The aroma of farm animals, hay, and WD40 mingles with the fragrant spring air. I find myself humming along to the music and doing a little wiggle as I wind the string around the next nail.
“Careful, kitten,” Rebel says behind me.
I look down at him grasping the step ladder, his shirt sleeves rolled up past his elbows, the muscles in his forearm flexing, his thick fingers wrapped around the steel. His stubbled jaw would be delicious between my thighs right now. Electric tingles flutter to life.
It’s been months—it feels like forever. It wouldn’t take much. He could slip one finger along the seam of my pants, and I don’t think I’d be able to keep from moaning.
His blue eyes lock with mine. There’s no heat in them. “You’re getting a tad boisterous. Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”
His gaze lands on my belly. I’m not the only one he worries about.
The start of this pregnancy was rough. Until a couple weeks ago I could barely hold down food. Or water. I’d gotten so dehydrated I’d spent a couple of days in the hospital on a drip while they monitored us. The doctors had suggested putting anything strenuous on the backburner until I felt better.
I do feel better. Waking up feeling like I might not die from morning sickness has given me some of my energy back. Not to mention my libido has flared back to life.
His lip curves up in the corner and he lets go of the ladder before he locks gazes with me again. “Let me know if you want a hand.”
I open my mouth to say I’m capable, and that he doesn’t need to worry, but he’s already on his way back to help Rogue set the bartop on the barrels.
I return to hooking up the lights. It wasn’t that long ago he would have stuck like glue to my side. Or taken a leaf out of Owen’s book and ordered me to get down because I wasn’t being safe.
It would have bugged me—not as much as Owen doing it—but lately Rebel’s less possessive and territorial. More... distant.
Fall Out Boy fades out and is replaced by country duo Dan and Shay.
I finish up the lights and move onto twining sprays of greenery around the barn’s thick wooden poles. My brothers finish up in the barn and start setting up tables and chairs on the lawn. All except Burke who stays to help Rebel with the bar when Rogue steps outside to take a phone call.
Humming along with the music, I watch Rebel and Burke finish securing the bar while I spread and smooth tablecloths.
Burke comes over when they’re done. He takes his hat off and ruffles his damp red hair. “I was going to see if Kia needed any more help. Need anything else before I head out, little?”
“We’ve got this under control.” I hug him as Rebel joins us. “I need to finish decorating.”
Burke leaves and I scurry up the ladder again. I point at the pile of white muslin on one of the tables. “Can you pass me one of those?”
“I could hang it for you,” Rebel says.
He doesn’t say that it might be safer, though he must be thinking it. The problem is I’ve been watching him work allnight, and I don’t want his thoughts to be about my baby bump. I don’t want to be safe.
Not from him anyway. “Why don’t you hold onto the ladder. If I fall you can catch me.”
He steadies the ladder as I reach up to tie the length of muslin around the joist. The material will be tied off to each of the seven poles, creating a feminine curve that brings a level of elegance to the otherwise masculine structure.
I stretch up on tiptoe to give me more reach, but also because I don’t want to wait until all seven are done to make my move. “Can you give me a hand, please?”
“I told you I can—”
“I need a lift,” I lie. What I really need are his hands on me. To feel like he still wants me sexually, despite how frumpy I feel.
He cups my ass and boosts me up. “Better?”
I secure the knot and take a second to see if he’s distracted by my curves the way he always used to be. A thrill runs through me when I catch him staring at my ass. That has to be a good sign. “Done.”
“Huh?” He blinks as though clearing thoughts and then moves his hands to my hips as I climb down.
I’m careful when I step off the ladder backward. His chest brushes my back as I find solid ground.
He sucks in a sharp breath. “Kitten.”
