Page 95 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

“No, Mrs. Gladstone. I assure you, we’re just good friends.”

It was enough that Doctor Burke had initially assumed that Carter was my baby’s father, and he’d fainted, or at least he pretended that he did, and I promised him that one day, I’d get back at him.

“And I gotta go to work if I want to make it on time. I’ll stop by afterward to see how Betsy’s doing.”

“Take care, you two.”

We walked toward the firehouse, and once again I remembered the day I’d seen Duke mount Betsy. Nick had been right behind me at the time, thrusting his hips forward.

“So, you’re really ready for this?” Carter pointed to my stomach, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“I think so. I have the diaper bag ready, and the room is perfect. All we’re missing is…”

“Nick?”

“Yeah.” I shook my head. “I don’t think he’s gotten my letters.”

“I’m sorry. But on the bright side, I’ve got the camera ready. There’s no way Nick’s missing this. I’ll make him watch it first thing he shows up.”

How was that a bright side?

“There’s no way you’re taking a camera to the hospital. In fact, there’s no way you will be in the same room as me when the baby’s born.”

“Jo, it’s not like I haven’t seen a pussy.”

“Carter!”

“What?”

“You’re doing it again. Gentleman, remember? If you can be that nice and courteous to Betsy, you can show a little more chivalry toward women.”

“Yeah, but you’re you.”

“Practice on me, then use what you’ve learned on Molly when she comes home next weekend.”

He looked like he was lost in deep thought before his mouth curved up in a sly smile.

“Right, then it’s not like I haven’t seen a cha cha.”

“Cha cha?”

“Isn’t that what you girls call it?”

“No, it’s not.” Sometimes I felt like I was fighting a losing battle with Carter.

“And no matter what you call it, you won’t be anywhere near my vagina.”

“Aha! Vagina! I feel like I should have known that.”

“You know, you never cease to amaze me.”

“Which means that I’m doing my job. Except not the firefighting job. Nothing wants to burn.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“No, it’s a good thing, but I wish I could practice all those skills with the water hose and all that shiny equipment.”

He gestured with his hands, taking a wide stance, pretending to be holding a hose awkwardly in front of him, as if he wanted to pee.

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