Crystal turned and looked at him, and he didn’t care that the uncles were watching. He leaned over and laid a gentle kiss on her lips.
She smiled and touched his cheek.
Charlie grunted. “Chicken’s not bad, potatoes are acceptable, but the beans have no flavor. Where’s the butter?”
Crystal sighed and picked up a small shaker of something. “Here you go, Charlie. It’s butter flavored.”
He scowled and stabbed the green peppers with his fork. “Rather eat them with no flavor.”
Dinner passed with a few more complaints, but the uncles cleaned their plates just the same. After the table had been cleared and the babies fed and played with, the group headed outside to the Jacuzzi. This time, much to Dex’s delight, Crystal joined them. Her swimsuit was more concealing than revealing, and she self-consciously held her arms crossed over her chest until she was below the water, but when she snuggled up against his side, and he put his arm around her, he knew there was nothing better than being with her, no matter what they were doing.
He’d replaced the light on the porch, so at least tonight they could all see each other. The uncles seemed pleased that Crystal joined them, and they also seemed pleased with their assumptions that he and Crys were doing the nasty. He grinned. Lord knew, he sure was.
“You’ll make your potato salad?” Gus asked Crystal.
She nodded.
Charlie harrumphed. “With her new fancy cooking, she might leave out the flavor.”
“Uncle,” she cried. “You’re telling me dinner had no flavor? You want me to never cook for you again.”
Dex rubbed her shoulder and chuckled. “Calm down, sweetheart. They’ll get used to the healthier food soon enough.”
Charlie harrumphed again, but Gus nudged him with his elbow. “Leave the girl alone. She’s just tryin’ to save our sorry butts from winding up in the ground.”
“That’s right, I am. So don’t be so mean about it.”
“I thought the chicken was good,” Jerald said. “But the green beans didn’t have much flavor.”
“I kind of have to agree with them on that,” Dex said, then flinched and burst out laughing when she elbowed him in the gut. “Hey.” He caught her arm in his hand, and then pulled her onto his lap and held her against his chest. “The chicken and potatoes were delicious.” He kissed her before she had a chance to argue.
“Okay, you’re right,” she said in a grudging tone. “The beans were a little tasteless. I can’t wait until the girls get bigger so I have someone to side with me. I’m being steamrolled by overbearing men.”
Dex chuckled at her disgruntled attitude and wrapped his arms around her a little tighter. “I’m sure I’ll be sorry when they are, because then I’m going to be seriously outnumbered by moody women.”
She gasped and turned her head to glare at him. “Moody? You haven’t seen me moody.”
“Uh oh,” Charlie said. “I think it’s time we leave.” He stood up to get out of the Jacuzzi.
Jerald stood up, too. “I agree. Looks like Dex just stepped in it up to his eyeballs.”
“I think he needs a few lessons on handlin’ women,” Gus said as he climbed out after the other two. “Boy, there are some things you never say to a woman. And telling them they’re moody is right at the top of the list.”
Crystal tried pulling away from him, but he held her firm on his lap and knew there was no way she could miss his hardened cock against her hip.
“G’night, you two,” Charlie said. “Don’t fight too loud, or the neighbors might call the cops.”
Dex chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll muzzle her.”
With a gasp of outrage, Crystal tried shoving out of his arms.
The uncles picked up their clothes—they’d worn their swim trucks under their pants this time—and headed through the side gate. As soon as they were out of sight, Dex crushed Crystal against his chest and captured her mouth with his.
She shoved at his shoulders, and he released her.
“You’re a jerk,” she snarled. “Don’t you ever think of muzzling me.”
Her eyes flashed blue fire in the dim light from the porch, stoking his libido even more than it had been. He stalked her across the Jacuzzi until he pinned her against the opposite wall and trapped her into place. “I agree,” he said, surprised his voice was so hoarse. She did amazing things to him. “I wouldn’t want to cover these gorgeous lips.”
