Page 48 of Revived

“Thanks. I will. Look, I’m so glad you’re here, but I need to mingle and make sure that everything is taken care of. We’ll catch up later, and of course this week.” Bending down, I place a kiss on her cheek and then squeeze her hand before taking off for the porch. Everyone is starting to eat, converse, and the kids begin to run amuck around my backyard as the party gets underway.

“Do you need any help?” I come up beside Rachel, whispering in her ear and startling her so badly that she jumps.

“Jesus, Luke. You scared me,” she grates back, placing a bowl of dip on the table.

“Sorry, not my intention. You okay? Need anything?”

Turning to face me head on, her bright green eyes burn brighter than normal in the vibrant sunlight coming underneath the patio. “No, I’m good. Are you okay?”

“I’d be better if I could touch you and kiss you right now. Instead, I’m watching you walk around in that dress, admiring your ass and the curve of your hips.” Rachel’s eyes widen and then she smirks.

“Luke!”

“What?”

“You can’t say things like that, Luke, around all of these people. You’re making me all hot and bothered,” she whispers, pretending like she’s fixing something on the table and avoiding my eyes.

“Well, you can’t say things like that either. Now I’ve got to prevent myself from thinking about how wet you are all day and try not to walk around with a hard-on.” I know how wet Rachel can get for me as we’ve explored touching each other more in the last week. But tonight, I have something else planned for her.

“You’d better behave.” She eyes me from the side, the devious glint in her eyes tells me she’d be willing to punish me if I keep pressing her.

“I will. Just know, later when we’re all alone, it’s on.”

“Looking forward to it.”

I walk around her, gently brushing my hand against hers before making my way around the yard, greeting my friends, and watching my son live his best life.

“Looks like you’re forgetting that everyone here has eyes,” Cash chides as I step up to him, Cooper, Kane, and my brother-in-law, Matthew.

“What do you mean?”

“He means, we all just saw you eye-fuck your nanny,” Cooper says, bouncing his daughter in her wrap on his chest. The dad role looks good on him.

“Well, can you blame me?” I snicker and then find Rachel again on the porch. She’s talking with Pfeiffer and Jess now and smiling from ear to ear.

“Seriously though, how’s it going between you two?” Cooper adds.

“Really well. It’s weird having someone else to think about again, besides Grayson. But on the other hand, it feels natural and right. She’s incredible. To think just a few months ago she was a stranger offering to watch my kid, and now she’s a part of our lives.”

“You seem happy, man. So when are you going to tell Grayson?” Cash asks as we watch a group of kids run past us for the bounce house.

“I don’t know. We’re taking things slow, and once I get a better feel for it, we’ll decide. I like her, don’t get me wrong. But there’s still guilt there, although it is starting to dwindle.”

The guys all nod. “That’s understandable. Hell, when I thought I lost Piper, the thought of even trying to live without her was unfathomable. I can’t imagine what this must feel like, Luke.”

“Yeah, it’s rough some days. But knowing it’s Rachel—how incredible, selfless, and genuine she is—it makes it easier because I know she’s a good person.”

“You definitely seem like you’re lighter, more at ease, not as surly anymore…”

“Surly? When have I been surly?”

All the men throw their heads back in laughter. “You’re joking, right? You’ve been a bear since I’ve known you, which don’t get me wrong… I get why. What you went through, what you witnessed…” Cash trails off and the vision of Hannah’s accident flashes through my mind. I’ll never forget that night, that image, the fear, and desperation I felt when I realized it was her car I drove up to.

“I know. It still haunts me. But I’m trying to move past it, you know? It’s gonna take some time, but if there’s anyone who’s worth it… I think it might be her.” I jut my chin in her direction, just as the women look down here and Rachel’s smile blinds me, making me yearn for her even more.

“Daddy! Is it time for cake and ice cream?” Grayson shouts when he lands in front of me, pulling my attention from the girl I’m crushing on hard, his face sweaty from bouncing non-stop for the past hour.

“Yeah, we can do that.”

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