But instead of narrowing her eyes and pulling out a legal pad to scribble furiously about all his and Nat’s wrongdoings, Sheila just laughed and nodded. “One of those live and learn moments, I suppose. Would y’all mind if we stepped inside so we can get started?”
Truthfully, yes, he did mind, but he couldn’t refuse. And he had no reason to be nervous. Cole had told him the social worker’s job was strictly to make sure June and Owen were in a loving, safe environment and that they were flourishing. That wasn’t the part he was worried about. They also had to contend with the farce he’d invented and make sure he and Nat pulled off the in love and happily engaged couple act.
Fortunately, they’d been friends long enough and had developed a sort of telepathic communication style, so they were on the same page throughout the longer-than-he-would’ve-liked visit. While Nat had wrangled June and fed Owen, he’d filled out paperwork, chatted with Sheila, and gave her a tour.
Thank fuck he hadn’t felt comfortable going through Aubrey and Nathan’s room yet, which meant the extra bedroom was full of both his and Nat’s things, one of her bras slung over his jeans on the chair he’d draped them on, and her scent permeating the room.
That scent had been doing things to him lately, especially since he’d been surrounded by it every night after she got out of the shower and climbed under the covers, all warm and soft. His cock had somehow managed to view that scent as a gunshot declaring it was go time, since he’d woken up every morning with his nose buried in her neck or her hair, breathing in all her sweet-smelling goodness while her ass was tucked up against his raging erection.
He couldn’t even say waking up like that was the first time he’d gotten hard thanks to Nat. That just wouldn’t be possible, considering she’d been around during the Random Boner days of his early teen years, where one would pop up if a slight breeze swept against his fly just right. But he could say it was the first time as a fully grown adult male who should have been able to have a modicum more control over his dick than he had at fourteen.
“I understand y’all’re gettin’ married?” Sheila asked, her brows raised as she sat on the oversized chair in the living room, her iPad braced on her knees.
“That’s right,” he said, glancing at Nat, who lay on her stomach next to June as they colored in the activity books Sheila had brought along.
“When’s the big day?”
“Well, we just got back from ring shopping, actually. We picked up our license today and have an appointment on Monday at the courthouse.”
“That’s wonderful news. Congratulations to you both.”
“Thanks,” he and Nat said at the same time, then shared a smile.
“Well…” Sheila slipped her iPad into the canvas bag she’d brought filled with activities for both kids. It hadn’t been surprising that Nat had managed to corral June with a coloring contest, but Asher hadn’t been expecting Owen to sit on the floor and play so nicely—or for so long—with the building blocks. “I’ll get on out of y’all’s hair so you can go about the rest of your day.”
After prying the now-beloved blocks from Owen’s grip and gathering up the explosion of crayons, Asher walked Sheila to the door, relieved to get her out of the house, even despite how pleasant she was.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. McCoy. I’ll be in touch to schedule another visit soon.”
“Drive safe,” he said with a wave before shutting the door and locking it for good measure.
Why that made him feel better, he had no idea. It wasn’t as if he thought the woman would come barging in uninvited, but it was at least another shield between them. He rested his forehead on the wood door and exhaled a long breath.
Warmth pressed into his lower back as Nat placed her hand there, and his abs tightened at the touch. Her scent swept over him before he could even open his eyes, and his body responded accordingly.
“Think we pulled it off?” she asked.
He lifted his head and glanced over at her before looking behind to where June tickled Owen’s stomach, the pair of them giggling up a storm. His stomach clenched, worry and uncertainty over what the future held swamping him. Over the possibility that he might lose those two. “God, I hope so.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Nat asked, glancing at Asher, the fading light of the setting sun glinting off the natural lighter brown streaks in his hair.
As he’d driven them to her parents’ house for Sunday supper, he’d had one elbow resting on the center console between them while he balanced his left wrist on top of the steering wheel and sang along to the radio. As if he didn’t have a care in the world. As if they were just out for a Sunday drive with no destination in mind. As if they weren’t on their way to her very large, very opinionated family’s home to drop the bomb about their upcoming nuptials. The ones that’d be taking place tomorrow.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He lifted his gaze to meet hers over the top of the car as they tag-teamed grabbing the kids.
Nat shrugged as she helped June climb out. “Oh, you know, just my family,” she said, as if that would explain everything. And…it did. Without a doubt.
She loved them…mostof the time, but there was no denying they were a handful. There was also no denying her momma, daddy, and gran were about to lose their collective shit when they found out what was happening. For the past several days, Nat had been dodging her momma’s calls, but she’d left plenty of messages so Nat knew exactly what she wanted to talk about—namely who this fiancée of Asher’s was that everyone had been talking about and why she hadn’t heard a word about it.
Obviously, Nat had known it was too much to hope that what had transpired in the courtroom had stayed in the courtroom. Too much to hope to have a tiny bit of privacy during her time in Havenbrook. Nope, Nat was certain the detail of Asher’s betrothed had spread like wildfire before the judge had even slammed down his gavel.
“Are Ava and Ella gonna be here?” June asked, tugging Nat as she skipped up the front walk lined with freshly planted flowers.
“I’m not sure, Junie B. They might be at their daddy’s this weekend.”
June puffed out her bottom lip in a pout and slumped her shoulders. “But I like playin’ with them,” she said, her voice the closest to a whine Nat had ever heard.
“Well, if they’re not here, I can promise you my momma’ll entertain you. Sometimes the girls help her bake a pie—maybe you can be her helper tonight.”
