Aubrey cough-laughed behind her hand and her cheeks dusted with pink, making me grin at her cuteness. I took her hand and pulled her into my side, so I could lean down and whisper right in her ear. “Shall we show them how it’s done?” A tiny shiver raced through her body when my breath bathed the sensitive skin. But, she shook it off and cleared her throat as she stepped away, putting several inches between us. My brow creased with my frown and when she looked up at me through her lashes, my eyes narrowed in warning.
Before I could say anything, Ethan unglued his lips from his fiancée’s face and announced we needed to stop wasting time if we wanted to make our reservation. Melody rolled her eyes, I flipped him the bird, and Aubrey outright laughed. The sound went straight to my dick. Everything Aubrey did turned me on. All she had to do was breathe, and I wanted her. But, when she laughed, it was such a beautiful sound; I felt a tug in my chest and a jolt of desire that made me hard as fuck.
Keeping her hand firmly in mine, I smiled at her and walked her out into the warm summer evening. The restaurant was only a block away, so we walked the short distance. Melody strolled alongside Aubrey who studiously ignored me and our intertwined fingers. I let her live in her safe little bubble for the moment and simply enjoyed the feel of her hand in mine. When we reached our destination, Ethan let the host know we’d arrived, and we were seated immediately. As we approached the table, Ethan finally clocked my grip on Aubrey and he grinned. I pulled out a chair for Aubrey and as I was pushing it in, Ethan walked up behind me and whispered low enough that only we could hear, “It’s about damn time, Mason.” Then he continued leading Madison to the other side where he helped her into her seat before doing the same for Melody who was sitting at the end of the table.
I relaxed in my seat and draped my arm across the back of Aubrey’s, my fingers playing with her silky curls. Aubrey gave me a sideways glance but didn’t pull away. When the waitress arrived, she immediately ordered a glass of wine before the server could get a word out. I chuckled under my breath and leaned in, so my mouth was practically touching the shell of her ear. “Do I make you nervous, cherry?”
Aubrey cleared her throat and shifted away, putting a few inches between us. “So, what’s the big news?” she asked. I let her off the hook and face forward again, but kept my arm slung behind her, toying with her mass of strawberry blond hair.
Ethan took Madison’s hand and his chest puffed out, his expression smug. “Madison’s pregnant.” Melody and Aubrey both gasped before jumping out of their chairs and rushing over to Madison, the three of them hugging and squealing with delight. Ethan and I grinned at each other and stood. We came around our end of the table and did a one-armed, man hug while shaking the other’s hand.
“Congratulations, man.”
His face was lit up with happiness and excitement. “Thanks.” He shook his head ruefully. “I’ve been dying to tell you.”
I laughed and clapped him on the back once before we returned to our seats. “Since we both give our patients the same advice, I completely understand why you waited. Can I assume she’s at least twelve weeks, then?” Most couples waited until the three-month mark to announce they were expecting because the risk of problems with the pregnancy dropped drastically.
Ethan nodded and re-claimed Madison’s hand now that the girls had separated and sat back down. “Thirteen. We wanted to tell everyone together, so we decided to wait until the night we were celebrating our engagement.”
The server reappeared with everyone’s drinks, and we put the conversation on hold to order dinner. When she left, the girls started talking about baby names, nurseries, and other baby-related topics. I watched Aubrey talk, taken in by her soft, twinkling eyes and gorgeous smile. After a while, I started to notice the subtle longing in her tone and expression. It started wheels turning in my head and I was so lost in thought, I almost didn’t notice that she’d already downed two full glasses of wine.
Our entrees arrived and throughout dinner, Aubrey drank another full glass. Her face became a little less guarded, and she started to giggle more often. She was clearly a little tipsy, and I decided to cut her off before she was completely smashed. I had plans for tonight and while I had hoped the alcohol would loosen her up, I didn’t want her drunk.
I took her empty glass by the stem and slowly slid it over near my place setting, out of her range. When she reached for it and found nothing but air, she frowned and looked around with confusion. Her eyes landed on it and then narrowed as they shifted, and she peered at my face. “Did you take my glass, Dr. Mason?” she accused.
“I think you’ve had enough for tonight, cherry,” I informed her calmly. She opened her mouth to respond, but Melody interjected, cutting her off.
