“Excuse me?”
“You shouldn’t be doing your own toes,” he repeats, raising his head to look me in the eye.
“Why ever not?”
“Because, you should pamper yourself and go get pedicures.”
“Oh please,” I wave him off. “Who has time for that?”
“You only work three days a week, babe.”
“Well, now that I’m not sending every last dime to Sylvia any more, I’ll splurge,” I comment with a smile but the look he sends me is feral.
“That’s why you do your own feet? Why you barely have basic cable? How much have you been sending her?”
“None of your business.” I try to pull my foot away, but he grabs my ankle and holds strong.
“It is my business.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Megan, don’t fight me on this. I’m in love with you, damn it, and you’re sending money you need to that piece of shit of a human being. Now tell me, how much do you send her?”
“Anything that’s left over.”
“What does that mean?”
“What I said. I pay the bills, buy groceries and keep a little for incidentals and send her the rest.”
“Fuck, Meg.”
“I already said I’m done. I meant it.”
“Damn straight you meant it.”
“Why does this bother you so much? It’s not your money.”
“It’s not about the money. It’s about that woman taking advantage of you, and you letting her, and it kills me that you’ve been going without when you didn’t need to be.”
“I don’t go without.” I shake my head and push my hands though my hair in frustration. “Trust me, Will, I know what it is to go without. This isn’t it. I have everything I need. I’m fine.”
“You’re fine.”
“I’m fine,” I repeat. “I don’t need to be rich. I’m happy with what I have. You do know that I’m not with you because of your fat contract, right?”
He laughs like I’ve just said the most absurd thing he’s ever heard. “Trust me, babe, you’re no gold digger.”
“Well, there you go then.” I shrug.
He goes back to my toes, and we sit in silence, the game playing in the background, as he carefully paints each little toe. When he’s done with the second coat, he replaces the wand, tightens the bottle and then blows on my toes to help them dry.
It tickles.
“Your toes are so small,” he comments softly.
I sigh as I just watch him pamper my feet. This big, strong man, gently painting my tiny toes. It’s adorable.
And sweet.
He loves me.
“Thanks for painting them,” I murmur.
“You’re welcome,” he replies with a grin. “It wasn’t so hard.”
“Maybe I’ll let you paint them from now on,” I wink at him and he chuckles, sending shivers through me. I love his voice. I love making him laugh.
“I think I’ll just send you to the spa with Jules and Nat.”
“You’re not sending me…”
“Shut up, Megan.” He pulls me into his lap, careful not to mess up my fresh paint, and kisses me hard, until we’re both breathless. “Just let me spoil you a little, okay?”
“You do spoil me.”
He brushes a strand of hair off my cheek and kisses my forehead, then settles me against him so we can finish the football game.
“Get used to it,” he whispers.
* * *
“How was vacation?” Jill asks as she leans on the counter next to me where I’m charting and passes me a Starbucks.
“Fantastic,” I reply with a smug grin.
“I hate you. You know that, right?”
“You love me.” I laugh at her and give her a hug. “It’s good to be back. Thanks for this.”
It’s Tuesday, and we are working the morning shift.
“How’s your man?”
“Good. Working.” I shrug and dive back into my chart.
“How long does he work anyway? I know nothing about what those guys do during the week.”
“Well, it varies. Yesterday they trained in the morning and then watched films and had meetings the rest of the day. He didn’t get home until about eight last night.”
“Wow, long days.”
“Yeah, it’ll be the same today. They’re working extra hard since they all took last week off.”
“Cool.” She smiles encouragingly.
The phone at my elbow rings, and I pick it up. “Pediatric Oncology, this is Megan.”
“Hey, Meg this is Lyle in security. Just wanted to give you the heads up that Mr. Montgomery is on his way up to you.”
I frown and turn toward the elevators as I hear them ding and see Will walk off, grinning from ear to ear, heading straight for me.
“Thanks, Lyle.” I hang up and cross to him. “What’s up?”
