“Great suggestion. Ashleigh’s not keen on flying until after she delivers. I don’t want her isolated from proper medical care, either.”
“Maybe we’d better come up with a good backup plan,” Dallas suggested.
“If all of us can’t go on the cruise, we’ll just send Mom and Dad,” Houston said.
Liking Houston’s suggestion, the guys nodded in agreement.
Ashleigh, Austin’s golden girl, suddenly appeared in the doorway. She was a beautiful woman with a fiery copper-colored mane of thick, unruly curls and a sun-kissed champagne-gold complexion. “Did I just hear my name?”
Dallas and Houston rushed to Ashleigh’s side, giving her warm hugs. The guys genuinely loved their sister-in-law, who was once a foster sister. As a foster child, Ashleigh had resided in the Carrington home for many years. Years later the family had been reunited on a Valentine’s Day cruise.
Houston always noticed how mesmerized Austin was by his wife’s gentle beauty. He kept his eyes on her as the brothers made their normal fuss over his adorable wife.
Smiling brightly, Ashleigh waddled into the room, her stomach clearing the doorway first. The brothers followed along behind her, reclaiming their seats at the table.
Ashleigh plopped down on Austin’s lap, kissing him passionately. “Talking about your favorite subject, huh?”
Austin kissed Ashleigh back. “You know it!” As his hands rubbed her stomach tenderly, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. “How’s our little one today, Mommy?”
Ashleigh smiled sweetly. “Just fine, Daddy. No kicks yet from our future star punter. I’m sure he or she is just gearing up for the day. We haven’t been awake very long.”
Houston loved the way Ashleigh referred to herself and their child as one body. He was also enamored with the fact that his sister-in-law thought a girl was as capable of being a star athlete as a boy. Male or female baby was just fine with the couple. A healthy child was the daily prayer. Wanting to be surprised, Austin and Ashleigh had refused to learn the baby’s gender.
Ashleigh sniffed the air. “Who fixed coffee?”
Houston laughed. “Who else, Ash? We used to get our coffee from McDonald’s restaurant in the mornings. Glad you took time to teach us how to brew, but Austin is still selective about when he makes coffee for us.”
Austin tossed Houston an intolerant glance. “I already do enough for you and Dallas. You guys eat and sleep out here at the ranch almost as much as Ashleigh and me.”
Houston grinned guiltily. “You shouldn’t have built those fabulous guesthouses. Ash, would you like a cup of herbal tea or a glass of orange juice or milk?”
Feeling a tad uncomfortable, Ashleigh moved over into the chair next to her husband’s. “Orange juice would be nice. Thanks, Houston. Has anyone eaten breakfast?”
All heads shook in the negative.
Slowly, with extreme caution, Ashleigh arose. “I’ll rustle up something real quick. We’re ravenous this morning,” she said, rubbing her stomach.
“Not a chance, Ash. I’ll do it.” Austin leaped out of his seat then helped Ashleigh back into hers. “Be still. Just sit there and look beautiful for me.”
Ashleigh playfully swatted Austin’s behind. Pulling his head down, she gave him a flurry of gentle kisses. “Husband, I’m not disabled. I’m merely pregnant.”
Austin kissed her forehead. “That’s why I wait on you hand and foot. Enjoy it, babe. Once the baby comes…Well, we already know what’ll happen around here, Mommy.”
Ashleigh laughed heartily. “Yeah, we do, Daddy. Sheer pandemonium!”
Everyone laughed.
“Has anyone talked to Mom and Dad this morning?” Ashleigh inquired.
Houston raised his hand. “They were fine last night around nine.”
Ashleigh glanced at the clock. “I’ll call them after we eat. Everybody’s coming for family dinner tonight, right?” Ashleigh chuckled. “Like I really had to ask. Of course you strapping Texas boys will be anywhere food is involved.” She laughed. “Just kidding. You guys are so loyal to the family. I love that about each of you.”
“Family is all we’ve got. No one knows that better than you, Ash, because of how you were raised. Speaking of family, Mom can’t wait for the new addition to arrive and to become a grandmother,” Houston remarked. “That’s all she talks about these days.”
Busy at the stove, Austin grinned. “Tell me about it! Mom and Dad are already goners over their first grandchild. You bringing Lanier, Dallas? What about inviting Kelly, Houston?”
Dallas rolled his eyes back. “I try to get together with my girlfriend every possible chance. With you no longer working full-time at Haven House, Ash, she has her hands full. If only she’d trust the employees more, but she has to do it her way.”
“That’s Lanier Watson for you. Her way or the highway,” Ashleigh commented. “Since she lives in the house, everything falls on her. It’s actually a twenty-four-hour gig.”
“Lanier thrives on doing it all,” Dallas remarked. “The woman’s a workaholic.”
Houston wanted to avoid the question about Kelly so he was glad Austin hadn’t come back to him. He hadn’t called her to confirm a date for a family dinner night, but he still planned to. Only a couple of days had passed since the meeting and reception at the training facility. He was still too busy running away from commitment to act upon his feelings. Kelly wouldn’t travel with the team, but he already knew how hard it’d be to resist her indelible charms right here at home.
Houston didn’t know why he felt this way, but he was afraid he’d met his match in Kelly. He couldn’t say his days as a liberated man were numbered, but she had him wanting her and running scared at the same time. He had no clue how to conquer his fears. Whether to invite her to dinner or not had him frustrated. Houston was glad when Austin set out the food. A meal placed in front of the brothers was a surefire distraction.
Scrambled eggs, hash browns, turkey sausage and bacon were stacked high on colorful platters. The pan-fried steak smelled delicious. A loaf of oven-toasted bread was piled on a small plate. Butter and jelly filled small, round serving bowls. Apple butter, a family favorite, was on every Carrington table.
Austin gave a humble prayer of thanksgiving. “Okay, dig in. Don’t forget the tip jar.” Austin always reminded his brothers and their teammates to leave a gratuity. At restaurants, the small monetary token was in addition to a bill. No check had to be paid at Austin’s home.
The tip jar kept on the granite counter was half-filled with cash. No change was allowed. Austin had started the tipping jar long before he’d married. Since his brothers and teammates ate a lot of meals at his home, he thought his cook/housekeeper, Stella Hanson, should be rewarded. Once Austin married Ashleigh, Ms. Stella only prepared meals on special occasions, yet her paycheck wasn’t affected. The tip jar remained and the guys continued to fill it with cash to invest in a money-market account for the triplets’ future kids.
As the