He leaned in and nipped her full, juicy lower lip.
She shoved him again, but this time he didn’t budge. “And I love it when you get moody. I love it when your eyes light up and your cheeks turn pink.” He grinned. “I must be one sick man, because when you look ready to rip my balls off and feed them to me, I get so damn turned on I can’t think straight.”
Her lips, pressed into a thin line, trembled as she obviously fought a smile.
“I knew the uncles would duck and run if you got pissy.” He winked. “It worked. And now we’re alone.”
“Jerk,” she said, nudging his chest with her shoulder and letting the smile have free rein. “You did it on purpose?”
“Uh huh.” He leaned in and suckled the tender flesh of her neck. “Oh, God, you taste good.”
She shivered, and her sharp little nails dug into his shoulders. He slipped the top of her swimsuit down over her arms and then cupped her breast in his hand. She whimpered and jerked slightly at the contact.
“You like it when I touch you, don’t you, sweetheart?”
She nodded, her chin bumping his cheek as he feasted on her sweet skin. He reached between her thighs, nudged the crotch of her swimsuit out of his way, and buried two fingers deep inside of her.
With a soft cry, she bucked against his hand as her sleek, silky heat enfolded his fingers.
He’d never had such a responsive woman in his life. Just a kiss set her to smoldering. One touch—he flicked his thumb against her center, and she convulsed on a shuddering moan—and she went off like a firecracker. He rode her orgasm with her, aching to take her, but he held himself in check until her body went lax against his.
Lifting her into his arms, he went up the steps and toward the house.
“You can pick a fight anytime you want,” she murmured, her arms around his neck. “The making up is really good.”
He chuckled and nudged the glass slider open and stepped into the house. “Oh, brr.” Dripping wet, the air-conditioning made it feel like a refrigerator.
“Quick, let’s get to bed,” she said and wiggled so he’d put her down. As soon as her feet hit the floor, she dashed up the stairs. “Last one in the shower smells like a rotten egg.”
With a laugh, he went after her. It was a tie to the shower. They quickly soaped each other clean, and then dried in record time. Dex was the first to land on the bed, and she came down on top of him, straddling him, nibbling his chest as she rubbed her hand over his straining erection. “I love the way you feel,” she said as she placed little, maddening bites around his belly button. Cupping her head, he couldn’t stop himself from arching upward against her mouth. She took him deep and made a sound of pleasure, the sensation vibrating through him. “Crystal. Baby. Damn!”
Her laugh was husky and sexier than hell as she stroked him within her hand. “You like?”
In one smooth motion, he pulled her up to his chest, and then rolled over, pinning her beneath him. He looked into her eyes as he nestled against her warm, damp flesh. “I love...” His throat tightened up on him. He’d never said the words to a woman. Ever. “I love you, Crystal.”
She blinked slowly and then reached up and laid her small, cool palms against his cheeks. “Those are the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.” She smiled and pulled his head down. Her lips were so soft and sweet when she kissed him.
He fumbled for the condom in the nightstand and rolled it on.
“I’ll call my doctor tomorrow and see about going on birth control,” she said. “I want to feel you. All of you.”
Her words inflamed him. He caught her mouth with his. “Yes,” he said against her lips. “Skin to skin.” Forever.
He slid into her and groaned. “I love you,” he said again as he slowly thrust into her and withdrew, thrust and withdrew. “I love you.”
“Dex!” she cried as she arched against him. “Yes.”
He bent down and kissed her. She teased her tongue into his mouth, and he suckled it. She moaned, and her nails dug into his shoulders. He grabbed her thigh and pulled her leg up higher, so he could delve deeper. She ripped her mouth from his and screamed as her body convulsed and pulsed around him.
Unable to fight it any longer, he thrust into her four more times and found his own release with a shout of her name.
She held him tight against her, legs and arms clinging to him like vines, and sobbed into his shoulder. “Thank you,” she said between heavy breaths. “God, Dex... You’ll never know...”
