Page 73 of Back for More

“Isn’t the subject that you just gave birth to a baby boy? Congratulations, by the way.”

She waves her hand. “I am so fucking in love with that little peanut it’s insane. So tell me when it happened—was it like right after I left after that going-away party?”

“No. And I don’t know what you’re talking about. So how long were you in labor?”

“She didn’t tell me anything either,” Kate says, and I’m relieved. “But you guys should have just come together instead of fifteen minutes apart, if you didn’t want me to suspect something.”

Dammit.

“Aww, honey, you both look so happy and freshly fucked, it’s adorable.”

I make a face. “Should you be swearing around your baby?”

“Oh, you’re so cute. Fuck!” She squeezes her eyes shut for a second after sitting up straighter.

“Are you okay?”

“No. My vagina is killing me.” She exhales. “I’m fine. I’ll keep your secrets, honey. You don’t have to worry about me. Just keep your eyes on D-bag Dan.”

“He’s really the last person I want to keep my eyes on. But yeah. I know what you mean.”

She gets a dreamy look in her eyes, a dumb smile on her face, and she goes completely silent all of a sudden. I think the painkillers are finally kicking in.

“I’m gonna go now, Kate,” I whisper. “See you soon. Love ya.”

She blinks. “Love you too, kid… Wait!” Her head snaps to me. “I don’t think the job is that important to her.”

I stand just inside the door. “Huh?”

“I don’t think it’s the Barnes Group that she really needs. I think it’s you.” She blinks at me slowly while scrunching up her face, like Yoda with vagina pain.

“Okay,” I say—totally not getting choked-up, because I’m a stud. “She’s got me.”

* * *

I somehow manage to get through the morning and lunch, staying focused on the Tripletts and their deal. As expected, they didn’t seem the least bit interested in my relationship with Lily, and we just got on with things as if nothing inappropriate had been mentioned at the winery yesterday. Kate’s words echoed around the back of my mind, though.

As I’m driving back to the office from Ashland, I put my personal cell on speakerphone to call Lily on her personal phone. Just because.

“Hi,” she says, a little unsure. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” I say. “This is your boss calling. I’m headed back to the office.”

“Good. I’m at the office.” I can hear her smiling.

“Good. You don’t have me on speakerphone, do you?”

“I do not. I’ve been gathering market data on that office park in Central Point for you, and Chris needs to talk to you as soon as possible about the retail property in Bend. Something about one of the tenants.”

“Okay.”

“And I’ve started drafting the letter of intent for the apartment complex in Grants Pass.”

“Thank you. I need you to schedule a conference call with the Tripletts’ lawyer for this afternoon. If you can get their business manager on the phone at the same time, that’d be great. And all I can think about is your sweet, hot, wet pussy and how good it felt to finally be inside you, and I’m going to be in there all night tonight, so get ready.”

“Yes sir,” she says without missing a beat. “I can absolutely do that, and I can assure you that it will be ready and waiting for you. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Put Jacobi on my call sheet too. And send me a link to Kate’s baby registry.”