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I jumped, finding Piper Michaels standing a few feet away.

“Sorry.” She laughed. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” She came toward me, cupping her swollen stomach. When she reached the counter I was standing behind, she placed a hand on the edge and blew out a slow breath.

I raised an eyebrow.

“I’m fine. Promise.” She gave herself a shake. “I ate something I shouldn’t have and it’s making me nauseous.”

Going up to her, I placed my hands on her stomach. I wasn’t a touchy person. Hell, I didn’t even like it when others touched me but to feel life growing inside her was something else entirely.

“Jaron thinks it’s a boy,” she murmured. “We’ll both be happy with whatever it is though.”

I smiled at her when I felt her unborn baby kick my hand. I had met Jaron Mercer a handful of times when he picked Piper up from the center. He had always been nothing but nice to me even though he never spoke much. My eyes flicked back to the two guys standing just outside the doors. I noticed then that they were wearing leather cuts. Maybe they were part of the same club Jaron was, but then I wondered why I hadn’t met them before. Our town wasn’t overly big even though it continued to grow with each passing year.

“Do you want kids, Ainsley?”

I swallowed hard at the question. It was harmless, I knew that, but it didn’t make it hurt any less.

Piper’s face fell. “Oh God, that’s super inappropriate of me. I’m so sorry.”

I shook my head, giving her a smile of reassurance. Truth was, Ididwant kids, but it would never happen for me.

Letting out a sigh, I pulled away from her and went back behind the receptionist’s counter. Our usual receptionist only worked a few hours a week since finishing school and advancing in her career. I filled in for her when I wasn’t teaching ASL classes. Even though I didn’t speak and liked sticking to myself, I enjoyed working behind the counter and seeing people when they came through the front doors. Especially when they were usually quiet themselves. My demeanor was calming, I was told.

Whenever I helped at the front desk, Jay had the calls forwarded to her office. I tried insisting on just staying behind the scenes but both her and one of the therapists told me that it would be good for me.

“The bigger one is Cyrus and then his twin brother is Sammy,” Piper explained, pulling me from my thoughts. “Don’t let his gentle name fool you though. He’s kind of an ass.” She laughed. “But I love them like brothers.”

I wanted to ask for her to tell me more but when they turned toward us, I changed my mind.

Piper waved.

They came inside.

And all the air was sucked right out of my lungs as the one named Cyrus stared at me.

“How’s my third favorite girl?” Sammy asked Piper, pulling me from his brother’s intense gaze. Sammy went up to Piper and drew her in for a hug.

“Third?” She pushed away from him and smacked his arm. “Why am I number three?”

“Because Bee is number two. I knew her first. And then your daughter is number one.” He clutched his chest. “She stole my heart.”

Piper giggled, shaking her head. “One day a woman will steal your heart too, Sammy.”

The smile fell from his face. “Unlikely.”

While Piper and he continued talking, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Cyrus was shifting closer to me. My stomach felt like there were butterflies flying around in it the closer he got.

“What’s your name, pet?” he asked me, his voice low.

My eyes snapped to his, almost expecting him to be talking to someone else. But when I realized that it was only me and him and that Piper and Sammy were no longer around, my heart pounded.

That single word.Pet. It did something funny to my belly. Something I had never felt before. Something I never thought I would feel. Ever. And especially not for a man.

Desire.

For a man.

A stranger.