Rolling to the side, he kept her tight within the circle of his arms and rocked her gently. “Shh, sweetheart.” He cupped the back of her head, loving the feel of her short silky hair between his fingers. “Shh.”
One of the babies let out a wail from the next room.
Crystal’s soft sobs turned into a strangled laugh. She sniffled. “It’s time for them to eat again,” she said, her voice a little hoarse.
Dex lifted her chin and looked her in the face. “You okay?”
She smiled and nodded, then wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I think it was that whole moody thing.”
He grinned then kissed the tip of her nose. “Stay here. I’ll bring them in and we can watch some TV while we feed them. Sound good?”
She had to wipe away a couple more tears, but she smiled and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Dex kissed her again, softly, then headed into the nursery. Crystal hadn’t returned the sentiment, he thought as he lifted the squalling babies into his arms. She seemed happy with his declaration, but she hadn’t said she loved him. She must still need more time. She’d been hurt by her ex. If he waited her out, she’d come around.
He took the babies in to Crystal. She’d pulled on one of his T-shirts, and she tucked the unhappy babies against her chest and held them, started crooning to them.
She looked so natural, he could easily imagine them growing up with her as their mother. He’d even called her Mommy the other day by accident, because that was how he saw her when she was with the twins. No one could ever love them more, he was sure.
“Are you going to get the bottles?” she asked, smiling up at him. “I don’t exactly have the equipment to satisfy them.” She chuckled at her own joke, and it made him smile.
“Be right back.” As he headed down the stairs for the kitchen, he thought about how easily she’d accepted his acceptance of her. After that initial unease, there’d been no more reluctance from her. She wasn’t shy around him in her nudity, and he enjoyed her.
Dex pulled two pre-made baby bottles from the fridge and popped them into the microwave.
He liked picking Crystal up and carrying her. She laughed about it and said he was being silly when he told her he’d never had a woman he could haul around so easily. But he liked carrying her because it made him feel big and strong and...like her protector. It made him feel good to make her happy. When she smiled at him, or laughed aloud, his world felt completely right for perhaps the first time in his entire life.
The second she did admit she loved him, said the words to him, he was going to ask her to marry him. He couldn’t see his future without her. Not now that he’d found her, the one woman in the world who could open his heart to possibilities.
With that thought making him grin, he headed back upstairs with the warm bottles. Until then, he’d just prove to her how much he loved her, and pamper her so much there was no way she’d ever even consider leaving.
Chapter Fourteen
Crystal dashed into Dex’s bedroom from the nursery and snatched the cordless phone from the nightstand on its second ring. “Hello,” she said a bit breathlessly.
“Mmm. That sounds sexy. What were you doing?”
She laughed and sat down on the bed, then lay back and closed her eyes. “Hi, Dex. I just got the twins to sleep. They’re being grumpy today, and I didn’t want the phone to wake them up.”
“See,” he said, and she couldn’t mistake the humor lacing his voice. “I told you the house was going to be full of moody women.”
She rolled over and hugged his pillow to her chest, breathing in his lingering scent. “Don’t be a jerk.” She grinned. “At least, not unless you’re coming home to make up for it.”
His deep chuckle sent a tingle down her arms. “Ah, sweetheart. There’s nothing I’d like more, but the reason I’m calling is to tell you I’ve got to go up to Bellingham for a couple of days.”
“Oh.”
“I’m on the I-5 right now, heading north.”
She experienced a pang of disappointment. “You’re not coming home first?”
“No, I can’t. But I feel bad that I didn’t give you any warning. Are you going to be all right with the girls?”
She sighed. “Of course, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us.” She smiled and hugged his pillow a little tighter. “You’ll just have to make up for it when you get back.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I will. I promise you that.”
She loved his voice, the inflections in it when he was teasing her. When he was getting aroused.
