Page 37 of On the Rocks

I turned around, spotting Chloe practically dragging Paul down the hallway.

Trent shook his head. “Just in time, probably. Piper’s at eight centimeters.”

Chloe squealed and squeezed Paul’s hand before going over to say hi to Hailey. Over the next couple of hours, we paced the waiting room, talked about new, potentially baby-friendly ideas for Vincent’s bachelor party, and took turns entertaining Hailey until she passed out on a chair to the lullaby of a bunch of cartoon dogs serenading her on TV.

As we waited, groups came and went from the waiting room. Healthcare workers cut through on their way to and from their shifts. Proud parents emerged to update elated family members.Every time the door opened, my pulse skyrocketed. Geez, this wasn’t even my baby, and my heart was racing. I glanced over at Hailey, remembering how excited I’d been when she was born and how tiny she’d been in my hands when I’d held her for the first time.

Finally, the side door opened again, and Vincent stood there, clad in one of those disposable hospital gowns. He beamed, his eyes glassy. “I’m a dad,” he said, his voice thready, like he was on the verge of tears.

I jumped to my feet, walked over, and dragged him into a hug. “Congrats, man!” As soon as I pulled away, everyone else crowded around. Chloe gushed her congratulations, pulling Vincent into another hug.

“How’s Piper?” Trent asked, giving his shoulder a congratulatory shake.

Vincent stepped back and rubbed his face with both hands. “She’s good. She did so well. No complications.”

“That’s great news,” Paul said.

“Well…” Dominic said. “Are you gonna leave us in suspense? Or you gonna tell us what it is?”

“Oh, right!” Vincent laughed, blinking at us like the news had only now settled. “A girl. We had a baby girl.”

“I want to see the baby!” Hailey bellowed across the room, startling us since we hadn’t realized she’d woken up from her nap. She stood up on her chair, her hair stuck up in multiple different directions, the balloon now tied to her wrist.

“Me too!” Chloe said.

Vincent grinned. “Nurses said two at a time.”

Hailey jumped down from the chair and tore across the waiting room. “Me first!”

10

CORA

“Aiden?” I asked, pausing my phone as he walked into the lab. It was after hours, and I was in the middle of filming a Masked Mixer video. “What are you doing here?”

“Just thought I’d check in. See how things were going.” He’d shed his usual suit jacket, the sleeves of his black dress shirt rolled up, showing off toned forearms. He’d always had nice arms. I wondered if they still felt as good as they looked.

I cleared my throat. “I just stopped to do some filming.”

“Oh, am I on camera?” he joked, running his hands through his hair before shaking out his curls.

I smirked. “Do you want to be on camera?”

“Only if you get my good side.”

“And which one would that be?” I teased.

“Har har. You’re so funny,” he said, stepping closer. Too close. I was overwhelmed by the smell of him—sandalwood and liquor.

“Actually, since you’re here,” I said, ducking past him before my thoughts could unravel into dangerous territory, “there was a mocktail sample I wanted you to try.” I went for the container. “I just mixed it up today.”

Aiden snagged my hand before I could grab it, tugging me back toward him. I stumbled against his chest, which was deliciously firm, and his arms tightened around me. “The only sample I want to try is this one,” he growled before catching my lips in a fiery kiss.

I gasped into his mouth, and he swallowed the sound, pressing closer. I tilted my head to capture the heat of his lips, kissing him back. It was a frenzy of teeth and tongues, our noses bumping against each other, my heart threatening to burst right through my rib cage. He nudged me with his hips, and my back thudded into the worktable.

I moaned and he swept his hands across the table, knocking my camera equipment to the floor. I heard it crash, but I didn’t even care. My head was spinning too fast. All I wanted was for him to touch me. Aiden cupped my ass, squeezing, before he picked me up and set me down on the table. I spread my legs, pulling him against me, demanding attention. His hand dipped past the waistband of my pants in answer, his fingers snapping the band of my underwear.Flick.Flick.Flick!I jolted from the dream with that last flick, waking to darkness.

My heart skipped in my chest like a spooked rabbit, and I bit back a frustrated groan so as not to wake Jennifer. This was the third sex dream I’d had about Aiden in the last week, anddamn—they got hotter every time. Even more so since I’d realized Aiden wasn’t a mega-jerk insisting Dominic ditch his wife for some other woman. But what was even more infuriating was that I always woke before he got to thereallygood part. If dream-Aiden was going to hound me, he should at least get me off for my troubles.

---