Yeah, right.
“Back to your tats,” Nat begins and takes a sip of water. “I like them.”
“Thanks.” I grin.
“You’re pierced and tatted. You fit in well around here.” Meg laughs. “I think it might be a prerequisite to be a part of this group.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask with a laugh.
“Well, most of us have tats,” Jules replies. “Meg’s clit is pierced…”
“Hey!” Leo calls from the pool. “I thought we decided we weren’t going to discuss my sister’s privates anymore!”
“Yes, let’s discuss all the girls’ privates,” Mark interrupts with a mischievous grin. “Except Sam.”
“And Nate has a very interesting piercing,” Sam adds, ignoring her brother and pointing to Nate’s dick.
“Seriously.” Nate scowls. “You all need to stop talking about the piercings.”
“Dude.” Dominic stares at Nate in shock. “Seriously?”
Nate shakes his head and sighs. “Just serve the ball, man.”
“Well, my navel is as adventurous as I’ve been in the piercing arena.” I eye Meg speculatively. “Does the clit piercing do fun things for you?”
“Oh, it’s really the clitoral hood, and yes.” She grins widely.
“It’s fucking awesome,” Will agrees and gets slapped on the back of the head by Leo. “What the fuck?”
“Stop talking about Meg’s junk,” Leo demands.
“You’re not piercing your clit,” Matt whispers in my ear.
“Why?” I ask and look up into his eyes.
“Because then I wouldn’t be able to touch it, and I can’t go even one day without it,” he whispers for only me to hear, making me blush. “And speaking of touching you”—his voice drops even lower—“do you know what I want to do with this string bikini you’re wearing? I could have you tied up and be inside you in roughly thirty seconds.”
Holy fucking hell, this man is hot.
“God, get a room.” Jules smirks and sips on a bottle of water.
“I want another cupcake,” Stacy announces and bounces out of her seat. “Can I get one for anyone else?”
“All the pregnant chicks need cupcakes,” Jules confirms and sits in a chaise next to Natalie.
“I’ll bring the whole box,” Stacy decides and runs inside to fetch them.
“Will you please design and bake the wedding cake for my wedding?” Meg asks me with a wide smile.
My eyes widen in surprise. “Have you set a date?”
“No,” she responds with a laugh. “But no matter when it is, we’ll want you to do the cake. Seriously, you’re the best.”
Stacy makes a circle with the box, and most everyone takes one of the salted caramel treats with little cameras on top.
“These are the best gift ever,” Natalie announces with a smile. “Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Right. Not that cupcakes aren’t fantastic, but your husband got you a car for your birthday. A freaking Porsche.”
Nat smirks and gazes lovingly at her handsome husband. “He is good to me.”
“I’d love to do your cake, Meg. We’ll talk about the details later.”
“Yes!” she exclaims. “Hey, babe, Nic’s gonna make our wedding cake!” she calls to Will in the pool.
“Awesome! Do we need to do some taste testing?”
“Ignore him and his bottomless stomach.” Meg shakes her head and bites into her cake.
“How do you stay so thin?” Jules asks me. “I swear, if I was around these every day, I’d be as big as a house.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” Brynna replies with a roll of her eyes. “You have the best genes on the planet.”
“I don’t eat them,” I reply with a shrug.
Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks at me in surprise.
“Why not?” Dominic asks as he pulls himself out of the pool.
“It’s a lot of sugar,” I reply.
Meg tilts her head, watching me closely, but I shrug. “I just sample the ones that are new to make sure they’re okay.”
Matt’s lips are planted on my temple. He pulls in a deep breath, kisses my cheek and then my shoulder.
God, I love it when his lips are on me.
“That’s some fantastic willpower,” Isaac murmurs as he also joins his wife from the pool.
“We’re taking a break,” Leo announces and sits next to Sam as Nate pulls Jules into his arms and kisses her sweetly.
“I’d better keep you with me,” he murmurs to her. “Keep you out of trouble.”
“You’re all wet, ace.”
“So?”
“So this is a new suit.” She pouts prettily.
“Uh, swimsuits are designed to get wet, Julianne.” Nate laughs and plants his lips on her shoulder.
“Speaking of willpower.” Meg snickers at Will. “You guys should see this coworker of mine, Marla.”
“Meg works at the Children’s Hospital,” Matt informs me.
“Yes, and Marla is a new nurse.” Will scowls as he takes a bite of cupcake, making Meg laugh harder. “And, boy, does she have a thing for our Will.”
“Most women do,” Stacy responds, patting her own husband’s back. “It’s a Montgomery curse.”
“Well, let’s just say that Marla isn’t coy about it.”
“She’s fucking embarrassing,” Will agrees.
“I don’t think I’ve seen Will embarrassed before,” Luke adds and sits behind his wife, then pulls her back against him and rests his hands on her belly. “This is fun.”
“She hits on him in front of everyone,” Meg continues. “And if she wasn’t such a…hmm…” She scrunches up her nose trying to come up with the right word.
“Persistent?” Jules offers.
“Well, let me put it this way. I wouldn’t say she’s a slut, but her favorite shade of lipstick is penis.”
