𝗔 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞𝗬 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗟𝗘

15 | another shower

"What will it take for you to wear that dress again?"

As Jameson helped me out of his car, I offered him a smirk. "Another baby shower."

He grinned. "I think we can make that happen." Ushering me onto the grounds, he pressed his lips to my ear. "Except next time, it'll be yours."

A hot blush spread down my body.

The dress I'd chosen was pink, respectfully signifying that I expected Libby was having a girl. Jameson, in comparison, was wearing a blue button down.

I figured that he didn't expect a boy but rather wanted a nephew instead of a niece.

The funny thing about it was, I could totally see Jameson as a girl dad.

Not that he would be anytime soon.

Still blushing hotly, I let Jameson lead me down the sidewalk. As usual, Nash and Libby had declined my invitation to use Hawthorne House for their shower.

Although I knew they loved me, they preferred a separate life to the riches Nash had grown up with.

Instead, the gathering was being held on the gardens behind a reception hall.

Libby's cupcake truck was positioned just beyond a river slicing through the grass. Lily pads floated respectfully. Overhead the glassy water rested a wide wooden bridge. Just beyond it, I could make out a small collection of people hovering around circular tables.

Xander, who had shown up before us, was trying desperately to balance a cupcake on a lily pad.

While I searched the grounds for anyone else we knew and came up with no one, Jameson approached Xander from behind.

Uneasy, I followed.

True to Jameson Hawthorne nature, he snuck up as close to his brother's back as necessary. Then, without warning, he moved his lips to Xander's ear and cawed like a crow.

A yelp startled out of Xander, who'd just barely managed to make his cupcake float.

I covered my eyes as his surprise turned for the worse, and he fell into the river.

It was shallow, thankfully.

When I finally had the courage to look at my best friend, he was waist-deep in mud, water, and a hint of blue frosting.

Jameson was smirking.

"This is precisely," Xander said, still flabbergasted, "Why you should have been disowned!"

"That's extreme."

"So are you." Glaring, Xander bent down to the river and collected a large lily pad. At first, I wondered if he'd offer it to Jameson as a means of camaraderie, but, instead, he tossed it at his brother.

Water spilled down Jameson's face and drenched the front of his shirt. "You're in for it."

"And you started it."

"Exactly why I'll finish it." Jameson unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off.

People were beginning to show up for the baby shower, which wasn't good, considering my boyfriend was shirtless and had a gleeful hint of menace in his eyes.

Jameson wrung out his shirt over the river.

Sighing, I glanced all around for my sister.

When I found her, she was standing on the opposite side of the bridge. Nash had an arm loosely strung around her waist, and his eyes signified that he'd witnessed his brother's shenanigans.

Also, that he was annoyed.

"Jameson." I grabbed for his hand. "Put your shirt back on."

"Why?" Lifting a crooked grin, "When we're alone, that's quite the opposite of what you ask for."

Glaring, I said, "People are staring."

"They always stare." Jameson cocked an eyebrow at me before, finally, pulling his button down back on.

Although I'd seen Jameson shirtless a million times, seeing a wet shirt hug his chest absolutely killed me.

Forcing my gaze to the bridge, I dragged my boyfriend towards it. Libby was already ready to start.

Anxiety broadcast over her expression, she waited for Jameson and I to join the party. Besides Xander, we were the last to join the crowd.

Now that I had the chance, I took in the sights on the other side of the river.

Two delicate, circular tables were set up on opposite sides of Nash and Libby. One was filled with blue-frosted cupcakes, the other pink. Two glass jars were filled with slips of paper - bets on what the gender was.

As if neither had a gender assumption - or preference - both Nash and Libby were wearing pink and blue.

Libby's rose skirt matched Nash's button down. And his baby blue jeans reflected Libby's blouse. Even their cowboy and cowgirl boots, respectively, had traces of blue and pink stitched in the hems.

I was still quietly hoping it was a girl.

"It's time," I murmured to Jameson as Libby picked up the first of many cupcakes. One of her employees had baked them with the gender's color inside. "Final guess?"

"Boy," Jameson said.

"Girl," I responded.

Smirking, Jameson pulled my back to his chest and nibbled on my ear. "You sound confidant about that."

I tapped the side of my head. "Aunt's intuition."

"Wanna bet?" Jameson placed a scalding kiss below my ear. "You win, I owe you a night in Texas's most luxury hotel."

"And if I lose?"

"You lose your pride, too."

He grinned just in time for Libby and Nash to take bites on opposite sides of the same cupcake. Their gasps sounded before anyone even had a chance to see the color inside.

But I focused on Libby's lips, because crumbs coated them. Pink crumbs.

As shouts sounded, I grinned.

It was a girl.

And apparently, Jameson was taking me out tonight.