Before I could come up with a coherent sentence, he was wrapping me in his arms and kissing my shoulder, making me feel completely cocooned and protected.
“Jas—”
“Shh. Just enjoy it. When you’re ready, I’ll go again.”
He shifted me onto my side and curled himself around me. His hard cock dug into the flesh of my ass, but rather than grind it against me or make a move for more, he buried his face in my hair and whispered in my ear about how sexy and perfect I was. How pretty I looked when I came. How, next time, he wanted me to sit on his face.
I began to drift, the warmth of his large body lulling me into a state of pure bliss. I’d never been much of a cuddler, but with him, it didn’t feel compulsory or forced. It felt necessary, like the perfect extension of what we’d just done.
“I want to do that every day for the rest of my life,” he said as my eyes fluttered closed.
And my post-orgasmic, cozy, blissed-out brain thoughtsame.
Chapter 28
Evie
Halfway to Ruby’s house, I was regretting my decision to walk. Though it was only four blocks from my little craftsman, it was hot and sticky out today. My hair was going to be an epic pile of frizz by the time I arrived, and I worried that Vincent would overheat in his stroller.
Ruby and Paul’s house was a traditional brick colonial on the outside, and a chaotic wonderland on the inside. Vintage furniture, plants hanging from the ceiling, a gallery wall of family photos interspersed with abstract art, and several murals Ruby had painted over the years.
Paul greeted me with a kiss and parked the stroller in the garage while I carried Vincent inside, along with the cookies I’d baked.
On the couch, Frankie sat with Brooks, her soft expression as she looked down at him unfamiliar. Ruby was seated in a reclining chair, rocking a messy bun and a lime green silk kimono. Nina sat on the floor in front of her, a mini pedicure station set up, and was busy painting Ruby’s toes lemon yellow.
“Evie,” Ruby cheered. “I’m so happy to see you. Sorry the place is such a mess.”
It was not a mess. Not by any standard. This woman had a week-old baby, yet there wasn’t a pile of laundry in sight. No burp cloths draped over the furniture. And she was getting a pedicure.
A mini flare of jealous lit me up inside me, but I quickly extinguished it.
“Hold still,” Nina chastised, flipping her pink tipped hair over her shoulder.
Shoulders slumping, I looked down at my own raggedly cuticles. I was way past due.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you next,” Nina said without even turning around. “But no fucking baby pink. Either you let me have fun or enjoy your hangnails of shame.”
I spread out a blanket and laid Vincent on it, along with a squishy toy, and agreed. At this point, I’d take what I could get.
When Stella, Ruby’s younger sister, arrived shortly after me, we settled in for girl time.
Paul made himself useful, fetching coffee and changing diapers but otherwise remaining scarce.
“He’s a good one.” Stella gave her sister’s hand a squeeze.
Ruby looked so serene, so at peace, now cradling a sleeping Brooks in her arms.
Meanwhile, Frankie was on the floor with Vincent, using a wooden toy car to explain combustion engines. He drooled and happily stared at her while she lectured him.
“Evie, is it true?” Stella asked. “That there are lawyers crawling all over Sugar Moon? That Louisa Meyers is armoring up?”
Frowning, I shook my head. “No more lawyers than usual.” We had a small legal team and routinely worked with outside counsel on bigger issues. None of that had changed recently.
“Tony said that teams of New York lawyers are involved. The big guns, he called them.”
“That woman terrifies me,” Ruby said. “She could probably curdle milk with a glare.”
Frankie rolled over and propped herself up on an elbow. “Didn’t she buy up several of the bankrupted farms when prices tanked two years ago? Greed is a powerful motive.”
