Page 69 of One of Six

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ESSEX

Mom givesme a look as I enter the kitchen, so I raise an eyebrow in question. "What have I done now?"

"Since when do we have an overnight guest without leaving a note for me to find in the morning?

"Ah! That... Ed got into a little trouble at the hotel last night. I thought he'd be safer here." I shrug.

I brew a cup of coffee while Mom flips the bacon.

"I can do that. What about the cooking class?"

She pushes me away. "I told Daisy I'd skip this morning. Besides, it's more interesting at home today." She wiggles her brows, plates two breakfasts and hands me one.

I narrow my eyes as she grins before carrying the other plate through the house. What is she up to? I follow with my breakfast and coffee. My eyes widen as she pats Ed on the shoulder, placing the breakfast in front of him.

"Morning," I greet Ed with one eye on Mom. "Are you doing okay, Ed?”

"Much better, thanks to your mom being here." Ed grins that ends on a wince. "Maggie gave me some stronger pain pills that are helping."

I grunt and shovel food into my mouth. I glance at Mom, wondering if she knows what happened last night. Ed eats as he listens to Mom talk. He likes her. She likes him. This is bad.

In the four years since Dad died, Mom hasn't been interested in anyone. Not only does she smile and keep touching his hand, but she is well put together for a morning.

I drop my head into my hands and groan. I hope like hell I'm wrong, even though I know I'm not. I'll tell Atilio. As the oldest brother, he can handle it.

"Essex, did I hear you moving around last night? I'm sure I heard you and Ridge."

"You heard us." I flinch briefly and glance at Ed. "It's all good."

Mom knows there's more to it, but I drink my coffee quickly.

"Where is everyone?" I change direction.

"Atilio, Boone & Nico left early to take that huge bed they’ve been building up north. I haven't seen Ridge yet, and Galen is in the studio.”

I yawn behind my hand, trying to hide it.

"Did you sleep at all?" Mom asks suspiciously.

"I did."

Looking at Mom, movement catches my eyes, and a grin breaks out. Standing, I walk down the front path and meet Bea just in time to open the gate for her.

My eyes roam over my girl before I pull her in. I love the way she feels in my arms. The way she smells. The way she makes my heart pound in my chest.

A shiver runs through me as her fingers slip into my hair. "I didn't like waking up alone this morning," I murmur against her lips.

Bea smiles softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "I missed you too," she whispers before planting a soft kiss on my lips. The warmth of her touch erases any lingering traces of the morning's loneliness, and then she makes me hard as a rock when she admits, "I can still feel you inside of me."

"Babe, don't tell me shit like that with my mom and your uncle watching us?"

"I hope you show me more later." She rearranges my t-shirt and takes my hand, leading me up the path and then onto the porch. "Hello, Maggie." Keeping my hand in hers, she walks over to Ed and gives him a kiss on the cheek to his delightful surprise. "Morning, Uncle Ed. How are you?"

"Uncle?" Mom gasps.

Oh, shit!

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