Lucky Baby (Crescent Cove 11)

“You guys can start without me.”

He nodded toward the table where Luna and a tall brunette were already filling their plates. “No worries with this crew.” He cracked the tab on his beer then lifted it to salute Caleb when his friend waved from the other end of the beach.

The clang of metal echoed off the water.

“What’s he doing?”

“Horseshoes. He wanted to try out the lawn sports pack he bought last week. I told him summer was over, but he wouldn’t be denied.”

A series of torches came to life at the edge of the beach, then Caleb jogged our way with Butch bringing up the rear. “I’m starving.” He held up his hands. “Could use a wash up though.”

“I was just going in to do the same.” I stole Lucky’s beer before he could get it to his mouth. “Need anything from the house?”

He frowned when I took a deep drink. Foamy cold goodness flowed over my tongue. It had been a minute since I’d had a good brew. I couldn’t stop the laugh when he took the tall can back from me. “Get your own.”

“Sure you don’t want a new one?”

“I don’t mind your backwash, Ruby.” He gave me a hot look over the rim then kicked up his foot and tapped my ass lightly. “Get moving.”

Caleb looked between us, his smile growing. “Interesting.”

It certainly was not. Interesting in the Cove meant someone was about to climb on top of some hapless dude and play hide the sausage while their birth control swirled down the metaphorical drain.

“Come on, I’ll show you where to wash up.” Butch danced around me, jumping up to brace her little feet against my knee. I gave her a quick scratch before we headed up the lawn.

Butch trailed after us into the house.

“I heard Lucky traded some home renovation for my engagement stunt on Main Street.”

“Well, he didn’t know it at the time, just that he owed me. It worked out. Apparently, for both of us.”

Caleb grinned then threw a look over his shoulder. “Sure did.” Little heart bubbles might as well have been popping around his head. “Perfect woman and a baby on the way. I’m a lucky guy.”

“If you say so.”

“I sure do.”

I unlocked the door and pointed to the small bathroom down the hall. “You can clean up in there. I’m going to go change out of my work clothes.”

“Sounds good,” he said with a cheerful whistle.

I wasn’t sure what to do with all these happy people. It wasn’t as if it would rub off.

At least I certainly hoped not.

I ran upstairs to my room and swapped my shop T-shirt and the bra that had been strangling me all day for a comfortable tank and hoodie with Godsmack’s band logo across the front. After a quick brush of my tangled hair, I headed back downstairs.

Butch was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. She was staring intently at something down the hall.

“Oh, hell.” I peeked around the corner and saw Dusty. They were in the middle of some sort of silent eye-to-eye showdown.

In the background, I could’ve sworn I heard the whistling from the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”

Before I had to contend with a pissed-off fur pile, I ushered Butch outside, much to her unending disgust.

There was a line of couples waiting for Lucky’s grill masterpiece. He was rather adorable as he built the burgers and asked cheese preference and heat level.

Ryan and Preston were the last ones in line, and she leaned back to speak to me. “Hey, thanks for doing this. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to hang with Lu. Work’s been madness.”