Entice Me (Austin Singles 2)

“Three weeks. Three very long weeks.”

Terri laughed. “She’s been a pain in our asses the last month. I think we’re more ready for her to pop that baby out than she is.”

“I seriously doubt that,” Charlie said with a sigh. “I love being pregnant, but man, these last few weeks have been tough. I feel like the little monster inside of me is fighting with all my organs.”

“I bet. My cousin had a baby recently, and she was two weeks overdue.”

Terri and Charlie both let their mouths fall open. “Two weeks?” They said.

Kaelynn nodded.

“I didn’t think they would let you go that long anymore!” Charlie said, a level of fear in her voice.

Kaelynn shrugged. “I don’t know; all I know is she was a royal bitch those last few days. Everyone pretty much steered clear of her.”

“I bet. God help us all if Charlie goes over.” Terri chuckled.

“Goes over what?” Tucker asked as he glanced around the table and landed his gaze on Kaelynn, then back over to me. He had a knowing look in his eyes. When he lifted his brows, I shook my head. I knew Tucker would read into this. All I was doing was entertaining my sister’s friend. That was it. Never mind the way she made my body feel. My reaction to this woman baffled me and honestly scared me a bit.

My eyes drifted over to Kaelynn, her face wearing a wide smile as she waited for Terri to answer Tucker.

“Her due date,” Terri answered.

Tucker visibly shuddered. “Shit, don’t say such things, Terri.”

Everyone laughed, even Charlie.

I looked at Tucker and began the introductions. “Tucker, this is Kaelynn, a friend of Morgan’s.”

Reaching his hand to her, Kaelynn shook it and said, “Kaelynn Dotson. It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

“The pleasure is all ours. Mine. Well, probably all of ours. It’s been so long since I think any of us has seen Nash actually talking to a woman, so him inviting you over to meet the best friends . . . seems serious.” Tucker waggled his eyes, causing me to groan internally. Jerk.

Kaelynn didn’t miss a beat, though. “Well, we were going to just bust out of here, head to his car, and get it on there before heading back to his place, but he insisted I had to meet the friends first. Old-fashioned, I guess.”

She rolled her eyes and shrugged. Then glanced at me and sighed dramatically. “He better be worth it; that’s all I can say.”

Charlie pointed to Kaelynn. “You have just moved into my best friend role. How would you like to be the godmother of my child?”

“Hey!” Terri cried out with a laugh.

Tucker slid in next to Charlie and kissed her on the mouth before giving me a quick look. Then he asked, “Where is Jim?”

“Jim?” Kaelynn asked.

“Jim is my fiancé. He had to step outside to take a call from his mother. Something about his father’s foot being stuck between the steps. Lord only knows with those two.”

Kaelynn turned her attention on me and raised her brows.

“Don’t ask,” I whispered, causing her to chuckle.

“So Nash said you own the bar. How do you like running a bar?”

Tucker grinned from ear to ear and faced Kaelynn. “I love it. It’s been a great experience, and it’s doing a lot better than I ever thought it would.”

“That’s a good thing, though,” Kaelynn added.

“A very good thing. Charlie and I moved out to the country a few months back, so I’ve learned to not be here every single night. It’s been a hard adjustment, but one I’m glad I’ve done. Especially with the baby coming.”