Free Thirteen (Love by Numbers Book 4) by E.S. Carter Page A

all enjoy your lunch.”
    “No, Dad. He’s fine. Stay and eat with us, We’ve made plenty.” She motions to the table full of food.
    He kisses the top of the little boy’s head and whispers, “I grabbed something on the train. Honestly, I’m happy to go and take a nap with my Caleb James. I’ve missed him.”
    Emma steps away from Jake, kisses her Dad on the cheek, and lets him walk away with the child in his arms. Only he doesn’t walk in the direction I expected, towards the house, he turns and makes his way into the garden, down to a small guest house that is tucked away in the trees.
    Huh. I guess he does live here after all.
    This is one close family. I like it.
     
    T he next few hours are spent in happy conversation. Jake and Harry constantly banter, mostly about Jake’s film career and his upcoming nude scenes and Emma and I join in with the teasing which Jake takes good-naturedly.
    “Are you ready for the whole world to see your junk? I can offer to be a body double; you know if you’d rather a few million people see something slightly more… substantial.” Harry deadpans around a swig of his beer.
    “Hah! I have plenty of substance; don’t you go worrying yourself about the size of my pecker. I’ve never had any complaints.” Jake winks over at his wife who rolls her eyes but blushes sweetly.
    “Besides, I’ll be wearing a codpiece. I just hope they have a jumbo sized one available.” This comment earns him another eye roll and a shake of her head, to which he just shrugs, and I can’t help but laugh.
    “How about we change the topic of conversation away from your peanuts,” she gives a pointed look at both men, then looks at me expectantly, “and hear more about how you two met.”
    “It’s a penis Em.” It’s Harry’s turn to roll his eyes. “You can say the word you know, it doesn’t bite… much.”
    She waves him off with a dismissive move of her hand and looks back towards me eagerly.
    I take a deep breath and start to ramble, “Harry was drooling over Clarabelle, then he helped me with my eggs, so I figured I’d take him for a ride to say thanks.” I shrug, trying to dismiss the rest of what happened that day.
    “First off, Clarabelle? Secondly, eggs? If that description were anymore vague, you could turn it into a Facebook status update.” Jake jokes but motions with his hands to keep going.
    Harry takes over. “The cliff notes version is: Lilah has a super hot Mustang that for some reason she calls Clarabelle. She was exiting said car in a full on bunny costume and struggling with her Easter eggs. As any gentleman would, I offered to help. She proceeded to tell me all her rather debased proclivities featuring fancy dress, then took me for the ride of my life which ended in a sweet country pub. The end.”
    I can’t help but laugh along with Jake and Emma at his rushed description.
    “I think you’re missing something, H,” Emma says around her laughter. “What about the scary bikers I’ve heard about?”
    Harry glares at me, apparently not wanting to tell his friends how my choice of date venue almost made him wet himself. I smile sweetly back,
    “They weren’t scary bikers, more like, sweet guys with beards and the muscles of wrestlers, who happen to like bikes. Nothing scary at all.” He attempts to cover up what actually happened, but I decide it’s time to spill the beans.
    “He went white, lost his ability to speak and made me take him home after he downed his drink.”
    I can’t help myself and immediately slap my hand over my mouth to hide my grin.
    Emma and Jake laugh loudly; I think I even see tears in Jake’s eyes when he slaps Harry on the back and chuckles, “I think this story might just beat Pussy Girl.” Harry gives him the stink eye, and I can’t help but ask, “Pussy girl?”
    Then Emma fills me in on poor Harry’s last date a few months ago and how he only just escaped with his manhood intact when her pet cat took a fancy to his