Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“What did she say?”
Aurora’s cheeks turned red. “It was time for Winnie’s bath, and I’d just stopped by with some food my mother had made for them. I offered to bathe her…and Hope snapped at me and said I needed to remember which one of us was Winnie’s mother. I apologized, and I haven’t been back since.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it, Aurora. Maybe Hope was just tired.”
She nodded. “But now I don’t know how she’s doing. I could stop by The Muddled Moose and ask Liam, but he’s so busy when he gets a few hours to go there, he doesn’t have time to chat.”
“When I spoke with Nathan, he told me they were going to be taking a bit of a longer break between her treatments. To give her a break, I guess.”
“Really?” Harper asked. “Can you do that? Stop the treatment?”
Gavin shrugged. “I think they’re just delaying the next round. Nathan said they’ll be doing scans soon, and depending on what they see, go from there. Hopefully the treatments have been working.”
Aurora leaned forward, looking around me at Gavin. “When did he tell you this?”
“Just a little bit ago. I saw him at the Moose Village Café, when I met Evelyn and Denny for lunch.”
Sitting back in her chair, Aurora smiled. “Well, that’s good news, at least.”
“It is,” Cadie and Harper said at the same time.
Turning to Gavin, I asked, “Did you stop by just to tell me about your talk with Evelyn and Denny?”
“I did, and you mentioned wanting to go shopping for maternity stuff at Sugar and Spice Boutique. I thought I’d tag along, in case you wanted to go anywhere else. Figured I could drive.”
I smiled and had to fight the urge to kiss him.
Harper laughed. “Um, as sweet as that is, and I love the new friendship thing you two have going on, but don’t you think the two of you buying maternity clothes together would spark even more rumors?”
Gavin and I exchanged a look. “She’s right.”
He exhaled. “Well, we could drive to Lake Placid if you want.”
“I heard there’s a super cute maternity store there,” Cadie said.
We all turned to look at her. Aurora grinned. “And how do you know that?”
Cadie blushed. “I’m not pregnant, if that’s what the four of you are thinking with those looks. A customer was talking about it the other day. She was expecting, and she had on the cutest outfit I’d ever seen on a pregnant woman. She told me the name of the store. Crap, what was it called…?”
Aurora took out her phone. “Lake Placid isn’t that big; I’m sure if I Google it, we can find it.”
“Is it Belly Bloom?” Harper asked.
Cadie pointed to her. “That’s it! Belly Bloom.”
“What a cute name!” I said, as I glanced at Gavin, who had a relaxed smile on his face. He honestly looked completely comfortable, listening to all our girl talk.
“Do you really want to go with me?” I asked him.
“I’d love to go. I’ll drive.”
Harper had a knowing smile on her face, but she looked away when I caught her gaze.
I stood, and Aurora immediately jumped up. “Let me get this stuff.”
“No,” I gently said, taking her cup and saucer back. “I’m very capable of cleaning up.”
Gavin stood. “I’ve got this, you ladies finish whatever you were talking about before I interrupted you.” I watched as he expertly stacked the saucers and cups and headed toward the kitchen.
Aurora whirled on the sofa and faced me.
“Holy hotness! I love this side of Gavin. The way he gushes over you…oh my gosh!”
Laughing, I shook my head. “He is not gushing over me.”
“Right, that’s why it looked like he wanted to kill someone when he walked in here and saw you crying,” Cadie said dryly.
I waved them off. “We’re taking it day by day, and it’s been nice, I will admit.”
“Have you…?” Cadie asked, letting her question dangle in the air.
Feeing my cheeks heat, I bit my lower lip. Harper gasped, then covered her mouth, as Aurora jumped up and stared at me, her mouth gaping open.
“You weren’t going to tell us?”
Reaching up for her, I pulled her back down to the sofa. “Shh! Geez, Aurora!”
“Well?” the three of them said in unison.
I looked toward the kitchen area. I could hear the water running, and it sounded like Gavin was humming.
Humming?
“Stop stalling!” Harper whisper-shouted.
I turned my attention to my friends and noticed Aurora had moved to the other side of the table. The three of them stared at me like five-year-olds waiting for story time at the local library.
“Fine—but this stays in our pocket.”
All three of them pretended to lock their lips and toss away the keys.
My cheeks heated again as I lowered my voice to a whisper. “We haven’t had sex…but he’s given me a few amazing orgasms.”