Page 40 of Unexpected Delivery

“Holy fuck, you have a baby,” the woman says with wide eyes. “Is thatyourbaby?”

“Are you supposed to be busting out that kind of language atwork?” Hael asks, laughing. “And yeah, isn’t she pretty?” He spins the carrier around one-handed without dropping my daughter, which is both impressive and annoying.

“I’m just checking in for Gracie,” I say, giving a tight smile. “I was told to come a few minutes early to get the paperwork done.”

“Yeah, Lex, check us in,” Hael says, squeezing my hip.

“Of course,” she says, grinning. “Go have a seat, and I’ll bring you out the tablet. It’s all digital nowadays. Plus, I really want to see the baby. Maybe take a few pictures for the guys. They’re never going to believe this.”

Hael laughs. “You’re going to get me in trouble. I told Luke I’d have his bike done this week, and I haven’t even started it yet.”

My head ping-pongs between them.

I have no idea what they’re talking about. Mostly I want to grab my baby, go have a seat, and pretend I’m not jealous of how pretty and friendly that woman is.

Lexie shrugs. “It’s the middle of winter. It’s not like he can ride it right now. He just wants it back so he can buff it in the garage when he gets bored.”

“Better be careful. He’ll toss you right over his knee if he hears you talking about his baby like that.” Hael grins and tilts his head down to meet my eyes. “Come on, beautiful, let’s have a seat.”

I nod.

What else can I do? Even if they were together at one point, I’d have no right to be jealous. I’m just overly hormonal. It seems like cruel and unusual punishment to make women leave the house only a few days after giving birth.

I’m sure Lexie is a lovely woman. She’s welcoming and polite, but I feel like a frumpy mess, and now isn’t the time to subject myself to new people.

Dammit.

I’m a disaster.

Chapter Fifteen

Hael

“Iknow Lexie through Luke. He’s one of my best clients,” I tell Arbor once we get settled into a room. Gracie is just in her diaper and a blanket since they had to weigh her, and she’s still fussy as all get out. Shereallydidn’t like that cold metal scale. “She’s definitely going to rat me out for not being sick, but Morris knows the deal.”

“I’m sorry you’re missing work because of me.” Arbor sighs, focusing on rocking the baby against her chest, but she won’t meet my eyes, and I don’t like it.

I swagger over, grab my jeans at the knees, and pull them up, so I can squat down right in front of her. “Did I upset you? We’re in this weird gray area. The three of us signed the birth certificate, and Gracie is on my insurance because I said she’s mine, but I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Arbor shakes her head and brings the baby up to her shoulder, patting Gracie’s bum. “I’m not upset.”

I chuckle as I carefully grip her chin and tilt her face to mine. “If you had saidI’m fine, I would have had a greater chance of believing you.” My thumb teases over her jaw, and I notice her bruise is basically gone. Gracie starts to wail. “Here, let me try.” Sliding my hand up Gracie’s back, I support her head and move the other between her legs to lift her. I pull her to my chest and sway, trying to find the rhythm that soothes her. My eyes land back on the pouty omega. “Wanna level with me now, beautiful?”

“Lexie is pretty,” she says, rubbing the side of her tit.

“She is. She’s also married with two kids, and her husbands are some of my closest friends, so maybe don’t mention that I said that.” I wink and nuzzle my cheek to Gracie’s. “Were you jealous?”

“No,” she hisses, shaking her head dramatically. “It was just an observation.”

“And here’s mine. I seem to be firmly wrapped around the finger of a tiny brunette.” I frown. “Do you think Gracie qualifies as a brunette? Do they call women with black hair brunettes? Or is there another word for that?”

“I don’t know, but if she doesn’t stop fussing, I’m going to leak through these breast pads.” Arbor’s hand flies to her face, and her cheeks turn pink.

“She is busy trying to gnaw on my cheek. All right, pop a tit out. I’ll block you in case the doctor comes in,” I offer, smirking.

“Is that allowed? Am I allowed to nurse in the doctor’s office?”

Goddamn.

---