“Nash is probably right. I’m not looking forward to tomorrows hangover.” She grimaced, but it was ruined when she swayed and giggled. “Want to share an Uber, Aubrey?”
“I’ll take her home,” I stated hastily, using a tone that brooked no argument. Aubrey regarded me warily; her honey eyes focused enough that I knew it wouldn’t take much to sober her up. And once she had a clearer head, we were going to get a few things straight.
Chapter Three
Aubrey
Nash’s announcement that he would take me home sounded more like a command. I was already extremely annoyed that he’d taken it upon himself to cut me off. I’d been rocking a sweet buzz.
“I’m a big girl, Nash,” I snipped. “You are not my keeper. I can get myself home just fine.”
Nash shook his head and eyed me with exasperation. “Let it go, Aubrey. I’m taking you home.” His mouth twisted into a wicked smirk as he leaned closer, keeping eye contact. “And, I am most definitely keeping you, baby.”
It got real hot, real fast, and I resisted the urge to fan myself. I also didn’t trust myself to speak. Luckily, Madison saved me when she shot to her feet and proposed that we visit the ladies’ room before leaving. She grasped Melody’s hand, who then took mine, and we started toward the back of the restaurant.
I threw a glare at Nash over my shoulder as Madison dragged me to the bathroom. He just smiled and winked at me. I hated when he did that. It set off butterflies in my stomach and made my panties damp. Yep, totally hated it. Liar, liar…my subconscious started singing. I blew out a breath and tried to ignore the annoying little voice, which was much easier when we were in the restroom and I could no longer see Nash’s ridiculously sexy face.
“Okay, Aubrey. Spill,” Madison demanded, practically hopping from foot to foot.
I walked to the mirror and started fussing with my hair, avoiding eye contact with both women. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit,” Melody scoffed. “Nash has been all over you tonight.”
“I’ve never seen him be so openly possessive of you, Aubrey,” Madison added.
I sighed and turned back around. “Apparently, Nash has decided to trample over my insistence that a relationship between us is inappropriate.” I folded my arms and huffed, “He said he’s, and I quote, ‘fresh out of patience.’ He’s unilaterally decided that we are going to be together.”
Madison’s eyes went as wide as her smile. “It’s about time.” I glared at her and she put her hands on her hips defiantly. “Come on, Aubrey. How long did you think he was going to let you pretend you weren’t interested?”
I kept my expression and tone neutral. “Who says I’m interested?”
Melody laughed. Like, throw your head back, ringing against the walls, deep belly laugh. “Girl, the only person you were fooling is yourself,” she said once her laughter had subsided and she could speak. “You’re completely transparent.”
My jaw dropped, and I gasped. “I am not!”
Madison crossed her arms and leaned against the sink, staring at me with amusement. “I hate to break it to you, Aubrey. But, when you aren’t staring at him like you want to rip his clothes off, you’re staring at him like you wan
t to have his freaking babies.”
I swallowed hard and my face heated as I thought about all of the daydreaming I’d done in the months I’d been working for Nash. I’d definitely pictured what he looked like naked more times than I could count. But, I had to admit, there were a few times when I’d also thought about what it would be like to belong to Nash, to be his wife and have his children. It was dumb, but our thoughts aren’t always within our control. Now, the girls were telling me that I hadn’t been able to hide it? Well, shit.
“Do you think Nash noticed?” I asked, hoping they would say no but knowing it was useless.
Madison snorted. “Yeah, Aubrey. I think he noticed. Do you really think he would have kept pursuing you if you hadn’t seemed interested?”
I didn’t have a response for her. We all knew the answer to that question.
Melody’s cell beeped at that moment and she frantically searched for it in her purse. When she found it, she pulled it out and almost dropped it in her haste to open it. She looked nervous until she read the text, then she sighed in relief, though her face held a note of disappointment.
I seized the opportunity to move the focus off of myself. “Melody, what’s going on?”
She shuffled on her feet and looked between us, clearly debating her response. Then she dropped her phone back in her purse and put her head in her hands. “I did something really stupid.”
Chapter Four
Nash
Ethan’s eyes followed Madison until she disappeared into the ladies’ room. I imagined I was in much the same state, my gaze glued to my own woman. When I glanced back at him, he was staring at me with a raised eyebrow.