more than life itself, but every day I come home from work, I cover my balls as I walk through the door because with everything big and stretched and the waddle now in full effect, her mood is a crapshoot.”
“Amen to that, GI Joe,” Jax says, high-fiving Bryant.
“Aww, you poor baby. Try an overdue wife who’s determined to try every single old wives’ tale in the book to bring on labor. She absolutely does not want to be induced.”
“Oh, boohoo. My pregnant wife this, my pregnant wife that. Guys, reclaim your balls before you lose them for good. Jeez,” Cohen says with a resigned sigh.
“Says the man who would bow down and kiss his girlfriend’s feet the second she asked,” Jamie muses.
Cohen snickers. “Well, she’d only ask me to do that so I could work my way up, and there’s no way I’d ever say no to that.”
“Sometimes I wish He-Man could come and knock Ken and GI Joe’s heads off,” Jamie mutters, rolling his eyes at them.
“And on that note, can we get back to business?” I say, trying to get this crazy conversation on track again. Unfortunately, my mind is whirling about our post-baby living situation. Why haven’t we talked about this? Why wouldn’t Gilly talk to me about wanting to renovate? Does she think I don’t want to live with her and our son when he arrives? I did tell her I wanted to be involved in the day to day life of our baby, did she not realize that meant living with her as well?
“Right. So, Ez, since I’ve kind of blindsided you with this one, how long do you think you’ll need to draw up some plans?”
“I’m going there after here, so I’d say forty-eight hours, give or take, depending on whether Gilly knows exactly what she wants and where.”
Jamie nods. “Okay. Well, I wouldn’t mind coming and having a look too. I can arrange that with Gilly or—”
“I’ll let you know,” I say, interrupting him. His responding shit-eating smirk says I’ve totally given myself up.
“And the bill?” His brow quirks up, just like his mouth.
“You know the answer to that one,” I almost growl.
Jax shoulder bumps me. “Bet you’re glad you’ve got no alimony to pay now, buddy.”
“Shut up, Ken,” I say with a chuckle. “Or else I’ll get He-Man”—I nod to Jamie first, then Cohen—“and Thor here to do it for me.”
Jax snorts. “I’d like to see them try.”
Jamie and Cohen pounce, both moving quickly around the island to get to Jax before roughing him up.
“Yield! I give up, dammit,” Jax cries out just as Cohen enacts his trademark nipple cripple move.
Jax glares at the baby Cook brother. “Leave my nips alone, asshole.”
Cohen’s satisfied grin is hilarious. I look over to Bry and waggle my brows at him. Looks like GI Joe is better than Ken. We’ve finally proven it.
Everyone but Jax laughs, which just makes me laugh harder.
Ezra—Are you resting?
Gilly—Are you working?
Ezra—You didn’t answer my question.
Gilly—Neither did you.
Ezra—Knock, knock
Gilly—Who’s there?
Ezra—Answer the damn door and find out.
Thirty seconds later, Gilly’s door is opening, and her bright eyes and curved lips greet me.
I can’t give her an orgasm due to Cade’s directed “pelvic rest,” but I can kiss the shit out of her, which is exactly what I do.
When we finally break apart for some much-needed air, she slowly unsticks herself from my front and moves across the living room and through to the kitchen and dining area.
After closing the front door, I follow her, my eyes glued to the sway of her pajama-covered ass as she walks.
“Resting means on the couch or in bed, not the kitchen, baby mama.”
“And I thought you’d come over for lunch,” she says, turning around, not missing a step.
I shake my head. “I thought we’d order in. I didn’t expect you to fix us a meal. I’m the one supposed to be waiting on you hand and foot, aren’t I? Isn’t that in the handbook?” I ask.
She narrows her eyes. “You’ve been reading a book about it?”
“Maybe…” I say, closing the distance between us. I rest my hands on hers and pull her close, letting one of my palms smooth down over her ass. “It’s not just for baby daddies though.” I grimace, knowing I should hand over my heart and balls to this woman now and be done with it.
“What is it then?”
“It’s that What to Expect book.”
Her eyes flash with surprise. “Ah. Like the movie.”
Jerking my head back, I want to slap myself for not knowing this earlier. “There’s a movie about it? How did I not know that?”
“Yup,” she says with a grin and an elongated P. “I’ve even got it on DVD if you want to watch it sometime.”
“How about now?”
She grins, looking adorably confused. “Haven’t you got work to do?”
“Considering I’ve just been told by Jamie that our new client is you, I’m thinking I can work here for the afternoon.”
She bites her lip, and a growl rumbles in my chest. “I was gonna tell you.”
I chuckle, lowering my head and touching my mouth to hers. “I figure you couldn’t exactly keep it a secret since you’re my girl, and Jamie needs me to draw up the plans.”
“I wasn’t hiding it. I just…” She blushes. “A bit of baby brain kind of kicked in there.”
Shaking my head, I grin down at her. “I guess this is where I also tell you I’m paying for the renos.”
Her eyes bug out, her mouth gaping open. “Oh no, no, no. No way, Ez.” Her gaze is flashing fire, and I need to douse the flames.
“Sweetheart—”
“Don’t try and sweet talk me, Ezra Baker. We haven’t even discussed living arrangements or anything, and now you’re taking over and paying for renovations on my house?”
Well, this has gone from zero to sixty faster than I ever thought possible.
I cup her jaw and press the pad of my thumb across her lips, taking my life into my own hands as she spears me with a frosty glare. “Let me do this because it’s our son who’ll be sleeping in the nursery, and if what we have goes the distance, won’t this be our home where we raise our family?”
Her eyes soften, her lips parting and tears falling down her face.
“Dammit.” She sniffles, and I wonder if I’ve laid it on too thick. “Why do you have to be so damn sweet when I’m supposed to be mad at you?” she says through gritted teeth.
“How about this? I’ll compromise.”
She arches a single brow, and God damn if I don’t want to kiss that look right off her gorgeous tear-lined face. “Okay…”
“We’ll discuss the costs when they come through before I pay them.”
An adorable annoyed growl escapes her mouth, and without a second thought, I drop my lips to hers and kiss any residual frustration right out of her.
I curse Cade for all his “pelvic rest” demands because I’m imagining laying her out on the table and seeing how far down that blush of hers goes.
“Stop thinking dirty thoughts when you can’t act on them, and I know you won’t let me drop to my knees.”
Oh, hell. Definitely not helping my erection situation.
“When it’s time, I’ll gladly let you go down on me again, but it won’t be on your knees. It’ll be in my bed—or yours, I’m not picky—and it’ll be mutually enjoyable,” I explain, my hands dragging their way up her body until I’m framing her face and tipping it to mine. “Until such a time, you’re going to take your sweet ass back to the couch, and I’m going to bring you that weirdly named tea you like and some cold water, and you’re going. To. Relax.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re very bossy when you want to be.”
I swear, she stamps her foot for added sass. Staring in her eyes, I love the coquettish simper she gives me.
Dipping my head, I touch my mouth to hers. “You like my bossy.”