Page 75 of Hogging the Hunk
“No!” Preacher’s voice cracked, and he dove for Truffle like she was a fumbled football.
Indignantly, Truffle squealed and ran like her life depended on it. Ellie and Asher joined in the chase, and when they worked together, they finally cornered Truffle. Preacher didn’t hesitate to reach into her mouth to retrieve the ring.
“Got it!” Holding it high overhead, Preacher probably wouldn’t have been happier than if he was toting a Super Bowl trophy, even though his hand was covered in hog saliva. “Uh, hang on a second.”
“Dude,” Parker could barely speak for how hard he was laughing, “are you sure your nickname isn’t Butterfingers?”
“Shut up,” Preacher said, grinning, too.
Preacher ran to the bathroom to wash it off. When he reappeared, he zeroed in on Trixie, who was laughing through her tears of joy.
“Now that’s a proposal neither of them will ever forget,” I said.
Milo squeezed me against his chest, draping my hair across my shoulder so he could access my neck. “I still think ours was better.”
“Definitely.”
With the ring cleaned and slobber free, Preacher slid the perfectly sized ring onto Trixie’s finger. She twiddled her fingers, admiring how it caught the light.
Clint congratulated Preacher. “Good timing, man.”
“That was awesome.” Remi nodded dreamily as if she was reliving all the romance of her and Wil’s whirlwind proposal and wedding in her head. “I was getting curious why so many people were invited to this barbecue.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, amused that Remi was on my trail. I hadn’t told a single soul who didn’t positively have to know that Milo and I planned on getting wed today. Had she predicted our plans? “Does there have to be a reason to have a party?”
“No, though I suspected you were trying to plan something in secret.”
“Like what?” I pressed.
Remi shrugged and picked at her nails. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you planned a surprise baby shower, for example.”
“Who told you?” Maren cried. “Parker and I haven’t told anyone yet!”
I connected the dots furiously. Maren’s sluggishness, her lack of appetite, and now her outburst about someone spilling the beans? I jabbed my finger at her. “You’re pregnant?”
“I suppose the cat’s out of the bag now. I’m due in October,” Maren said. “Seriously, Remi… how on earth did you figure it out?”
Granny held up her hands like Maren was holding her at gunpoint. Her glare was almost intimidating enough to be as deadly. “Hey, don’t look at me! I kept my mouth shut, even after I accidentally found the ultrasound pictures.”
“Oh, my gosh, Granny.” Maren stomped her foot. “Those were in my purse!”
“Which fell off the coat rack when I was hanging up my jacket.” Stubbornly, Granny folded her arms. “So sue me.”
“If it makes you feel any better,” Remi broke in, “I thought the secret baby shower was for me.”
More dots to connect. More clues to follow. “Wait…” Milo gestured between Remi and Maren. “You’re both pregnant?”
“Yep.” Remi pulled up her shirt, and without the billowing material obscuring her abdomen, her bump was apparent. “Twins!”
Maren and Remi squealed as they embraced, ecstatically congratulating one another. Tears rolled freely down cheeks until they abruptly stopped and looked expectantly at Hudson.
“Me?” Hudson, like Granny, threw her hands in the air. “Clint and I have been married less than a year. We’re not in any rush.”
“I’m willing and able anytime, though.” Clint pulled Hudson to his side, and kissed her cheek as a blush pinkened her cheeks.
“The only baby we have right now is the house I’m building for us,” Hudson said, fighting back a giggle. “When it’s done, then we’ll talk about human babies.”
“Fine by me.” Clint pressed his lips against hers. “I’m happy to use up some of my vacation time so we can speed up construction.”