Nettie,” they said returning the greeting in unison.
“We're glad you were able to deliver. For a minute we thought Syneda was going to have to cook for us,” Felicia Madaris Maxwell said, grinning. “I have too much to do tomorrow to be out sick.”
“Okay, knock it off,” Syneda said, trying to hide her smile behind a frown. “A good attorney I am, but a good cook I'm not. Clayton didn't marry me for my cooking skills.”
Felicia chuckled. “Not for one minute did any of us think that's what he married you for.”
Syneda tried glaring but was unable to keep a straight face when she said, “And stop insinuating that your cousin only married me for my body.”
Netherland smiled. Not for the first time, she envied the six women and their close friendship. They felt comfortable enough to say just about anything to one another. “I'll be going now,” she said, turning to leave.
Syneda grabbed her arm. “Why don't you stay and join us, Nettie? You were on your way home, right?”
“Yes, but I don't want to intrude.”
“You won't be intruding,” Caitlin Madaris said, grinning. “We were discussing the best way to make sure Corinthians gets to the hospital when she goes into labor without Trevor falling apart.”
“Trevor won't fall apart,” Traci Madaris Green was saying. “For Pete's sake, give him credit for something. He used to be a captain in the marines.”
“And what's that supposed to mean?” Kattie Madaris Barnes chimed in. “When it comes to their wives having babies, all men fall apart and act downright silly.” She laughed. “Remember when the ever cool, calm and collected Raymond jumped into the car and took off and forgot I was still sitting in the living room? He'd driven an entire block before he noticed.”
Netherland laughed when the story was retold. Then Caitlin shared how Dex had gone off on the doctor when he thought the man wasn't moving fast enough when her labor pains had begun hitting her fast and furious. The women then began talking about the gory details of giving birth.
“Please change the subject. Nettie might think twice about ever getting pregnant,” Lorren Madaris said, smiling.
Netherland smiled. “No, I'm fine listening to it. Besides, I can't get pregnant anyway. A childhood illness made that impossible.”
Syneda came up to her. “Oh, Nettie, we're sorry. We didn't know and—”
“Trust me, it's okay. I've had a long time to come to terms with it, and I'm comfortable with it. There are too many kids out there who need adopting, so whenever I decide to become a mom, I'll go that route,” she said, smiling and assuring the women she hadn't gotten offended.
“Do I smell food?”
The women turned around when Clayton stuck his head around the corner.
Syneda grinned. “That man can sniff the aroma of fried chicken a mile away,” she whispered to the other women. To her husband she gave an exuberant smile. “Yes, sweetheart, it's food. Are you guys at a stopping point where you can come out for air and for food?”
Clayton smiled. “If they aren't, I am. I'm starving.”
It didn't take long for the other men to detect food and start filing into the kitchen. Netherland was talking to Syneda about something when she felt someone watching her. She turned to see Ashton leaning against a counter. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn't known he was there. She tried to downplay the feeling of sheer exhilaration when he smiled at her. Again she wondered what there was about him that could make her so attracted to him. It was more than his physical features that attracted her. There was also something else. There was the passion he stirred within her that she couldn't deny. She still had thoughts of the kisses they shared in her office and that had been more than three days ago.
As if he read her thoughts, Ashton continued to hold her gaze. And then it happened like always. A sharp electrical jolt raced through her, sensitizing her entire body to his gaze, and blocking out all sights and sounds around her. A voice inside her head warned her to put up her defenses, but she wasn't quick enough. Already Ashton was slowly walking over to her. A part of her wanted to turn around and run but couldn't. It was as if her feet were cemented to the floor.
“Seeing you here is a pleasant surprise, Netherland,” Ashton said silkily when he reached her.
Netherland's lashes lifted. “I'm surprised to see you here, too. I heard you had left town.”
“Yes, for a couple of days. Government business.”
She nodded as she met his dark gaze. Sexual tension surrounded them. She wondered if any of the others in the room could feel it. Could anyone detect the fierce attraction she had for him? “Did you have a nice trip?”
He smiled. “It was okay.”
“Hey, Ashton, aren't you going to eat?” Trevor called from the other side of the room.
“I'm not really hungry,” was Ashton's response. He looked back at Netherland. “What about you? Are you going to eat anything?”
“No, in fact I was about to leave. I only stopped by to drop off the food.”
He looked at her. “I think I'll call it an early night myself since Dex won most of my money anyway,” he said, grinning. “Would you drop me off at my hotel? I rode over with Trevor instead of driving the rental car.”
Netherland lifted a brow. “Hotel? I thought you were staying with Trevor and Corinthians.”
“I was until I got back. I decided to give the parents-to-be space. They need the rest of the time before the baby gets here to be by themselves.” He smiled. “In a few more weeks there won't ever be just the two of them again. There will be a third person who will be dominating their lives.” He looked at her for a long, slow minute before asking again, “So, will you give me a lift to my hotel?”
Warning bells went off in Netherland's head. “I suppose I could.”
The wry resignation in her tone stirred Ashton deeply. “I don't bite, Netherland.”
Her mind instantly recalled how during their kiss he'd relentlessly nibbled away at her mouth as he plowed it with kiss after kiss. Yes, he did bite. He'd certainly taken more than a bite-size chunk out of her sensibilities that night.
“Netherland?”
“Yes?”
“You still won't go out with me?”
For several moments an air of sadness hovered over her, as she remembered why she wouldn't. “No, I still won't go out with you.”
His gaze was intense, determined. “When we get to the hotel, will you ‘stay in' with me…for a little while?”
Netherland's body stirred all the way down to her toes when she remembered what happened the last time they had stayed in. And as much as she wanted to deny it, her body wanted to experience his kisses again.
She focused her attention on his
