“You didn’t even listen to it.” She laughs.
“It’s green, has a nice oval shape, and has no mushy spots. I bet when I open it, it’s going to be red inside, too,” I grin at her as she rolls her eyes at me.
“Such a smart ass.”
I pull her to me and kiss her. “Mmmmmm. I had to see what that filthy mouth tasted like,” I say, breaking away.
Her eyes dance with laughter as she looks up at me. “And what did it taste like?”
“Just like I thought it would. Dirty and delicious…my favorite combo.”
“Hmmmm. Well, maybe if you are a good boy, this dirty mouth will be put to good use later.” Her eyes shine with amusement as my gaze darkens. My dick twitches at the image of her with those pink lips around me.
“Now I’m as hard as that watermelon I just put in the cart.” She busts out laughing, and I grin against her lips before bending down close to her ear. “I’ll be a good boy for now, but later? Later, I’m fucking that beautiful mouth and leaving it way filthier than when I started.” Her breath hitches, and I grin against her neck as my words have the effect I want.
“Now I’m as ripe as the watermelon,” she mutters.
“God, I love you,” I laugh. I knock on her head, and she swats my hand away before her body starts shaking with laughter. “Just making sure.”
I immediately sense Eve’s mood change. I glance behind me where she’s staring, but I don’t see anything except a couple of random shoppers. “What’s wrong?” She blinks me back into focus and shakes her head. I can tell whatever happened has shaken her up. She nibbles on her bottom lip as her eyes search the store.
“I could have sworn I saw my mom, but I must have imagined it.”
“Your mom?” I feel my heart accelerate as I clench my fists. “Stay here with Ryland. Don’t move from this spot. Do you understand me?” I place my hands on her shoulder and search her eyes, making sure she hears me.
“What are you going to do?” She whispers.
“I’m going to make sure she’s not here.”
“And if she is?”
“Then that bitch has some explaining to do.” My voice is dangerously low and laced with a threat as it filters through my clenched jaw. I head in the direction she was looking and scan the area before searching each aisle. It’s our small-town grocery store, so it’s not that big. If she’s here, I’ll find her. I look for the next twenty minutes before walking back over to where Eve is still standing.
“I searched the whole store. She’s not here.”
“I’m sorry. I could have sworn I saw her, but that would be crazy, right? I mean, she was in Seattle. Why would she be back here? I guess I’m still haunted a little bit by the ghosts of my past.”
I pull her into a hug and rub her back. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You have every reason to get freaked out every once in a while. She hasn’t tried to contact you, has she?”
“No, I promised you I would let you know if I had. I haven’t heard from her since I blocked her number after my father got arrested. Except…”
My hand stills on her back when she goes silent. “Except what?”
“A couple of weeks ago, I kept getting calls from an unknown number. When I finally answered, all I could hear was breathing on the other end of the phone. I hung up and then blocked them. It’s probably nothing,” she says, breaking away and picking up Ryland. She buries her face in her hair and takes a deep, calming breath.
“It’s obviously not nothing. You should have told me.”
“It was the night I told you I was pregnant. I had completely forgotten about it until now.”
“Just to be sure, we are changing your number.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. I’m probably just jittery because of my father’s sentencing.”
Agent Davis let us know that her father’s trial was over, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. They knocked off some time because he cooperated and gave them more names. I can tell part of her still feels guilty for turning him in and I really hope someday I can get through to her that she did the right thing.
“Don’t fight me on this, Eve. We’re getting your number changed.” If there is even the slightest chance that it’s her mother, I want Eve’s phone number out of her hands. That bitch is crazy, and I’ll be damned if she ever gets close to my family again.
“You’re right,” she says, looking at our daughter. “Either way, I’ll feel better knowing she doesn’t have my number anymore.” She hugs Ryland close to her chest and sends me a smile over her tiny shoulder. “Let’s finish up here. This weekend is going to be so much fun, and I don’t want to spend another minute not enjoying it.”
