Page 79 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

“Actually…” I felt oddly nervous, like I really had just met him in this bar and he wasn't going to like what I was about to say. “I've got a baby at home.”

He tensed and pulled away from me a bit. “You probably want to get home to her.”

“I do,” I said. “But I'd love it if you came home with me.”

He relaxed. “That would be amazing. You want to go now, or do you want to dance some more?”

I could probably dance all night with him, but his body pressed against mine was making me want to get him naked and in my bed. “Let's go home.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Epilogue

8 months later

Noah

Aubrey's hair was in a messy bun on top of her head, revealing the creamy skin of her neck. I wanted to step up behind her and press a kiss to that smooth, perfect flesh, but we were in public, at Cody and Carrie's wedding reception, and Aubrey was chatting and laughing with May and Dilly, Carrie's other two bridesmaids.

Every time I saw Aubrey with other people, being her social, happy self, I was struck with amazement that she was my fiancée, that she was going home with me. I was also reminded of what an idiot I'd been for not asking her out the first time I saw her, for not grabbing her and never letting go.

Over the past eight months, we'd gotten dressed up and gone out on an adult date at least once every week. I'd sent Aubrey flowers, even though I lived with her, and bought her gifts. I'd wooed her romantically and I'd gotten to know her as a sexy, brilliant woman, an amazing mother, and the only person I ever wanted forever.

I watched her laughing with her friends and I waited. “What are you doing watching the women like a creeper?” Oscar asked, stepping up next to me. Unexpectedly, he and I had become good friends.

“Don't act superior, salt man. I've seen you checking out Dilly all night. Why don't you go over and talk to her?”

I could have sworn Oscar's cheeks pinked. I'd suspected for a while that he had a thing for Dilly, but I hadn't called him out on it until that moment. “I doubt her date would appreciate that,” he said.

As if on cue, Dilly's date, a tall, lean man with graying hair, who looked at least ten years older than her, stepped up next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. I blew a zerbert. “Please. You can take him.”

Oscar rolled his eyes. “Right. Because all the women want a man who beats up their date and drags them back to his cave.”

I shook my head, watching my friend wince as Dilly's date spun her and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. “Just don't screw up and wait too long to tell her how you feel, like I did.”

He sighed. “She'd have to be single long enough for that to happen. I'm going to get a drink, you want one?”

“No, thanks.” May had left Aubrey's side, pulled away to dance by another wedding guest I didn't recognize. I walked quickly up to Aubrey before anyone else caught her attention. I grabbed her hips and pressed a quick kiss to the back of her neck, pulling her against me. “I've been watching you all night,” I said in a low voice. “You are the sexiest woman I've ever seen.”

She spun to face me, a huge smile on her face. “Sorry,” she said. “I'm sure you're a really nice guy, but I'm engaged.” She glanced down at her belly, still flat, our second child only a tiny bit bigger than a wonderful idea. “And I'm pregnant.”

I didn't let her go. “Your fiancé’s an idiot if he's not right next to you. I happen to think pregnancy looks amazing on you.”

Her smile widened. “You might be right. I suppose I could sneak away for a few minutes if you're up for a quickie in the bathroom.”

“I'm up for anything with you, gorgeous.” I took her hand and led her inside. Carrie and Cody had rented out Nora's Inn for the weekend for out of town friends and anyone who wanted to crash there after having a few too many at the wedding. I knew just the place for our tryst. I pulled Aubrey upstairs and to the bedroom at the end of the hall.

“We can't do this here,” she said. “How will I explain to your mother that an empty room needs to be cleaned?”

I shrugged. “Who can say what happened? Maybe one of the guests was drunk and slept in the wrong room.”

She nodded. “Okay, that's believable.” I led her to the bed and made short work of getting her undressed and under me. She sighed and moaned, her sounds driving me as crazy as they always did. I gripped her wrists tight in one hand and drove into her, fast and hard.

“Yes,” she moaned. “God, I've missed this.”

That gave me pause. “We just did it this morning.”

“That was so long ago,” she said, her voice breathy. “Why the hell did you stop?”

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