“Oh my God!” Brynna cries, busting up laughing with the rest of us.
These people are freaking hilarious!
“What’s her number?” Mark asks with a wide, charming grin. “I’ll take her off your hands, man.”
“Trust me”—Meg shakes her head while laughing—“she’s kind of psycho. Once she sinks her claws in, shaking her off is nearly impossible.”
“Oh, yeah, you can keep her.” Mark laughs and sips on a beer. “I don’t want anyone permanent.”
“You’re disgusting.” Sam scowls at her brother.
“Just honest.”
“So what are you going to do about her?” Caleb asks. His hand is planted on Brynna’s belly.
I glance up at Matt to find him watching his brother with happy eyes.
Could she be?
“Ignore her,” Will mumbles. “And take security with me every time I go to the hospital.”
“Are you okay?” Caleb asks Brynna.
“I’m fine, sailor. Stop worrying.”
“What’s going on with you two?” Dominic asks.
“Yeah, you’ve been doting on her all day,” Natalie agrees. Luke leans in and whispers in Nat’s ear then nibbles on her neck, and her eyes go wide. “No way.”
“Dude, is she pregnant or something?” Mark demands.
Brynna blushes bright red, and Caleb sighs deeply.
“She is!” Jules cries.
“You didn’t tell me!” Stacy accuses her with angry eyes. “Oh God, you’re going to have a baby!”
“We weren’t going to say anything,” Brynna begins, but her eyes fill with tears. “It’s super early. I haven’t even been to the doctor yet.”
“When did you find out?” Natalie asks.
“On our last day in Tuscany,” Caleb replies. “The stick says I knocked her up.”
“You’re so classy.” Jules rolls her eyes and looks over at Matt. “You knew!”
“I was sworn to secrecy,” he replies calmly.
I take a deep breath and realize that I’m a bit
shaky. I didn’t eat much this morning and barely picked at the food at lunch because my nerves got the better of me, being around Matt’s family for the first time.
Stupid!
I know better. The conversation continues around me, but I no longer really hear what they’re saying.
How am I going to get through this without drawing attention to myself?
My breathing and heart rate have increased, and I’m starting to feel woozy.
This one has come on fast.
“Hey, are you okay, baby?” Matt asks and tilts my face back to meet his gaze. He frowns down at me. “You don’t look so good.”
“I think I just need to eat something,” I reply and pull myself out of his arms, but as soon as I stand, I have to grip the back of the chair so I don’t fall. My head is spinning.
My sugars have crashed.
Fuck.
“Hey, hey, hey, baby.” Matt stands and helps me down into a chair.
I push my head down between my knees and focus on my breathing.
“What’s wrong? You’re scaring me, Nic.”
“For fuck’s sake, is she preggo, too?” Mark demands. “What is it with this family?”
“I don’t think that’s it,” Meg replies and kneels next to me. “Nic, are you diabetic?”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I don’t think I ate enough today.”
“Someone run inside and grab her a sandwich and a glass of orange juice,” Meg orders sternly.
“On it,” Dominic announces and breaks into a run to the house.
“When was the last time you checked your sugars?” Meg asks and caresses my back in long, slow strokes.
“This morning. Every morning,” I reply and focus on breathing. The shaking is worse now.
“Maybe we should take her to the hospital,” Matt announces. His voice is as hard as steel.
He’s angry.
“She’ll be okay in a few minutes,” Meg assures him as Dominic returns and passes me the juice. “Slow sips. We don’t want you to spike.”
I take a bite of the sandwich first and then sip the juice, feeling foolish.
“I’m okay,” I assure everyone. “Really.”
“You almost passed out, sweetheart,” Will responds. “We’ll feel better if you just sit here for a few and eat.”
“Why didn’t you eat earlier?” Jules asks, concerned as she looks between me and Matt.
“Nerves.” I shrug. “New people. I’m shy.”
“Jesus,” Matt whispers and paces away from me.
“Are you on meds?” Meg asks and checks my pulse.
“No.” I shake my head. “I manage it with diet and exercise.”
“That’s why you don’t eat your cupcakes,” Leo says, his eyes also worried.
I stop sipping the juice to look around. All of these beautiful people are gathered around me, worried, watching me as though they might have to save my life any second.
They care about me.
“Like I said, too much sugar,” I reply and take another bite of the turkey sandwich Dominic delivered. “I haven’t had an episode like this in years. Honest.” I look up at Matt, but his face is hard, and his eyes are angry. “I take very good care of myself.”
The shaking has stopped, and my heart rate has returned to normal as I finish the sandwich.
“I’m sorry I worried everyone.”
“Do you need to lie down?” Luke asks.
“No.” I shake my head again and smile at the handsome former actor. “I’m really fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Matt responds in a cold voice.
“Matt…” Isaac begins, but Matt cuts him off with a harsh look.
“You should have told me.”
I look around again and firm my chin, raising it and squaring my shoulders. He will not shame me in front of these people.
“You never asked,” I reply just as coldly. “I’m fine, Matt.”
“I think she could use another sandwich,” Meg suggests with a knowing look at Matt.
“I think so, too. Come with me.”
He pulls me out of the lounge and into his arms and carries me toward the house.
