Page 48 of Trials of a One Night Stand
The churning in my stomach has nothing to do with the baby that’s there. “I’m not sure about dinner.”
“Do you feel okay?”
“Yes.”
He smooths my hair with his hand. “You should get acquainted with who lives next door in case you need anything.”
“What could I need? I have bodyguards.”
“You never know when you’ll need an egg or a cup of sugar, right?” The mischievous gleam in Nathaniel’s eyes tells me this is about more than borrowing recipe ingredients. “They have two young children. If you have any questions about pregnancy, you have an expert right next door.”
He’s selling this hard, though I can’t imagine why. “I suppose, but I don’t want to be out late. It’s been a long day.”
Nathaniel cups my cheek with his hand and gazes into my eyes. “I know, but this will take your mind off everything. Trust me.”
I trusted Colton, and look how that turned out. Other than Lottie, I’m not sure I can really trust anyone these days. Not even myself.
Stepping inside the next-door neighbor’s house feels like walking into a Christmas movie set even though the holidays are long past. I chalk up the cozy warm vibes to the overstuffed furniture, with soft pillows and comfy throws, and toys casually left in unexpected places. I hear the door close when something flies past me.
Huh? I jerk out of the way to see whatever it is attack Nathaniel’s neck.
Oh my God. Is it a bat? “Nathaniel!”
“No worries.” He laughs as if a flying whatever that creature might be landing on him is normal. “This is Buttercup. She loves me.”
“Not as much as she loves me,” a man says from behind me. I turn to see a man taller than Nathaniel but with darker hair and eyes. His smile, however, is familiar. “Don’t mind our sugar glider,” he continues. “She’s harmless.”
Nathaniel pets Buttercup, who cuddles against him. Not that I blame her for wanting to be close to him, but the thing looks like a bat or rodent with wings. “She’s an attention whore.”
The tall man rolls his eyes. “I can say the same thing about the person giving her attention right now.”
I’m an only child, but my cousins were infamous at our family gatherings for their sibling banter. That childhood training is one reason I’m so good at litigation. Arguing in front of your family isn’t that different from questioning a witness or making an opening or closing statement. “You must be Nathaniel’s brother.”
“Nathaniel, huh? Only our mom calls him that and only when he’s in trouble.”
Nathaniel shakes his head. “This is my little brother.”
“He means younger.” The man extends his arm. “I’m Ashton Lowe.”
I shake his hand. His grip is steady but not overly strong. “Jayne Everton.”
“The girls will be down soon,” Ashton says. “They wanted to dress up for their uncle and his guest.”
Is that what I am? Nathaniel’s—er, Nate’s guest? Not the new neighbor? Questions form in my brain, and I need to stop them from coming out of my mouth. “Thanks for inviting me…us over for dinner.”
“That’s what neighbors are for,” Ashton says, and Nate shoots me an I-told-you-so look. “Have a seat.”
I do, and Nate sits right next to me. Buttercup hasn’t even glanced my way. Maybe she prefers men or, rather, Lowe men. They are attractive.
Footsteps sound on the staircase. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was a stampede. All of a sudden, a high-pitched squeal fills the air.
“Uncy Nate.” A cute blond little girl, maybe two or three years old, runs to Nate and climbs onto his lap. She’s wearing a pink tutu with rainbow-colored wings. “I boo-ti-ful for you.”
Nate wraps his arms around her without disturbing the sugar glider, which suggests that he has practiced handling both at the same time. He stares into his niece’s eyes as if she’s the only one there. “You are my beautiful fairy princess.”
The little girl beams. “I love you.”
He kisses her forehead. “I love you, baby girl.”
