“Anything extra you’d like to add to your omelet, honeybee?”
He looked my way and licked his lips slowly. He knew he had me. Shit was effortless. His tanned skin, tatted back, and abs. That slick hair falling lightly on the sides of his face. Those warm hazel eyes that took me somewhere light years away. I was gone off this man.
“No, I’m good, baby,” I replied.
He smirked and went back to cooking and humming again. I’d watch him cook all day.
A couple hours after breakfast I was back at my sis’s ranch going through racks of expensive evening dresses that on any other occasion I wouldn’t dare wear and expect to eat. The possibility of destroying them with cocktail sauce was a nightmare I didn’t want to visit. I lazily perused the selection while my sis was frantic about what would look good.
“Girl, you’re going to be beautiful. I don’t know why you’re sweating over this,” I said.
“Uh hello, what you think is about to happen? All eyes and questions will be on me and I don’t know if I have the patience to deal with all of it,” she said.
“Hoe, are you the one that’s pregnant? Talking about patience. You better find some and go on now.” I waved her off.
“What did I just hear? Since I know she isn’t, are you saying that you are, ma’am?” my mother said as she rounded the corner with Valencia.Fuck.I couldn’t sit here and lie to these women. Not now. My tongue got caught in my throat and it suddenly became drier than the Sahara.
“We wanted to tell y’all together,” I said softly, lowering my head.
Valencia’s eyes ballooned and my mother presented similar shock.
“That’s not why you’re engaged, is it?” Mommy asked softly.
“Engaged? I thought…”
“What’s all the commotion?” Armond said, stepping in right on time.
I let out a grateful sigh and Chardonnay was by my side now, rubbing light circles on my back. Armond threw his arm around me and tucked me into his side. I loved the protective shield he always had around me. It didn’t matter who we were facing.
“You got this poor girl pregnant, Armond?” Valencia asked.
My brows knitted together as I looked at my mother, her hand on her hip awaiting either of our responses. I exhaled slowly.
“Dr. Hanna hasn’t confirmed but I will say yes, Mother. Do we have a problem?” Armond asked sharply.
“What? Why would you think that? I’m just surprised is all,” she said, putting her hand on her chest.
“Well, you weren’t supposed to find out until we confirmed and got through this dinner,” Armond grumbled.
“I’m the one who asked the question, Armond. Be easy on your mother now,” Mommy said.
“It’s all love over here, Ms. Persephone. All good, Ma?”
“Well, of course, Armond. Don’t be silly. I’m finally getting another grandbaby.”
“Bellamy would get jealous of you saying that,” Armond said, referring to his sister Amelia’s daughter.
“She can’t blame me. I only see her a few times a year,” Valencia griped.
“Yeah, okay. Chardonnay, you’ve been holding that same dress in your hand since I walked over here. That’s the one,” Armond said.
“You think so?” she asked. Her hands were shaking and he slid his hand into hers and waited until she looked at him.
“Arlando will love it. He’s all that matters tonight, alright? You’ve already met Mom, the rest of the family just loves to be nosy. It’ll be a breeze.”
She nodded and he did too then squeezed her hand gently before letting go. Arlando walked in a couple seconds later with a huge smile on his face.
“What’s good, brother?” Armond asked.
