Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 59954 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59954 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Wordlessly, I swiveled my laptop to the side so that we all had at least a partial view of the split screen showing the feed from four different cameras. We’d never get any work done if we were all constantly checking our phones.
Justice grunted. “I don’t like the way those three have their heads together,” he muttered.
I was in complete agreement but had no solution, so I just shrugged. At that moment, Hazel threw back her head and laughed, bringing a smile to my face.
We jumped into company business for the next few hours; only stopping when it was time for lunch. “Let’s take our girls out,” Thatcher suggested, though from the look on his face, it was clear that he would rather grab his wife and hole up alone at home.
Once we’d collected our wives, I mentioned an upscale restaurant a few blocks away. Imogene’s face wrinkled, and she pointed to a street vendor. “How about some hot dogs instead?”
Thatcher rolled his eyes and tugged his wife into his side. “No more street hot dogs, sugar. It’s not good for you, but especially while you’re pregnant.”
Blair and Hazel screeched and started clapping and jumping up and down. They hugged Imogene who was blushing to the roots of her brown curls. “Our babies will be so close together!” gushed Blair. Hazel glanced at me with a question in her leafy green eyes. It was technically a little early, but I was as excited to share our news as she was. I smiled and gave her an encouraging nod.
Just then, Blair turned and grabbed my wife’s hands. “Your turn, Hazel! Let’s have our babies together!” Justice shook his head with an expression of exasperation, but he was chuckling.
“Perhaps we should let Jamison and Hazel decide when they want to have babies, bunny.”
I couldn’t help the huge grin that split my face when Hazel flushed and matched my expression.
“She’s pregnant!” Imogene shrieked, and then the dance happened all over again.
We stood there a little awkwardly, but the proud puff of our chests didn’t escape the girls’ notice. Hazel smirked and cocked her head to the side. “Look at them,” she jibed with a teasing tone that brought back the musical lilt from her country upbringing. “I’m surprised they don’t float away with all those puffed chests and planet-sized egos.”
I stuck my hands in my pockets and grinned unapologetically. Hell yeah, I was preening like a fucking peacock. My woman had a ring on her finger that could be seen from space and my baby in her belly. And right at that moment, she was glowing with happiness. I took a deep breath. For the first time in weeks, I felt easy and relaxed.
“It’s on Wednesday. You guys are going to come, right?” Imogene was wringing her hands nervously as she voiced her question. It seemed she’d finally agreed to let Thatcher set up a showcase for her at a small, local gallery.
“Of course!” Hazel answered sweetly as she cuddled into my side. We’d ended up in a retro diner near the seaport where we could share a large, round booth, allowing each couple to sit together. She tipped her head back and looked up at me. “We can, right?”
“We can do whatever you want, peaches.” She blushed prettily and gave me a beautiful smile. I fucking loved when she stared me like I hung the damn moon. I loved it a little too much because we were going to be stuck in that booth for a little while until I talked my cock down.
“It’s casual,” Imogene continued excitedly. “The gallery is actually kind of funky, so I think it will be a fun atmosphere.”
The girls made more plans while we sat back and simply enjoyed watching them. I imagined my expression mirrored the one on Justice’s and Thatcher’s faces. Contentment and adoration. I was besotted with my gorgeous wife, and it reaffirmed my determination to do whatever it took to make her happy for the rest of our lives.
Chapter 4
Jamison
Hazel had been practically beaming all night. I trailed behind her, keeping an eye out, but mostly just enjoying watching her. She was dressed in jeans that were a little too tight in my opinion, but hot as fuck. With a purple tunic that had long, flowy sleeves with slits in each one and another in the center of the chest, giving tantalizing glimpses of cleavage. She wore brown riding boots, and her hair was in a messy, fancy braid that hung over one shoulder, resting on her breast.
If she hadn’t been so excited about attending the art show, I’d have kept her locked in the house while I devoured her from head to toe. It was still the plan for when we got home.
Imogene and Blair had drawn Hazel into a conversation about babies while I talked business with my partners. As time passed, more and more people arrived at the gallery, and I could tell that Justice and Thatcher were becoming as uncomfortable as I was. I sent a quick text and within five minutes, Bianca, Hazel’s bodyguard, walked in the door. She was followed by Benjamin and Kyla, Blair and Imogene’s security, respectively. When Hazel caught sight of the three “shadows” as the girls liked to call them, she rolled her eyes at me, but I just shrugged, not the least bit sorry.