He just hugs me, pulling me off my feet and spins me in a circle, and then kisses me like crazy, in front of everyone.
Every. One.
“Uh, Will, I’m working.” I laugh and pull back, confused, but pleased with how excited he looks. “What is going on with you?”
“Stacy had the baby this morning. I just came from there.” He’s so proud.
“Oh! That’s awesome! How are they?”
“Perfect. Stace is tired, but she did great. The baby is tiny and adorable, and Isaac can’t stop staring at him. I’d call him a pussy, but I can’t blame him. The little guy is great.”
“I’m so happy, for all of you.” I run my hands down his chest, but I catch the quick frown between his eyes before it’s gone, replaced by his handsome smile.
“Thank you. So, I was in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by.”
“I’m so glad you did. I can’t wait to congratulate them.”
“They’ll all be at mom and dad’s on Sunday, but you’re welcome to stop in and see them later today. I think they’ll be in the hospital until Thursday.”
“Okay, I will. For sure. I got them some gifts I can’t wait to give them.”
“You did?” He grins again, delighted with me.
“Of course.” I shrug shyly. “New babies need new things. Plus, you’ll approve of what I got.”
“What is it?”
“Baby football gear. He’ll be all decked out on Sunday to cheer on his uncle Will.”
Will’s eyes go soft and he pulls me to him and kisses me again, softly, brushing his lips over mine, and I don’t care who sees. He buries his fingers in my hair and holds on tight as he devours me with his lips.
He smells good. Musky and clean.
He smells of Will.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.
“I know,” I respond, and he smiles again.
“I have to get back to the team for meetings the rest of the day. I’ll see you tonight?” He raises a brow in question and I smile.
“I’ll be there.”
“Great.” He kisses me, one last time, hard, and then turns to walk back to the elevator. “Later.”
“Later.” I wave and watch him disappear into the elevator.
“Oh yeah,” Jill murmurs with humor behind me. “He’s good. Damn, girl.”
I just sigh and nod in agreement. “Yeah, he’s good.”
Chapter Eighteen
Apparently, losing a game makes Will a wee bit grumpy.
Or a lot grumpy.
We’re driving to his parents’ home after the game this morning, and he’s unusually quiet.
I was at the game today, in his private sky box with Nat and Jules and the guys. It was fun. Until the end of the fourth quarter. We were up by three points against Arizona, but in the last two minutes, Will threw an interception, and the guy ran it in for a touchdown.
We lost.
Will was off his game most of the day. I could see it. He just wasn’t himself.
The others went on ahead to the Montgomery’s house and I hung back to wait
for Will to give a couple interviews and take a shower. He’d hugged me when he saw me, but he hasn’t said much.
What the hell am I supposed to say?
I don’t know.
So I just reach over and take his hand in mine, link our fingers and kiss his hand, then rest them in my lap.
That earned me a half smile.
He pulls into his parents’ drive, parks and opens the door for me. It’s an unseasonably warm fall day.
“I smell rain,” I say casually.
“I hope not. Grilling in the rain sucks.”
“You live in Seattle. Grilling in the rain is the norm.”
He smirks and leads me around his parents’ house to the back yard, and I gasp. Holy shit, his dad must put in hours and hours each week into this yard. Even in the fall, when most of the flowers have died, and the leaves are turning, it’s a sight to behold with paths and benches and fruit trees.
“This is gorgeous.”
He looks back and grins. There he is.
“Yeah, Dad works hard on it.”
“I can tell.”
“They’re here!” A little girl of about five years old shrieks and jumps up and down. She’s in a Seattle football jersey and jeans, her long raven hair braided down her back. And suddenly her mirror image is standing next to her.
“Well, hello there,” I smile down at the sweet little girls.
“Hi,” they say in unison, smiling widely at us.
“Meg, this is Josie and Maddie. They’re Brynna’s daughters.”
Everyone looks up from what they’re doing and waves and I just stand here and look about the back yard in awe.
