a morning thing,” I say softly, my cheeks heating as I see Trey’s eyes raking my body.
He glances between his almost-naked brothers, and a grin practically cracks his face open. Reaching down to pick up the blanket, he hands it to Hunter. “Yours?”
Hunter nods, and Trey smiles even more. “I’m heading down for breakfast. Can I make you something to calm your stomach, Maggie?”
“No, thanks. I’ll come down and make some tea in a minute.”
“Sure.”
Shuffling back to the room with the twins behind me is awkward, only because who wants to end a perfect night with sickness? I can think of other things I would have liked to do this morning, but it’s not to be. My hand automatically rests against my lower belly protectively. Little Peanut is in there somewhere, tiny as anything, swimming around and causing chaos already.
As soon as the door is closed, Hunter takes hold of my hand and pulls me into a warm embrace. “I don’t like seeing you sick,” he says. “You know if you need anything, you only have to ask.”
I nod as tears prickle at the backs of my eyes. “Thanks, Hunter. I’m still getting used to everything… the changes.”
“Well, I don’t know much about pregnancy, but I do know that there are eleven men in this house ready to do whatever it takes to help you. All you gotta do is shout.”
“Hunter’s right,” Harley says, stroking my hair.
“I usually am.”
I snort against Hunter’s chest, finding the way they talk to each other so funny.
There’s a tap on the door behind us, and I swivel to see who’s there. It’s one of the triplets, but I have no idea which one. His eyes widen at the sight of me in Hunter’s arms, and then his face erupts into the broadest smile. It seems that the realization that I’ve hooked up with the twins is cause for celebration for all the other brothers. What are they thinking? Two down, nine to go! “I was going to ask Maggie if she wants to come with us to Walter’s. He’s asked for some help today. He’s running a big promotion over at his store.”
“What kind of help does he need?” Hunter asks. “Maggie can’t be doing anything strenuous.”
“Well, it sounded like she handled you guys okay last night, so maybe strenuous isn’t a problem.”
Daryl winks, and Hunter shakes his head. “Sorry, Maggie. The walls are thin in this place.”
“Exactly,” Daryl says. “You’re lucky we respect each other’s privacy, otherwise you could have ended up with a nine-man audience last night. It sounded like there was a whole lot to watch.”
“Nothing for you to watch,” Hunter says defensively as my face erupts in yet another blush. Ugh. This is so mortifying. “That’s not Maggie’s thing right now.”
“Exactly why we stayed in our rooms to be tortured by the acoustics,” Daryl laughs. “Anyway, I think Walter wants people there to hand out drinks and snacks and talk to the customers. Maybe show people to the restrooms, sweep up, that kind of thing.”
“I’ll come,” I say. Although Walter hasn’t been in my life for nearly a decade, he’s a good guy. Family helps family. While I’m here, I want to build better relationships. Also, maybe my uncle will know something about the man offering to buy this house.
16
I’m dressed and ready and in the truck in less than half an hour. Daryl is driving, Dwayne is up front, and Donovan is in the back with me. I wasn’t sure what to wear but thought Uncle Walter might want me to be smart so I decided on the black shift dress that I brought with me in case I might need to attend to something formal. It’s figure hugging with a high neck and it hangs to just below the knee.
Donovan gazes at me appreciatively. “You look like you should be working in some CEO’s office, not riding around in the back of this old truck.” he says.
“Not that I should be a CEO?” I raise my eyebrows and Donovan laughs.
“Now, that I’d like to see,” he says.
“There’s nothing sexier than a powerful woman,” Daryl agrees.
“Powerful. You want someone to stamp on your balls with stiletto heels,” Dwayne says, shaking his head at his brothers.
“Powerful doesn’t have to mean dominant, bro,” Donovan says. “Just someone who knows what they want and is prepared to go after it.”
“I thought guys like women who know their place?”
“I like a woman who wants to spend a lot of time in the bedroom,”