like I stole his best friend?"
Garrett rubbed his face with both hands and muttered, “Jesus, someone's a grouch this morning."
She gathered his clothes from around the room and tossed them on the bed. “I'm in a great mood. Now get dressed and get the hell out."
Chuckling, he slipped into his slacks, then pulled on and buttoned his shirt. “Aren't you going to cook me breakfast?"
She let out a loud snort.
Laughing, he took her into his arms. “All right, grumpy goose, you climb back into bed. I'll take Ethan home and beg some breakfast from Sara. And I'll eat slow so you should get another hour of sleep before the hammering starts."
"Don't do me any favors,” she groused against his chest. Grumpy goose? How could the man make her feel like a woman all night long then, within the space of a heartbeat, a five-year-old child?
"Come on, Uncle Garrett!” Ethan hollered from the kitchen. “You promised!"
Garrett kissed her on the top of the head and gave her a quick swat on the backside. He strode out the door, his jacket and tie slung over his shoulder, whistling a merry tune. Jessica swung her foot at him, but all she did was stir the air. With a sigh of disappointment, she climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over her head.
* * * *
By the time Jessica opened her eyes again it was just before nine o'clock. She could hear the guys hammering, but it wasn't a steady pounding like last time. She sat up with a groan, deciding a pot of coffee was in order. Usually she started the day with a cup of tea, but after the wonderfully exhausting night she'd had, a cup of tea just wouldn't do the job.
She tossed the covers back and slid from the bed, amazed to discover she was even sorer than she'd been two hours ago. And she had to work second shift tonight, she remembered with another groan.
After putting on the coffee, she jumped in the shower, anxious for the steaming spray to ease her aching muscles. She closed her eyes, flattened her palms against the white tile, and let the hot water work its magic.
Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom feeling a hundred percent better. She slipped on her robe and headed back into the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. She slathered two slices of toast with butter and strawberry jam, then carried everything into the living room.
She'd just picked up her second piece of toast when a special report interrupted the talk show she'd been watching. Perfect opportunity to go top off my coffee , she thought. She slapped the toast back down on her plate, grabbed her coffee mug and headed into the kitchen.
Her breath caught as she gazed out the window and caught sight of a shirtless Garrett, hands on his hips, a huge smile on his face as he gazed down at his nephew. Garrett threw back his head and laughed, as did Ethan, and Jessica's heart swelled, filling her entire chest. She was in love with the man. The truth hit her with such force she dropped her coffee cup into the sink.
"Dammit!” Jessica took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She really needed to get a grip. She glanced out the window again and the sight of Garrett swinging a laughing Ethan around brought tears to her eyes.
She placed her hand against her belly with a start as a thought occurred to her. A thought she hadn't let her mind dwell on in the heat of the moment, but was hitting her like a slap of cold reality in the light of day. They hadn't used protection, and she was smack dab in the middle of her cycle. Right now, Garrett's child could be growing inside her. A wave of dizziness overcame her. She staggered into the living room and collapsed onto the rocker-recliner.
The thought that she could be pregnant scared the hell out of her. But Garrett was a wonderful man, and just from watching his interaction with his nephew she had no doubt he'd make a wonderful father—caring, loving, protective.
She massaged her throbbing temples and returned her attention to the television just as the special
Garrett rubbed his face with both hands and muttered, “Jesus, someone's a grouch this morning."
She gathered his clothes from around the room and tossed them on the bed. “I'm in a great mood. Now get dressed and get the hell out."
Chuckling, he slipped into his slacks, then pulled on and buttoned his shirt. “Aren't you going to cook me breakfast?"
She let out a loud snort.
Laughing, he took her into his arms. “All right, grumpy goose, you climb back into bed. I'll take Ethan home and beg some breakfast from Sara. And I'll eat slow so you should get another hour of sleep before the hammering starts."
"Don't do me any favors,” she groused against his chest. Grumpy goose? How could the man make her feel like a woman all night long then, within the space of a heartbeat, a five-year-old child?
"Come on, Uncle Garrett!” Ethan hollered from the kitchen. “You promised!"
Garrett kissed her on the top of the head and gave her a quick swat on the backside. He strode out the door, his jacket and tie slung over his shoulder, whistling a merry tune. Jessica swung her foot at him, but all she did was stir the air. With a sigh of disappointment, she climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over her head.
* * * *
By the time Jessica opened her eyes again it was just before nine o'clock. She could hear the guys hammering, but it wasn't a steady pounding like last time. She sat up with a groan, deciding a pot of coffee was in order. Usually she started the day with a cup of tea, but after the wonderfully exhausting night she'd had, a cup of tea just wouldn't do the job.
She tossed the covers back and slid from the bed, amazed to discover she was even sorer than she'd been two hours ago. And she had to work second shift tonight, she remembered with another groan.
After putting on the coffee, she jumped in the shower, anxious for the steaming spray to ease her aching muscles. She closed her eyes, flattened her palms against the white tile, and let the hot water work its magic.
Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom feeling a hundred percent better. She slipped on her robe and headed back into the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. She slathered two slices of toast with butter and strawberry jam, then carried everything into the living room.
She'd just picked up her second piece of toast when a special report interrupted the talk show she'd been watching. Perfect opportunity to go top off my coffee , she thought. She slapped the toast back down on her plate, grabbed her coffee mug and headed into the kitchen.
Her breath caught as she gazed out the window and caught sight of a shirtless Garrett, hands on his hips, a huge smile on his face as he gazed down at his nephew. Garrett threw back his head and laughed, as did Ethan, and Jessica's heart swelled, filling her entire chest. She was in love with the man. The truth hit her with such force she dropped her coffee cup into the sink.
"Dammit!” Jessica took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She really needed to get a grip. She glanced out the window again and the sight of Garrett swinging a laughing Ethan around brought tears to her eyes.
She placed her hand against her belly with a start as a thought occurred to her. A thought she hadn't let her mind dwell on in the heat of the moment, but was hitting her like a slap of cold reality in the light of day. They hadn't used protection, and she was smack dab in the middle of her cycle. Right now, Garrett's child could be growing inside her. A wave of dizziness overcame her. She staggered into the living room and collapsed onto the rocker-recliner.
The thought that she could be pregnant scared the hell out of her. But Garrett was a wonderful man, and just from watching his interaction with his nephew she had no doubt he'd make a wonderful father—caring, loving, protective.
She massaged her throbbing temples and returned her attention to the television just as the special
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