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Ryder grinned. “Same, buddy. Want me to show your mom where the bathroom is? It’s the special bathroom for the TV people, so it’s pretty cool.”
Jake shook his head. “Really? You’re going to bribe the kid with a bathroom?”
Mallory scooped Avery into her arms. “I’ve got to go, too. I’ll handle this. You three just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Stressed Guy’s arm waving was getting frantic. He hurried over and tapped the air over Ryder’s shoulder, like he was afraid to actually tap Ryder. “Sir. Mr. Steele? I really need you back at the judge’s table. We’re less than one minute from going live.”
Ryder gripped my calf and leaned into me. “You look beautiful, angel. This shit can’t be over soon enough. Don’t go anywhere after the taping.”
I nodded absently and sighed as he strode back to the stage. From beside me, Jake scoffed. I looked up at him and couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. His face made clear how unimpressed he was with Ryder. “What?”
He grunted. “I could judge shit if I wanted. Don’t look so impressed.”
I reached over and took his hand. “I looked just as impressed watching you play last night.”
“It’s not like it’s a competition. I’m not jealous.” He sank in his seat a bit more. “I’m a little jealous. You got hearts in your eyes.”
“I don’t have hearts in my eyes.” I leaned even closer to him. “And if I do, it’s because you’re both so open to the idea of me being pregnant and I’ve been dreading telling the three of you because I expected anger or horror.”
“Live in three, two,-”
Jake gripped the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss. The way his eyebrow was cocked when he pulled back told me that he wanted Ryder to see that kiss and he wanted to stake his claim on me. I should’ve hated it and told him to knock it off, but my toes were curled so tight in my shoes that it hurt.
From the stage, Ryder’s voice came loud and clear as he spoke about the dish he was judging, but his eyes were on me, heated and intense. I was pinned, oblivious to the audience around me and the knowledge that Mallory and Avery were somewhere pooping in a professional studio. With Jake against my side and Ryder’s stare, I felt like I was back in the cabin, coming over and over again.
The only thing missing was Sebastian.
16
***Ryder***
Fiona’s leg bounced faster the closer we got to seeing Sebastian. She was nervous about telling him that she was pregnant, as if she didn’t already have two men fighting over her. I didn’t give a shit what Sebastian had to say about the pregnancy. The kid was mine. Fiona was mine, even if she didn’t know it fully yet. The two months after the retreat had been riddled with thoughts of her and questions about how to find her. I didn’t plan on letting her go again.
I wanted to pull her into my lap and hold her but Avery was sitting on her other side and I could tell she was being careful about what he saw. Mallory, on the other hand, was as insane as I’d imagined she’d be. The things she said in front of the kid were almost enough to make me blush. She really held nothing back.
“Mr. Grant will see you know.” Sebastian’s assistant looked directly at me as she spoke, making it clear that the extra guests weren’t a part of the equation.
Maybe I hadn’t been completely honest with Seb when I’d made the appointment to see him. He thought I was coming in alone for a meeting about a business idea. I felt like surprising the guy. He was so desperate for control all the time that I figured he could use a little spontaneity in his life.
“Come on, gang. We’re off to see the wizard.” I shot a pointed look at the assistant and she sighed before motioning us to follow her.
Jake came up beside me and smirked. “You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”
I shook my head. “Why ruin the surprise?”
Fiona, hearing us, stopped moving. “Um… Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
I circled around behind her and gently pushed her forward by the shoulders. “It’s a great idea. Come on, angel.”
Avery looked up at his mom and then at me. “Why do you call Mom angel?”
“Because she’s so sweet and good.” I laughed out loud as his eyebrows rose and he looked at his mom like he didn’t agree.
Mallory snorted. “They don’t know your mom, do they? She’s sassy, isn’t she?”
Avery nodded. “Mrs. Morgan at school says Mom is contrary.”
Distracted by that tidbit of information, Fiona didn’t see Sebastian opening his office door and stepping out to greet me. She also didn’t see the look of heat that he barely hid when his eyes landed on her. “Why did she say that? I’m not contrary. I just asked that she give you more challenging assignments. You’re so smart for your age and you were bored.”
