Page 58 of This Broken Heart
He tilts his head, eyes sparkling in that disconcerting light blue shade. “A baby, then.”
I shrug. “If you want to look at it that way.”
Josh appears in the doorway, eyes shooting daggers at both of us. “Did you get lost, Dusty?”
Dusty hops off the counter, winking at me on his way by. “Just getting to know your new friend.”
38.
Josh
We’re not even two minutes into the first quarter and these guys are sniffing around Erin like bloodhounds.
Bo’s the only one who hasn’t wandered into the kitchen, but I suspect he was just waiting his turn. I gave Dusty a few minutes, but when he didn’t come back, I started to worry.
He’s a smooth operator. Of the four of us, he’s always been the best with the ladies.
I don’t want to tell them what’s going on between Erin and me, because they’d read into it too much.
She’s the first woman I’ve had any interest in since I lost Ana. I’m not sure what that means for me, or if I’m ready to pursue it; but I know one thing—I don’t want their opinions. And if they knew, they’d never let me hear the end of it.
That leaves me in the precarious position of guard-dogging a woman who, to all intents and purposes, doesn’t belong to me.
She catches me staring, and okay, maybe I’m scowling. But she shrugs, flicking an eyebrow upwards in challenge. “Can I get you something?”
Yeah. You can help me get my head on straight.
I shrug, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Nope. I’m good.”
I leave her alone in the kitchen and she busies herself in there so long I start to suspect she doesn’t want to come out. The living room is pretty full. She’d almost have to sit on the floor. Or someone’s lap. I’m sure there would be more than a few volunteers for that position.
Maven abdicates the Bo’s lap, toddling into the kitchen. He climbs to his feet, following her. I can hear his booming laughter as he chats with Erin. I expected Dusty to be a problem. Bo is a bit of a surprise. I’m thinking about dragging him back into the living room when Skyler nudges me with his knee.
“Hmm?”
Skyler laughs, adjusting his glasses. “Where’s your head at, man?”
In the kitchen with Erin. I shrug. “Didn’t get much sleep last night.”
That’s true.
“How’s the whole nanny thing going?” He keeps his gaze trained on the commercials, tipping his beer back against his lips.
“I wasn’t too happy about it at first, but it’s really nice having someone here to help all the time.”
He glances at me. “She really lives here, then?”
I nod. “She’s got the guest room.”
“And that’s not weird?”
Shrugging, I crane my head to peer into the kitchen. “At first, yeah. But we’re getting used to each other.”
“Are you and her…”
Fucking? I wish. I huff a laugh. “No. Definitely not.”
Not sure why I added the definitely.