It looks like some sort of beautiful people convention.
Seriously.
“Come help me grill, son! Grab a beer.” Will’s dad is manning the grill, wearing a Chillin’ and Grillin’ apron and wielding a long metal spatula. Most of the guys are near the grill, either standing with Steven, or sitting at a nearby table.
What is it with men and grilling?
The women are scattered on the covered patio, in small groups chatting and laughing, holding babies, sipping drinks.
Holy shit, I didn’t know that family gatherings like this existed.
“Sure, dad, let me just introduce Meg around.” He grins down at me and links his fingers with mine reassuringly.
“I don’t think I should be here,” I whisper up to him. He scowls and leans down to kiss my dimple.
“You definitely should be here,” he whispers in my ear. He straightens and leads me to the patio. “You know most everyone. My ugly brothers are over there,” he points to his brothers, including Luke and Nate, who all grin and wave. Fuck, they’re all hot.
“You know my mom and dad, and the girls,” again with more smiles and waving. “And that’s Luke’s mom and dad, Neil and Lucy. That couple wandering through the trees is Stacy’s parents, and Brynna’s parents are sitting with my mom. And that big guy that looks like Nate with my dad at the grill is Nate’s dad, Rich.”
I’m completely overwhelmed.
“Hi everyone,” I smile and wave at the group as a whole, and they all smile and wave back. They are a sea of green and blue, clearly dressed to support Will and his team.
Except Nate, who’s just wearing a black t-shirt and faded blue jeans, his hair down, tattooed arm wrapped around Jules’ waist, and he’s whispering in her ear, making her laugh.
“I think Meg could use a drink,” Caleb steps forward and hands me a beer. He has kind blue eyes and an effing killer body.
Of course, he’s a SEAL.
“Yes, Meg could,” I agree and take the beer from him. “Thanks.”
“Come sit with us,” Natalie calls, her daughter Olivia on her shoulder. She is sitting with Brynna, Samantha and Stacy in plush outdoor couches at the far end of the patio.
“I’ll be over there,” I wink at Will and turn to go, but he holds onto my hand and pulls me against him, swinging our linked hands behind my back and kisses me, long and slow, in front of all of these people.
“Get a fucking room!” Caleb calls out.
“Watch your damn mouth!” Will’s mom, Gail, yells at him, making us all laugh.
“What was that for?” I ask him.
“Because I can.” He winks and walks over to his dad. “That’s no way to grill a steak, old man.”
“Here,” Brynna scoots over on the couch making room for me, and hands me the newest Montgomery, Liam. “He’s wearing your outfit, you hold him.”
I glance up at Stacy, who is lounging comfortably next to Natalie. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not. Babies are passed around this family all day. Get used to it.” She grins at her son lovingly as I take him from Brynna and cradle him in my arms. He has a Seattle footfall beanie on his little head, matching the adorable onesie that looks like a jersey with the number eight on the front, tucked into the tiniest blue jeans I’d ever seen, and all wrapped up in a blue and green blanket. “That is the most adorable baby outfit, Meg. Thank you.”
“Oh you’re welcome. I couldn’t resist it. But the girls are absolutely precious.” Sophie, Isaac and Stacy’s older daughter, and Olivia are in matching green and blue tulle tu-tus and green and blue hair bows almost as big as their heads.
“Stacy made the tu-tus,” Natalie grins and pats her daughter’s back.
“There’s not much you can do when you’re a thousand months pregnant,” Stacy remarks with a frown. “I was bored out of my mind.
“That must have been a challenge with a one year old,” I pull Liam up onto my chest, and he nestles down under my chin, sighs, and goes right back to sleep.
“It was, but Isaac was great. He was able to work mostly from home, and I had my mom and Brynna, and Nat and Jules, so I was never alone for long.”
Luke joins us, kisses his daughter’s cheek and then his wife’s lips. “Want me to take her?”
“Sure,” Nat hands the sleepy, dark haired baby to Luke and grins as he murmurs to the baby and walks back over with the guys.
