Page 71 of I Knead You Tonight

Not because I’m trying to hide anything from her, but because evenIdon’t understand what’s going on with us right now or how I’m really feeling toward him.

“N-No. It’s not that,” I lie. “I, um, was just curious, is all.” I wave my hand. “Hormones.”

“Right.” She eyes me curiously. “Because if youdolike someone, that’s okay. I can put in a good word with them, if you’d like.” She waggles her brows. “He might be new in town, so I don’t know if he’s looking, but based on how he was looking at you at Slice, I bet he’s interested too.”

My brows squish together.

Looking at me at Slice? Who was at Slice? Winston was there, but he was all kinds of pissy that day, so surely she doesn’t mean him.

She has to mean…

“Porter?” I say. “Is that who you’re thinking of?”

She grins. “He’s so cute, isn’t he?”

“No!” I rush out. “Well, I mean, yes. I have eyes and he’s definitely hot, but it’s not Porter. I don’t like him.”

“Oh.” Her lips pull down. “I thought the single-parent thing was a total turn-on for you, given your situation and all.”

Right. My situation.

The one I didn’t even think about until just now because my baby is so ingrained in my soul I forget he’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

I can’t like Winston.

Not only because he doesn’t like me, but because he also doesn’t like kids.

He’s been very explicit about that in the past.

Riker and me? We’re a package deal. While Winston’s letting us stay with him for a while, it’s not permanent by any means. What he’s doing to help us is hugely different than actually raising a kid.

“Well, it’s not him—not that I likeanyone,” I stress.

“Right,” she says warily. “You were just curious.”

“Right.” I slide away from the counter. “I’m going to go check on the boys, see if they need any help.”

“I’ll come with ya.”

We load our arms with beers because we know they’ll want some too and make our way back out onto the patio where Winston, Foster, Sully, and—to my surprise—Porter are all lounging on chairs.

Riker’s sleeping in Foster’s arms, and they look so cute together.

“That’s a good look for you,” I say to him.

He grins down at my sleeping baby then sends a wink to his fiancée. “I thought so too.”

I glance between Foster and Wren, wondering if there’s something there they aren’t telling me.

I take a seat in one of the empty chairs, and it just so happens to be between Winston and Porter.

Awesome.

I hand Winston a beer. “Can you let me know when the meat is about ten minutes from being done? I’ll start the mac and cheese then.”

His brows lift and a slow grin starts over his lips.

“Don’t you dare say a word,” I hiss.

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