“Oh, hey, Dani. Glad you could make it up here,” Ally interrupted, an adorable baby in her arms. The kid was decked out in Stampede gear and matching headphones and staring at me with wide eyes.
“Ally, hi. Oh, she’s adorable.” I was grateful for the distraction. I didn’t need to share my true feelings—or inkling of feelings—with Harper and Josie. They’d take them and run with it, and I was not prepared to expose the mess in my brain.
Ally beamed. “We like to think so. But right now she’s refusing to go to sleep because Daddy’s on the ice, so we’re going through a bit of a sleep regression.”
“I’ve heard those can be brutal.”
“The worst. She’s almost eleven months, so shouldn’t the nine-month regression be done by now?” Ally bemoaned.
“But she’s such a cute little nonsleeper,” Cora said, stepping up next to Ally. “Want me to take her?”
“Yes, please.” Ally handed off the little girl.
“You snuggle right up with Auntie Cora, and I’ll tell you all about the book I’m writing while Mom gets a drink.”
“Wait, which book?” Ally asked, quirking her brow.
Cora chuckled. “Not one that Josie would draw pictures for. Come on, you guys.”
Ally smirked. “As long as it’s a bunny book and not one where they bang like bunnies. You know, it’s very fitting that those are your two options, Cora.”
“What?” I asked.
“Cora writes kid’s books, but she just published her first spicy historical this summer, and it is not for innocent ears,” Harper said, a twinkle in her eyes. “It’s very good.”
“Yeah, we read it for our book club a few months ago,” Ally added.
“And I think I’m still traumatized.” Cora shook her head. “It’s weird when your friends read spicy books that you’ve written.”
I chuckled. “I can’t even imagine. So, are you still writing both types?”
She shrugged. “For now. I’m not ready to stop writing books for kids, but it’s fun writing romance.”
Harper nudged my shoulder. “She just likes making Tally be her research partner.”
Cora grinned. “That’s a definite perk.”
“I hear that. Micah is an excellent research partner when I’m sketching,” Josie chimed in.
I wasn’t a big romance reader, but doing research with a hot boyfriend was probably fun. I could imagine Gabe helping me out if I was in that situation. The man was very helpful.
Shit. My cheeks were warming. These women would know exactly what I was thinking about and tease me endlessly if they caught me blushing.
“Con enjoyed it, too,” Harper said.
Cora wrinkled her nose. “Don’t tell me that.”
Josie burst out laughing. “You know the boys read it, right?”
“I know. It’s just weird to actually think about.”
“So you aren’t imagining that the boys are getting tips about how to please us from your books?” How Harper managed to look devious and innocent at the same time was a feat.
“Oh my god, please stop,” Cora gasped. She turned her face into Livi’s. “Why must they torment me so? It’s not very nice.”
Livi stared back with her wide, beautiful eyes, her little lips in a smile. She really was adorable.
“Did your brother read it?” Josie asked.
