Page 91 of One Night

“Where are Ben and Tillie?”

Sloane waggled her eyebrows. “Fishing with Granddad. I’m kid-free all afternoon.”

I looped my arm through hers and leaned into her as we meandered down the sidewalk. “My feet are swollen. Want to dip our toes in the water?” This time of year, the beach would be quiet and the icy water would feel glorious on my ankles.

As we walked, townies smiled and nodded in greeting. Much of the town gossip about Duke and me had faded from an outraged roar to soft murmurs. Only the occasional curmudgeon slid me an aggressive side-eye, but that was to be expected. Outtatowner had gone generations with Kings and Sullivans at odds with each other, so the current truce between our families was new territory.

I peeked into King Tattoo as we passed, and after I caught Royal’s eye, he tipped his chin and raised a hand. I was surprised when he swiftly rounded the counter and pushed open the door. “Hey, Syl. Sloane. You ladies out for a walk?”

In the months since I’d lost my shit on my brothers, they’d been putting forth a little extra effort to be kind and inclusive. Nerves bunched in my chest. I still wasn’t totally used to the genuine interest in me or what was going on in my life.

Is this what normal families are like?I laughed to myself, because if the Sullivans and how they were always in each other’s business was any indication, this wasexactlywhat normal families were like.

“I’m going to dip my toes in the lake and then get an ice-cream cone the size of my face.”

“I’ve got work in”—Sloane checked her watch—“forty minutes, so I’m just keeping our girl company.”

Royal crossed his arms. “How is working at the brewery? Is Abel treating you all right?”

Sloane’s eyebrow lifted at Royal’s question. “Abel isn’t exactly the chatty type. I swear the man hasn’t said more than six words to me. He communicates mostly in grunts and grumbles.”

I laughed softly at my friend’s very accurate assessment of my older brother.

Royal nodded. “Well, if he gives you any trouble, just let me know. I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh...” I looked wide eyed at my mischievous brother. “Kind of like how someonetook careof Lee Sullivan by rearranging all of the furniture in his living room?”

I didn’t miss the twitch in Royal’s cheek. “I have no knowledge of that. Talk to Whip.”

He rocked back on his heels, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Well, I’ll let you two gorgeous ladies get on with your walk.” He offered a jaunty salute before disappearing back inside his shop as Sloane and I laughed.

Together we continued our walk down the sidewalk and past the marina. “Seriously, though... working for Abel is going okay?”

Sloane shrugged. “It’s fine for now. The boss man may have a giant stick up his ass, but he is flexible with my schedule, and both times my babysitter has fallen through, he’s not once complained about the kids hanging around the back while I waited for Granddad to swing by and pick them up.” A sly smile deepened the dimple in her cheek. “And getting under his skin is a definite perk.”

I grinned. “Good for you. Abel needs a little goading in his life.”

No matterhow many times I swept or dusted or ran a rag over the baseboards, I couldn’t seem to feel like the farmhouse was clean enough. I had spent my day off fluffing pillows and washing sheets before tackling the upstairs bedrooms. I was about to start in on the nursery and demand Duke finally let me see what he was doing beyond its locked door when my hand slid over the matte-black doorknob.

“What do you think you’re doing.?” I jumped and screamed when Duke’s grumbly voice startled me. I turned to see his grumpy face and his hands planted on his hips.

I didn’t even bother fighting the grin that split my face. “Have I ever told you how handsome I think you are?”

Duke shook his head and pointed a finger at me. “Don’t you try to get out of trouble by being sweet to me.” He prowledforward, but a grin slowly spread across his bearded face, sending a jolt of heat down my spine and pooling between my legs.

God, there was already so much pressure constantly there, and I felt like one wave of his hot breath against my ear would send me straight into an orgasm.

“I was definitely not about to clean the baseboards.” I blinked at him innocently and tucked the yellow rag behind my back.

“Mm-hmm. I call bullshit.” He pulled me closer and laid a kiss on my neck just below my ear. “Come on, you little liar. I want to show you something.”

Duke’s palm caressed the inside of my elbow to my wrist before capturing my hand and leading me toward the nursery room door.

Just outside the spare bedroom door he paused. My heart danced as I looked up at him hopefully. “Is it time?”

Duke had been working on the nursery—something he said was important to him—and he wanted to surprise me. I had agreed to not peek, and the anticipation had nearly killed me. Duke slipped a slim key from his pocket and popped open the lock. Clearly he hadn’t trusted me that much, but I couldn’t blame him. His slight mistrust was accurate, because a time or two, I did test the handle, only to find it locked. Honestly, I didn’t even fully trust myself not to look, because I was so anxious to see our baby’s nursery.

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