Page 90 of A Lesson for Laurel

“You love Laurel, don’t you?” Liam asked.

“You’re sounding like a chick again,” he said.

“Give me this,” Liam said. “I need a distraction while I’m waiting to see if I’m going to be a father or not.”

He smiled. “I don’t want to say something to you that I haven’t said to her.”

“Which tells me you are feeling it at least,” Liam said.

“We’ll go with that,” he said.

Nicole came out a minute later. “I set a timer. I can’t stay in there and watch it.”

“Have you been trying? I think I’d know if you were. Liam can’t keep a secret.”

“We just started trying last month. This would be the first chance to know if it worked.”

Easton grinned. “I’m going to assume you’re late or something?”

Nicole was too practical to take a test on the first day she might be late.

“Almost a week,” she said. “Which isn’t like me.”

When her phone alarm went off he was rubbing his hands together. “Fingers crossed.”

Nicole ran to the bathroom with Liam on her heels while he stayed back.

When he heard the shouting and laughing he had his answer.

“I’m going to be a father,” Liam shouted and came out and lifted him in the air in a hug.

He was laughing along with them. “I’m going to be an uncle.”

“That’s right,” Liam said. “Nicole. Easton is in love.”

“You dick. You can’t even keep a secret long enough for me to walk out the door.”

“We knew it two weeks ago,” Nicole said. “We were just waiting for you to admit it to yourself. Maybe running into Rachelle was what you needed for you to see how much better you’ve got it now.”

30

FANCY THAT WAY

“Holy cow, talk about sexy!”

The following Saturday, Laurel turned when Easton came into her hallway in his suit. Not navy but not royal blue. Like a muted sexy navy. He had a cream-colored shirt on with faint stripes in it, no tie, the shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and a matching square in the pocket. On his feet were brown leather shoes that had a sneaker vibe going.

He was a modern professional and nothing at all like a stuffy lawyer.

“I’m sure I’ll be saying the same thing to you when you get your dress on. Do I need a tie? I’ve got one with me but don’t often wear it anymore.”

“Nope,” she said. “You don’t need one when you look like that. I’m not sure how I’m going to sit through this wedding knowing you’re on my arm.”

She’d told a few people she had a date with her. Not many. The sisters knew and Aster. She saw Aster enough and it came up. And since Aster’s girlfriend was in the wedding, he was going to be by himself at the ceremony.

“Not too fancy and smooth for you?” he asked and put one foot in front of the other, then did a spin.

She burst out laughing. “Not at all.”

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