nd. “I didn’t mean you, of course. You’ve really got something special here, Clay. I love this place.” She turned and raised one eyebrow. “In spite of the name.”
He shrugged, but couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. “What? It’s named after you. Truly Scrumptious. I make desserts and candy for the kiddies. But everyone loves my cherry peach parfait the best.” He waggled his eyebrows playfully. “Besides, it wouldn’t be so successful if my talented PR lady hadn’t taken time out of her busy schedule to help me get started. It fits.”
It did. Though it had broken Nate’s heart when Clay had decided to sell back his share of The Iron Horse to buy his own little place. He said the pace was too fast, that he wanted to focus on his creations, but she knew things had changed after she and Nate had gotten together. Between Clay and Louis as well. It tore her apart to think she was responsible. Especially when she cared so much about Clay. She loved him.
But her heart belonged to Nate.
Now that Jane and the kids had enough to move into their own place, Louis and Clay had come over a few wonderful times. Truly still couldn’t believe she’d turned into such a brazen, sexual hussy. The truth was, she usually initiated their get togethers. But the men never complained.
Nate told her to give Clay time. But she was selfish. They were her family too. She wanted everyone to know it.
Clay handed her the dessert, the same dessert they’d spread over her body that first night, and she smiled at him. “I want tonight to be perfect,” she repeated. “And it won’t be unless you’re there too.”
Clay’s expression closed a little, and he tsked at her. “Don’t you think that telling a man he’s about to be a father is a pretty personal thing? Maybe tonight is not the night for that kind of celebration.”
“We’re welcoming a new life into our family. It’s the perfect night.”
He brushed a stray curl from her face. Her hair was longer, softer. She’d finally grown into herself. Accepted herself for who she was. Love and happiness could do that to a person.
She took his hand in hers and cradled it to her face. “Say you’ll come. You have to be there to see the look on his face.”
“I can’t say no to you, angel. If you want perfect, then that’s what you’ll get.”
And it was. She was loved within an inch of her life, and when, after hours of impossible positions and decadent food tasting, she told her husband of six months that they were expecting, she got just the reaction she’d been hoping for.
He fainted.
Life didn’t get any better.