Emilys eyes flew open. What? Weve been having sex for the last couple of weeks. You werent worried then.

I know. But seeing the baby yesterday on the monitor somehow made it real. Sighing, he leaned back. Ill wind up hurting you. Its impossible with the way you and I are during sex. Were animals.

Emily hooked her finger under his chin, bringing his gaze back to hers. First of all, I like when you hurt me, she whispered, her brow arched. Second: Do you expect me to believe a man with your education can be so nave regarding a womans body, pregnant or not? Third: You cant hurt me or the baby. Couples have been having sex for billions of years while women were pregnant.

Gavin smirked, dragging a hand through his hair. First: When given permission, of course I like pleasurably hurting you. Second: Yes, yes you can expect me to be so nave regarding a womans pregnant body. The key words pregnant. Thirdhe grinned and leaned into her earnever in a billion years have couples fucked the way we do. We break records. So with that, yes, Im afraid of hurting you.

Body heated, Emily sighed deeply, then moistened her lips. Her tongue was tingling to glide along Gavins lower abdomen. Gavin

Before she could say another word, the front door swung open. Juggling three stuffed paper bags, Lillian Blake used her heel to close the door. She shook her head in an attempt to remove big, fat powdery snowflakes from her chestnut hair.

Gavin jumped to his feet, almost tripping over the coffee table as he dashed toward his mother who was about to drop every bag onto the tiled foyer floor. Snatching the bags from her arms, he popped a kiss on her cheek. Hey, mom. It started snowing?

Beaming, she swooshed her hand through his hair. Yes. Pretty heavily, too. On a sigh, she looked at Gavin, her eyes filled with love only a mother could hold. My baby boy, Ive missed ya. Next time you decide to take off on a two week vacation, could you think about calling the woman who brought you into this world?

Chuckling, Gavin shook his head. Mom, Im twenty-eight, I own a thriving business, and my girlfriends sitting on the couch. Youre dropping my swoon-worthy factor by the second.

Emily stood and made her way over to them. Also swishing her hand through his hair, she lifted a playful brow. Ah, that swoon-worthy statement couldnt be further from the truth.

No? Gavin questioned incredulously, the gleam in his eyes predatory. And how so?

Because any girl with a head on her shoulders knows a man earns swoon-worthy points by loving his mother, Lillian answered with a sparkling smile. Right, Emily?

My point exactly, Emily agreed.

Gavin cocked his head to the side, a smirk twisting his face. Well if thats the case, just so you know, Emily, I did ask my dear mother to marry me once.

Yes, when he was three, Lillian trilled, pulling her purse from her shoulder. Placing it on a glass entryway table, she gave Gavin an endearing smile and cupped his cheek. I remember it like it was yesterday. He won a plastic engagement ring from one of those bubblegum machines, and right there in the grocery store, he dropped to one knee and proposed.

Emily giggled, watching him turn the loveliest shade of crimson.

Yep. The swoon-worthy factor just dropped a few hundred notches, he confirmed, flashing an impish, schoolboy grin as he slipped into the kitchen. Im out of here, ladies.

Lillian hooted out a laugh, gathering Emily into her arms for a warm embrace. So howve you been? She unpeeled a creamy white scarf swathing her neck and dropped it onto the table. After shimmying out of a heavy fur coat and hanging it in the closet, she turned to Emily. Its been a while and a lot has happened. I hope youre doing well.

Unsure how much she knew about whatd happened with her, Gavin, and Dillon, Emily simply nodded. Im doing much better, thank you. Howve you been?

Good. Ive been busy building up the organization. Were trying to spread into New Jersey. It looks like it may happen, too, she said happily, linking her arm through Emilys. They started for the kitchen. Lets go see if our men are attempting to burn down the house.

Once again feeling a warm, welcome flush through her limbs, Emily noticed just how opposite her and Gavins upbringings were. Where she lacked a father figure, Gavin was raised by a strong man who trusted good would prevail over any bad situation. Though Emilys mother was there as much as possible, Lillian had stayed home with both boys until they entered high school. Sure, Lillians situation was different since shed married an honest, caring man, but even in her darkest hours suffering through her battle with breast cancer, she never stopped trying to achieve a sense of normalcy in their home. Two very different colored lights at opposite sides of lifes spectrum. Now all Emily needed to believe was she and Gavin had been brought together for a reason. Hopefully that reason was what would be the main focus of conversation during dinner.

Once they entered the kitchen, both women were happy to see neither man was in the process of setting the house ablaze. Father and son had put the groceries away and started mixing, sizzling, and baking what smelled to be something delicious.

Dont ever let them think you cant train them, Lillian whispered, her smile as contagious as Gavins. Its actually quite easy.