While I appreciate the sentiment and the fact that my brother just wants to make sure we’re all okay… did we have to move into an apartment directly next to Xander?
His side of the driveway is empty, his black pick-up truck not in its usual spot, and I can’t help but sigh in relief.
The man makes me nervous.
Not in a bad way… but in a ‘good lord this man is outrageously attractive and the way he watches me makes me blush’ kind of way.
I’ve known Xander Macomb for years, first as my brother’s coworker, then best friend, and most recently, as his boss. Pretty sure he, Logan, and Cal had all gotten drunk together playing beer pong at a family barbeque a couple years ago. He’s come with Cal to Dalton’s baseball games, and had sent a teddy bear to Penny after she’d had her tonsils removed earlier this year.
He had come with Cal to Logan’s funeral.
I honestly don’t remember much of that day. I know he’dbeen there, but I was so numb with grief I simply don’t remember many details from that entire week, let alone the day itself.
Lifting the groceries onto the counter, I get Penny situated in the living room with her tablet to keep her occupied, and then Dalton and I head back outside to get more groceries. Leaning in awkwardly to reach a bag that’s rolled to the back, I groan when I hear the familiar rumble of Xander’s truck as he pulls into his side of the driveway.Why now?
“Hey, Xander!” Dalton calls to him across the yard, and then I hear the door of his truck shut with a clang. A particularly brutal Braxton Hicks contraction tightens my belly and I hiss out a breath between my teeth as I straighten, pressing a palm to my stomach.
“Teddy?”
His deep voice is laced with concern as he reaches us, and I blow out a breath as the false contraction eases. Bracing myself, I raise my eyes to his. He’s got the most incredible eyes I've ever seen, and they never fail to stun me. They’re an icy sky blue with darker rings around the edges and flecks of gray near the irises. He has dark, annoyingly long lashes that fan out around them. His face and arms are tanned, like he works out in the sun shirtless a lot, and his lower face is darkened with a close-trimmed dark beard.
He’s wearing a pair of jeans that fit way too well, and an ancient looking Petoskey Fire Department t-shirt that molds to his upper body. His dark hair is thick and just a tad too long; the ends are curled slightly beneath the brim of his Detroit Tigers baseball hat.
“You alright?” he asks gently, stepping up close. His gaze travels over me completely, from head to toe, and I can’t help the blush that spreads across my cheeks in embarrassment.
I nod, dropping my hand from my belly. Baby does another stretch; she doesn’t like the false contractions either. I give hima small smile, though I can still feel the heat of the blush on my cheeks.Why does he have to be here to witness this?“Just a little false contraction. I’ve been getting them a lot this week.”
“Should you be heading to the hospital?” he asks, his dark brows furrowing over those eyes.
Shaking my head, I laugh. “No, it’s okay. They’re normal, and not anything to be concerned about. I had them for two months before I went into labor with this one,” I chuckle, draping my arm over Dalton’s shoulders.
“Mom,” Dalton groans, shrugging out from under my arm. “You’re embarrassing me.”
Xander laughs, and the sound does something to me. It’s low and deep and soothing. I miss the sound of a man’s laugh.
“Hey, Champ,” he says, holding out his fist to my son. Dalton bumps his knuckles to Xander’s and grins. “What do you say we grab the rest of these bags for your mom?”
“Xander, I can carry my own groceries—” I protest, but he pins me with that blue stare. My words trail off.
“Absolutely not,” he says quietly. “Your brother would never forgive me if he knew I let you carry all this in by yourself. You go inside and sit down, Dalton and I can handle this.”
“Xander—”
“Teddy.” His tone stops my protest. Deep and husky and laced with just a little bit of heat. My cheeks bloom with another blush as he stares at me. “Let me help you.”
He doesn’t pose it as a question, and I know arguing won’t do any good, so I nod. “Okay. Thank you.”
I move to pick up a couple bags and the man growls at me. Full ongrowls. “Don’t touch those bags, Teddy. I’m warning you.”
Dalton giggles and I roll my eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”
Xander places his hands on my shoulders and gently moves me away from the van and the pile of groceries, then turns metoward the townhouse. “I said go sit down. Dalton and I have this under control, right Champ?”
“Right!” Dalton exclaims. I shake my head again, but do as he says.
Penny requests that I sit next to her on the couch when I come through the door, so I sink slowly into the cushions and let her snuggle into my side as Dalton and Xander make the several trips in with the remaining groceries. His gaze takes in the space and I scrunch my face up in mortification. Penny’s toys are all over the living room floor that I didn’t take the time to clean up earlier, and there’s dishes in the sink from lunch that should probably be rinsed and put in the dishwasher.
When I make to stand, Xander glares at me, pointing one finger at me. “Don’t move. We’ve got this, remember?” Turning to Dalton, he asks, “Can you help me put these away?”