“He’s hot with a baby,” Brynna remarks with a sigh.
“He’s just hot,” Stacy replies. “Sorry, Nat.”
“Puke,” Samantha remarks and makes a gagging noise. “That’s my brother, girls. And why does he always get to hold the baby? He hogs her.”
“Because she comes from my loins,” Luke calls back, having heard Sam.
“Oh God, don’t talk about your loins. I’m going to throw up.”
“Don’t be sorry, Stace. You’re right,” Natalie laughs. “Although, I think all the guys here are pretty hot.”
I nod and look over at Will. He’s frowning, hanging back from the others, deep in thought. He’s beating himself up about today. How do I get him out of this mood? I purse my lips, rubbing Liam’s little back, and then it hits me.
With a grin, I balance Liam on my chest and pull my phone out of my pocket, and send him a text.
Would the thought of me sucking your cock in the car on the way home cheer you up?
I hit send and kiss the baby’s head, half listening to the girls chatting around me. My eyes are on Will when he pulls his phone out of his pocket to check his phone. His lips twitch and his eyes meet mine from across the patio, and then his thumbs are moving across the screen.
My phone vibrates with his response. Are you wearing panties?
It makes me smile. I love how it turns him on that I don’t wear underwear often.
No.
He raises an eyebrow and pins me with a hot look, then focuses on his phone again.
“Meg, how was New Orleans?” Jules asks as she joins us, Sophie on her hip. The baby is playing with Jules’ phone.
“It was so great,” I respond and feel my phone vibrate.
Can I bury my fingers deep in your pussy while you suck me off?
“What did you guys do while you were there?” Brynna asks as one of her daughters, I’m not sure which one, climbs onto her lap. We are surrounded by c
hildren and I’m sending x-rated texts to my boyfriend.
Yes please.
“Ate a ton of food, took in a bunch of music, wandered around the city. I wanted to go on a ghost tour, but Will was chicken.”
“I heard that,” he calls from across the patio.
“I wasn’t trying to hide it,” I call back, and everyone laughs.
“I’ve always wanted to go there,” Stacy remarks. “Isaac and I will have to go sometime.”
“You should,” I nod. “It’s a lot of fun. And warm, which was fantastic.”
Just for that last remark, I’m going to spank your ass when I’m inside you tonight.
“You got a nice tan,” Jules sets Sophie on her feet and she toddles over to me before I can respond to Will’s text. I look up at him and nod. Hell yes! He just laughs and takes a pull on his beer.
“Baby!” Sophie points a tiny finger up at her little brother.
“Is this your baby brother, sweet girl?” I ask her, earning a big, slobbery smile, showing off four front teeth.
“Baby.” She holds her hands up, trusting that I’ll pick her up, so I cradle Liam in my left arm and lift Sophie up to sit on my right leg. “Baby.” She points at him again and then sticks her tiny finger in her mouth.
“Yes, this is baby Liam. Isn’t he sweet?” I kiss her smooth cheek, then blow a raspberry on her neck, making her laugh.
“Meg, look up and smile.” I raise my head at Nat’s voice and smile for her camera. The woman doesn’t go far without that thing. Even Sophie is so used to seeing a lens that she poses for the camera too.
“Dinner’s ready, everyone,” Gail calls. The guys help her set bowls of salads and fruits on the long buffet table next to the house, while Steven piles steak and chicken on platters.
The food is abundant and delicious.
“This is the last time this year we’ll grill. Until next summer, we’ll have family gatherings catered. It’s a lot of work to feed all of us,” Natalie tells me as she stands and takes Sophie from me, planting her on her curvy hip.
“I can see that,” I respond and kiss Liam’s head again.
“Meg, you look good wearing a baby,” Luke remarks as he joins his wife, Olivia asleep against his muscular chest.
“So do you,” I wink at him, and he laughs.
“Stop flirting with my brother-in-law,” Will scowls as he joins me. I stand and hand him the baby.