“How long will you be gone?”
“I’ll be back Friday for sure. With it being a holiday weekend, I won’t be able to get anything done after then, anyway.” He sighed. “I have some houses near Lynden, just north of Bellingham, that I’ve got a crew remodeling, and they’ve run into a few major problems.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, and I’ve got to figure out if the houses are worth salvaging and, if they are, who I need to get in there and fix the problems. But you don’t want to hear about all that stuff.”
“I’ll always want to hear about your work,” she said with a frown. “You know you can vent to me if you need to.”
“I’m going to miss you. I know it’s only a few days, but damn, sweetheart. I hate the thought of sleeping alone.”
A slow smile slid over her lips. “I’m lying on your bed right now. I can smell you here.”
He groaned. “Don’t torture me.”
She chuckled.
“So, the barbecue’s on Sunday, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“How busy will the uncles be Friday night?”
“Not very. All they have to do is pick up the meat and beer on Saturday. Everyone else brings the extras. Why?”
“Well, I was just thinking. We’ve never been out on a date. Think they’d be up to babysitting?”
As a thrill shot through her, she grinned. “I’m sure they could be persuaded.” He wanted to take her on a date. She hadn’t been on a date in...longer than she could remember.
“You pick the restaurant. Anywhere you want. God, sweetheart, I miss you already, and I’m not even out of Seattle.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive four short days without sex, Mr. Williams. Other men have.”
He laughed. “You have one smart mouth on you, little lady. But I’ll miss you, not just your hot little body.”
“I can still reach you on your cell while you’re up there, right?”
“Uh huh. It’s Bellingham, not exactly the middle of nowhere.”
“Okay. Um. You probably shouldn’t be talking on your cell phone while driving.”
“You’re right. I’ll call you tonight before bed, okay?”
She nodded to herself. “I look forward to it.”
“I love you, Crys.”
She bit her lip. “Bye, Dex.”
“Bye,” he said softly, and she waited until he disconnected the call before she hung up.
She didn’t know why the words stuck in her throat. Five nights ago, De
x had held her in his arms as they made love and said the words for the first time. She loved him in return, but the words wouldn’t come. She didn’t know why, but she was afraid. Her heart belonged to him. It had probably since the first day, when she saw him so worried about his babies. So tired from days of no sleep, yet beyond gentle with his precious little girls.
Each day she admired him more. His acceptance of her body opened the last lock she’d placed on her heart when Randy left her. But saying the words felt like too much too soon. She’d been in his house only a few weeks. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that a never-ending love had grown between them. Yes, she’d be ecstatic to spend the rest of her life with Dex, Ruby, and Amber, but she had no idea if Dex meant the words as deeply as she did.
When and if she said them to him, she meant it forever. She’d never given her love easily to anyone, and she’d been hurt too badly to do so now, no matter how much she wanted to spend the rest of her life with this family.
* * * * *
Crystal hummed softly as she put the finishing touches on a low-cholesterol, low-calorie carrot cake. Let’s see if the grumpy old men can tell this isn’t the same as the last one she made. She grinned and smoothed the non-fat cream cheese frosting across the top. Much to her delight, they’d seemed to like her sugar-free lemon chiffon last night.
The phone rang. She laid the frosting knife aside and went into the living room to find the phone’s handset. Amber and Ruby were both fast asleep in their swings, which had stopped rocking a few minutes earlier.
“Hello,” she said into the phone, hoping it was Dex. They’d only had time for a brief conversation the night before as he was on his way to the first of many meetings. She missed him like crazy.
“May I speak with Crystal Jorgensen, please?” said the female voice on the other end.
Crystal frowned. “This is she.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Jorgensen. This is Doctor Sayers’ office. Doctor Sayers would like to schedule a follow-up with you next week regarding your test results.”
The bottom fell out of Crystal’s stomach, and her knees went weak. She sat down hard on the edge of the coffee table. “My test results?”
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