Page 65 of Bad Boy for Hire
May sipped her warm apple cider, grateful that another week hadn’t brought worsening morning sickness symptoms. She’d experienced a bit of nausea but nothing major. It had subsided after her morning tea at work, and for that she was eternally grateful.
Xavier held her hand as they weaved around stacked haybales, bundled corn stalks, and various autumnal decorations. Ant and Lou trailed behind them. Cool wind curled around them, bringing with it the smell of fall.
She’d been reconsidering her stance on not wanting summer to go. Likely because Xavier was adamant that fall was the best time of year and had argued its merit on multiple occasions.
“Everything dies in the fall,” May argued back. “What’s so great about it?”
“Fall is the literal best. Bonfires, crunchy leaves, a bite in the air.”
“No more short skirts. Goodbye, boat season,” she countered.
“Hmm. I do like you in short skirts.” He narrowed one eye. “But I also like you in boots.”
“I’m losing an argument because you like me to wear boots?” she asked with a smile.
“Are we having our first real argument?”
It hadn’t been an argument, not really. He’d amended that he did enjoy her bare legs more than boots, and she’d come his way by admitting she loved s’mores. Then they’d laughed, which had led to kissing, which had led to sex.
They definitely had a pattern.
In his bed that night, they’d tucked their arms beneath their pillows, faced each other, and talked about anything other than having a baby come next summer. It was like they’d silently agreed to live in denial—an odd comfort zone, but one that was working.
That was the only night she’d seen him last week. He’d been busy with Salty Dog and working on the app for Jewell. It’d been a nice surprise when he’d called last night to ask her to come with him to Harvest Fest.
Ant and Xavier split off and headed for the beer cart parked near the stage. Rumors were flying that Asher Knight would not perform tonight, despite the posters promising otherwise. She’d seen Asher perform here twice. If he didn’t show, it would be a bummer. The man knew how to draw a crowd. As infatuated with Xavier as she was, she wasn’t impervious to the rock star’s sex appeal.
May and Lou perused booths selling fall decorations and other arts and crafts for anything worth buying.
Lou lifted a jarred candle to her nose and took a whiff. “Yum. This one is called Witch’s Brew. Do you want to smell?”
An almost cloying sweetness wafted off the unlit candle and attacked May’s nasal cavity. She immediately pressed her fingers to her lips and shook her head.
“Sorry! The pregnancy nausea, I forgot.” Lou quickly capped the candle.
“I’m not repulsed.” May swallowed thickly. “But whatever is in Witch’s Brew isn’t agreeing with my funnel cake.”
“Understood.” Lou returned the candle to its display. “Are mornings still rough?”
“Not terrible, but I’ve been taking things very slowly after I wake up. Once I’m at my desk, I’m good. Although there was a touch-and-go moment at Xavier’s the other night. All he did was say the word cheeseburger and I almost barfed.”
“You poor thing!” Lou said through a giggle.
“We ate chicken tenders instead.”
“And what happened after that?” Lou waggled her eyebrows. “Like I couldn’t guess.”
“Oh, you could guess. I could guess.” May rolled her eyes. “Everyone could guess.”
“It’s what got you into this mess,” Lou whispered as she wrapped an arm around May’s. “Which is so not a mess.”
“I know you love it.” May was grateful for the support from her friends. Everyone had been amazing about offering an ear to bend or a shoulder to cry on.
A tall, slender woman approached and raised her arm in a delicate wave.
“Hazel!” Lou released May to give the other woman a hug. “How are you?”
The redhead had a bright smile, a thin build, and freckles sprinkled over her nose and cheeks.
