Fate Actually (Moonstone Cove #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,10

her with a wide grin. “Don’t you think that’s exciting?”

She couldn’t help smiling a little at his schoolboy enthusiasm. “Hey, if you’re going to clean up my yard, I’m not going to argue.”

His eyes were dancing in the sunshine, and his smile was dazzling. His dark hair fell over his forehead, and she could see a little stubble on his jawline. His shirt was long-sleeved, but he’d opened it at the neck and the cords of muscle on his neck nearly had her drooling.

Oh God, he does look like a Disney prince.

“Uh…” She blinked and turned to look at the house. Must. Escape. Dazzle. “I was gonna make some coffee. Do you want some?”

Wait. Shit. Was she allowed to have coffee? Was that bad for the baby?

Don’t think about the baby.

“I’d love some coffee.” Henry put his fingers to his mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle. “I should call Earl. He’s been gone a while.”

“You don’t worry about him getting lost?”

Henry looked at her like her head was damaged. “No.”

Earl was the dog of mysterious origins that Henry had adopted. Within seconds of the whistle, she heard him crashing through the brush as he raced across the oak grove that led down to the dry creek bed.

Toni braced herself.

If there was anyone more enthusiastic about life than Henry, it was Earl. He was the size of a small horse, with a ruddy tan coat and floppy ears. He looked a little like what Toni imagined would happen if a yellow lab and a quarter horse had a baby.

“Hey Earl!” Toni put her hands out. “Sit. Sit!”

Earl, who was mostly legs and panting tongue, managed to stop just before he ran into Toni’s legs and knocked her over like a bowling pin.

“Hey, buddy!” Henry grinned and spread his hands in a helpless gesture. “Sorry. He loves you.”

The waves of happiness were impossible to resist. It was early in the day, and Toni’s emotional receptors were wide and clear. Joy and affection rippled off Henry, then bounced off Earl and onto her. It was nearly enough to make Toni light-headed. Earl stuck his head under her outstretched hand and woofed. It was impossible not to be charmed.

“Hey, buddy.” She picked a foxtail off his ear. “You need to be careful with him.”

“I check him every night.” Henry propped his pick against an old vine and walked over to pull another foxtail off Earl’s shoulder. “I don’t suppose I could ask you for a bowl of water. He’s still afraid of Enzo and won’t go in the barn.”

At the sound of the Enzo’s name, Earl whined.

“It’s okay.” Toni rubbed his ears. “I know you were only trying to be friendly. He’s a cranky old man.”

“Don’t let him in the house,” Henry said. “I’m fairly sure he rolled in something.”

“Okay.” Toni patted her leg, and Earl followed her while she walked back to the house. “You’re going to have to pine from a distance then.”

Earl trotted ahead of her and promptly sprawled in front of Shelby’s favorite window.

As if she’d been waiting for her cue, the grey cat jumped into the window and paced back and forth with her tail held high as Earl let out excited yips.

“Chill.” Toni opened the door and yelled at the cat. “Stop teasing him, you hussy.”

Shelby and Earl adored each other in a way only possible between divergent species. Shelby bestowed her presence upon Earl, and Earl whined helplessly and cast her longing stares from outside the house.

Toni got a large bowl of water and took it out to Earl before she went back in the house and put on the electric kettle for coffee. She could make a couple of pour overs. That way she could give Henry caffeine and she could drink the decaf she got for her mom until she found out what was and wasn’t on the “bad food” list.

No alcohol. No coffee. No sushi? Was that still a thing? It had been a few years since either of her sisters had been pregnant.

So far, pregnancy sucked hard.

Her nausea actually seemed to calm down when she opened the coffee, as if the scent alone was enough to calm her quickly escalating anxiety.

You’re pregnant, Toni Dusi, and the father of the baby is cleaning up your garden and has no idea.

“I can do this.” She repeated her mantra from the day before. “Katherine says I’ll be a great mom, and she’s like the smartest person I know.” She got two filters from the cupboard