“We need to talk.”
Chapter Twelve
~Matt~
I’m going to paddle her ass.
I stomp across Luke’s yard toward the house. Jesus, she took five years off my life back there. I haven’t been that scared in a long time, and I’m a fucking cop.
“I can walk,” she mutters with a pout, but I ignore her. “Did you hear me?”
“I heard.”
“Put me down,” she tries again, but I tighten my hold as I push open the sliding glass door and carry her into the formal dining room just off the kitchen and private from prying eyes outside. I set her down on the table and cage her in with my hands on either side of her hips.
“I thought you trusted me,” I begin, my voice low and hard.
Her green eyes widen before she frowns. “I do.”
“If you trust me, why didn’t I know before you almost passed out that you’re diabetic?”
“Because it isn’t a big deal!” she cries with an exasperated sigh.
“It is a big deal, Nicole, and let me tell you why.” I settle in closer to her so she has to look me in the eye. “It’s my job to take care of you. How can I do that if I don’t know what you need?”
“My diabetes is controlled very well, Matt.” She lays her hand on my arm reassuringly. “I’m very strict about what I eat. That’s why I don’t drink more than two alcoholic drinks at a time. No cupcakes or other sweets. I never want to be on meds ever again.”
“You were medicated?” I ask.
She nods. “In my early twenties, I was about fifty pounds overweight and didn’t care what I ate. Lots of sugar. I was on meds, and I finally decided that I didn’t want to live the next fifty years of my life that way. My ex-boyfriend, Ben, was a personal trainer, and he helped me.”
I stiffen at the mention of another man in her life, even if it was years ago. I don’t give a shit that it’s irrational. My emotions are all over the place right now.
I take a deep breath to reel myself back in and study her face.
“That’s when you got your navel pierced.”
She nods again. “It was a reward, like I told you.”
“Why did you never say anything, Nic? We’ve eaten together many times. I’ve asked you why you don’t eat your cupcakes more than once.”
“It’s nothing to be dramatic about.” She shrugs, and I see red.
“Your health is nothing to be dramatic about?” I push my hands in my hair and pace away from her, leaving her on the table. “I fucking scened with you at the club, Nicole. What if you’d had a diabetic episode while you were in my ropes?” Just the mere thought almost brings me to my knees. I wipe my hand over my mouth and turn back to her. “This could change everything about our sex life.”
“No!” she cries, her eyes wide in horror. “Matt, today is not the norm for me. I’m not fragile.”
“You’re everything!” I yell back. I lean back into her. Her head is tilted back, and she’s watching me with wide, emerald-green eyes. “Haven’t you figured that out? You’re everything. I’m in love with you. If anything happened to you, it would destroy me.”
I cup her face in my trembling hands. “You scared the fuck out of me out there, Nic. I didn’t know what was wrong. If I’d already known about the diabetes, I would have been able to do something, but you had my hands figuratively tied by not telling me. Yes, you’re strong and you have your life handled, but who the fuck takes care of you?”
She swallows hard and continues to watch my face.
“This is my fault,” I continue. “I never asked you if you had any medical conditions, and I should have. You’ve just had me so off balance since the moment I met you. You’re all I think about.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m not complaining, little one.” I swallow and lean
my forehead against hers. “Being with you is exactly where I need to be, but it’s my job to make sure that your every need is met. I can’t do that if I’m out of the loop.”
“Matt.” She sighs and cups my face in her hands, strokes her fingers down my face, soothing me. “I wasn’t keeping it a secret. It’s something I’ve lived with for years, and I don’t usually have any problems. I didn’t tell you, not because I don’t trust you, but because I don’t want to be treated differently. I wasn’t thinking today, and I was stupid. I’m so sorry that I scared you.”
“You are different, baby. You’re so different for me that you’ve changed my life. What do you need? How do I help?”
“I don’t need anything.” She shakes her head and offers me a soft smile. “Really. Maybe another sandwich.”
“I can get you that.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hold her to me. “Is there anything else I need to know about your health?”
She stills, and I pull back, watching her face. “Tell me.”
“I have polycystic ovary syndrome,” she replies softly. “That’s why I’m on the pill.”
I don’t know what that means. “So the pill regulates that?”
She nods soberly. “Anything else?”
“There’s nothing else.”
“Nicole.”
“There’s nothing else,” she repeats firmly. “I’m not fragile, Matt. But if I’m ever not feeling well, I’ll tell you.”
“Is this why you had the headache last weekend?”
“No, I really did just have a headache.”
I sigh and rest my lips on her forehead, breathing her in. She’s so precious to me.
“How are you feeling now?”
“Better, but I’ll eat another sandwich and maybe drink another juice, and I’ll be just fine.”
“Okay.” I step back and help her off the table and lead her into the kitchen to grab a sandwich and some juice. “Do you want to go home?”
“No, there’s a party going on outside.” She grins at me. “A fun party with hot guys.”
“Really.”
She snickers, enjoying teasing me, and I maintain a sober face, letting her have her fun.
“Yeah, there’s a rock star and a hot football player here.”
I tilt my head to the side, curl my lips up in a half smile and step toward her. “Is that right?”