Read Online Trouble Me by Beck Anderson - Free Book Online Page B

comes to kiss me hello, and Hunter is not far behind. I hug him tight.
    “Hunter, you did grow. I told you not to grow while you were gone.”
    Beau points to the door. “Can I go look around the rest of the condo? Where’s my room?”
    Andrew shakes his head. “Slow down, big guy. We’re doing a little birthday celebration for your mom first.”
    Andrew pulls Tucker’s chair out, the one with the news tied to the balloon.
    Tucker raises an eyebrow. “What is this?”
    Andrew shows him to the chair. “Have a seat.” He plucks the balloon from the air and hands it to Tucker.
    Tucker examines it, looks at the different message, looks at the ultrasound picture. Then he looks up at me, then at Andrew.
    Andrew comes up behind him, puts a hand on his shoulder. “Well?”
    Tucker gets up and hugs him. “Andrew’s gonna be a dad. Wow. I think I might cry.” Tucker comes over and gives me a huge squeeze. “You’ve been keeping a mighty big secret, Miss Kelly. Congratulations.” He pats my belly gently and hugs me again.
    “So, we haven’t told anyone, really. Our folks, and the boys, obviously, and Jeremy—” Andrew begins.
    “Unfortunately,” I add. I wasn’t thrilled for him to know so early, but he needs to know to protect Andrew’s interests.
    “You two, you’re gonna be so cute!” Tucker pulls both of us close for a group hug. “And you have an advantage because Kelly actually knows what she’s doing. Good thing too. Andrew’s allergic to babies.”
    “What?” I haven’t heard this before.
    “Oh, yeah, he hasn’t told you about him and babies?”
    Beau wants in. “What, what is it? Tell us!”
    Tucker grins. “On the soap opera, even before I met him, and every time he’s worked with a baby since, he makes them cry.”
    Tucker sits back down at the island with Hunter. Andrew hands him a bottled water.
    “They shriek in terror, actually.” Andrew puts an arm around me. “I’m baby repellant.”
    “That should be fun to watch.” Hunter sips his drink and smiles at the thought.
    I have to come to his defense. “It’ll be different than that. Babies know the sound of their families’ voices. He’s eavesdropping right now, you know. He’ll already know Andrew before he even meets him.” I can’t wait to see Andrew with the baby. It’s going to be amazing. There’s no sexier sight than a man holding his own child.
    Tucker points at me. “That’s a lot of he s in there. Do we know it’s a boy?”
    “No, but the smart money’s on a boy.” I wink at Andrew. “Gender aside, though, Andrew’ll be great.”
    Andrew smiles at me. “This is why I love you. Thanks for the vote of confidence.” He waves Beau to the kitchen island. “Come have a seat, guys. We have birthday cake for your mom.”
    Everyone sits at the island, and Andrew serves up the cake. I’m about to get up to get the boys some milk when he puts a hand on my shoulder.
    “You missed a balloon.” He smiles and hands me a purple balloon.
    “What?”
    “You missed one. It’s got something attached to it too.”
    I read the message: Kelly, will you marry me? Happy Birthday. Love, Andrew.
    Tucker’s curious. “What’s it say?”
    “It’s another sneak-attack proposal.”
    Tucker tilts his head, confused. “Another? What?”
    Beau perks up. “A proposal for what?”
    Andrew pats him on the shoulder. “A marriage proposal. I want to marry your mom.”
    Beau’s not impressed. “Where’s the ring, then?”
    Andrew grabs hold of the purple balloon and shakes it. It rattles. He arches an eyebrow. “Hmm. Sounds like there’s something in there.” Beau rolls his eyes, but Andrew’s not done. “Cover your ears, young man.” He picks up a fork and pops the balloon. He hands me the contents and the shredded latex. It’s a plastic container from a gumball machine.
    I open it. Inside is a plastic ring, with a pink sparkly “diamond.”
    Hunter looks skeptical. “Really?”
    I get up and kiss Andrew, put the