Page 76 of Marked

“How bad did it hurt to say that.”

Turning in his arms, I rose up on my tiptoes. “Really bad. I might need you to kiss it better.”

“I’ll kiss every inch of you later.”

“Love you, Noah Anderson.”

“I love you too, Lanie. More than my next breath.”

“Oh my goodness. Where did you get this?”

Henley held up a baby-sized FBI T-shirt with the name Clarke printed on the back, getting a thumbs-up from the guys, who sat across the table drinking a beer. Henley couldn’t drink while she was nursing, so as a show ofsolidarity, Jade and I abstained as well. I’d make up for lost time when Noah and I got home.

The three of us girls sat in a semi-circle around Ryder, who was asleep in his car seat. She’d already opened about a dozen gift bags, which were filled with the usual blanket, onesies, and diapers. However, Jade and I had saved two special ones for last.

“One of my authors knows someone, who knows a lady, who makes them,” Jade replied.

When she wasn’t working at Over Easy, Jade was a freelance editor for romance authors. She’d kept the secret from everyone, doing whatever she could to pay the bills while raising her younger brother. Eventually, she slipped up and the news came tumbling out. Since then, Henley and I have discovered a whole new appreciation for the term “book boyfriend.”

“The next one is from me and Noah.”

Henley squealed when she dug through the bag, holding up the picture frame with Ryder’s clay hand and footprints inside. Then she burst into tears. I’d found the kit online and offered to babysit one afternoon so they could take a nap. Little did they know, while they were snoozing, I was using their kid as an arts and crafts project.

“Shit. Are those happy or sad tears?” I stammered. It was hard to tell these days. Honestly, we’d been dealing with her hormones going bananas since she peed on that stick almost ten months ago.

“Happy,” she cried harder, which ended up disturbing baby Ryder, who had been fast asleep in his car seat.

“Come to Aunt Lanie.” Squatting down, I worked my way through the ten million straps holding him down until he was finally free of the archaic contraption. He started to fuss, but I cradled him in the crook of my arm andswayed to the music playing through the restaurant sound system. Soon, he settled enough I was able to sit back in my seat.

Noah caught my eye. “You look good with him.”

“Do you want kids someday, Cowboy?”

He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Before I met you? No. But now, I can’t stop picturing you swollen with my baby.”

“Jesus. I think I just ovulated.”

Beer spewed out of Koen’s mouth, soaking everything in his path. The guys quickly stood, wiping up all the liquid before it spilled off the edge of the table. Once they were finished, they moved to our side, standing behind each of our chairs.

“Really, Lanie? You’re like my little sister,” Koen bitched.

“What? At least I didn’t show you my boobs.”

“Goddammit, Noah. I should’ve known you’d tell her.”

“Technically, it was show, not tell.”

“I can’t say no to her, Koen.”

“Aww. I can’t say no to you either, Noah.” I blew him a kiss, then lowered the baby back into his seat.

“I’m glad you said that, Darlin’.”

Noah

Just do it.

The timing couldn’t have been better if I planned it, which I did. It wasn’t the hearts and flowers some girls dream of, but it was us. We’d created something special with this group of people, so why not have them involved in one of the biggest days of our lives?

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