Page 89 of Guarded Secrets
Cam and Sawyer had invited their group to the big house at Cider Mill Farm for potluck game night, and Owen’s contribution was Rico’s latest sample for the exclusive Easy Money cheesecake.
Emery licked her fork. “Who’d have thought Key lime would be so, so delicious. I could live off this.” She offered a bite and Shane opened his mouth to accept, his hands busy rubbing her feet.
“No kidding,” Cam agreed. “I think Rico’s Key lime cheesecake will now be my number one pregnancy craving.” She stretched like a cat as Sawyer massaged the ball of her right foot. Willa lay on her back against Cam’s leg, four little paws in the air.
After playing team Pictionary, the women were enjoying post-game bliss.
“Looking pretty smug there, princess,” Owen murmured.
“Feeling pretty smug. We whooped your butts.” Keeley moaned when his thumb delved into her arch. “You can keep doing that. Timer’s still going.”
“Girls are smarter,” Delaney pronounced, sighing when Walker’s hands moved up to her shins. “Get used to it.”
“Girls cheat, you mean. I ought to arrest every one of you,” Sawyer griped.
“For being able to draw more than a stick figure?” Cam shot back.
“I think this one,” Shane pointed to his wife, “was doing something tricky with the dice.”
“We whooped your butts,” Keeley repeated. “Deal with it.”
“Foot massages for the winners, and cheesecake for everyone is the best idea ever,” Emery pronounced.
Keeley fed Owen a bite, then took another for herself.
Owen leaned forward and whispered, “If the dudes had won, it wouldn’t be my feet you’d be massaging.”
“Don’t disturb my cheesecake coma with your sexy insinuations, Owen Hardesty.”
“I thought you said the lemon meringue is the best cheesecake ever.”
“I did, but now I’m eating Key lime and it’s delicious. I don’t know how you’ll choose Easy Money’s exclusive cheesecake. They’re all so good.”
The timer went off marking the end of foot massages. Walker leaned forward and laid his head on his wife’s belly.
“We heard the baby’s heartbeat at the clinic this morning.” Delaney ran her fingers through Walker’s dark hair. “This guy thinks he should be able to hear it.”
“I can’t wait until our appointment next week,” Cam said. “We’re hoping to hear ours.”
Keeley laced her fingers with Owen’s. He’d been through the expectations of a pregnancy before. It had to be painful for him, but he didn’t look upset. He brought up their joined hands to his cheek.
With a sigh she let go of his hand and pushed herself off the couch to gather plates.
Delaney followed her into the kitchen bringing wine glasses and beer bottles.
“Hey, friend,” Keeley said, bumping Delaney with her hip.
“Hey back. You okay?”
Startled, Keeley caught Delaney’s gaze. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?
Delaney shrugged. “We’re all married. There’s lots of talk of babies. You said Owen doesn’t want marriage and a family, and I know you do.”
Keeley’s shoulders slumped. “That’s true.” She shrugged. “I can’t make him want the same things I want. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay, Keeley. I want you to have everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“Right now, Owen’s everything I want. Really. I’m fine.”
