Page 29 of The Bad Boy's Good Girl

“I bought them a few years ago and never had a reason to use them so I thought today was the perfect time to break them in. What do you think?”

“They’re beautiful.” And elegant. Royal blue with gold embellishments, the china had intricate designs that were hand painted. “I do have dishes, you know.”

He flashed a grin that had her belly flipping and it had nothing to do with morning sickness. “I figured, but I wanted to show you mine. I’m not just the playboy you think I am, Nola.”

She’d always believed it to be true, which probably contributed to the crush she’d nursed on him for nearly two years. “I never thought you were just a playboy, Bronx. But I think the playboy is all you want anyone to see.”

Surprisingly, his face turned a shade of pink she never would’ve thought him capable of as he nodded. “Maybe you’re right. It’s easy to be the playboy, though. And fun.”

She laughed. “What’s not to like about beautiful women throwing themselves at your feet? I don’t blame you for taking advantage of what life has to offer, Bronx. You’re young and single, with no reason not to take them up on their offers.” She just wished she hadn’t been one of the many.

Blue eyes stared at her so long she began to squirm. He turned away and pulled something from the oven. A bird with the kind of dressing people in this part of the country called stuffing. “What do you blame me for," he asked and carried the bird to the table.

Nola took a seat at the spot facing the kitchen and Bronx took the head spot. “Honestly? I don’t blame for you for anything.”

She could tell she’d surprised him. “I’m sorry but I don’t believe that.”

She smiled around a bite of creamy mashed potatoes. “Okay. I don’t like how easily you dismissed me. Twice. But I don’t blame you because I knew how you were. If I blame anyone, it’s me.”

“So why are you so upset with me? You didn’t tell me about the baby.” That wasn’t a question.

“I’m upset because you fuck me and then you treat me like I don’t matter. You dismissed me after D.C. after flirting for six straight hours with Yvette. You said you didn’t give a damn what was wrong with me and threatened me for ‘hurting’ Brooks.” She took a few gulps of lemonade and sighed. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know how you would react and I wanted some time to enjoy it before you ruined that.” He said nothing for a long time and she wondered if she’d offended him. It had been unintentional but if they stood a chance of navigating parenthood together they would have to be honest, above all else.

“Shit. I really am an asshole, aren’t I?” His tone didn’t sound offended, more like bemused and self-realized. “Were you going to tell me?”

Nola nodded because she had planned to tell him. “Not until I was further along and had a plan laid out, but yes. You deserve a chance to decide whether or not you want to be a father.”

“I do. Want to be a father, that is. And I want to help you through this pregnancy, Nola.” He sighed and she felt a strange energy between them that said she wouldn’t like what he had to say next. “That’s why I’d like you to consider moving in with me.”

“What? Are you crazy? Bronx, that would be a disaster.”

He frowned, chewing much longer than he really needed before he responded. “Would it? I like you and you like me, even if you don’t want to. I can help you and you can take it easy while you’re pregnant. Figure out what you want to do, if you plan to leave B&B.”

She heard the question he hadn’t asked—if she really planned to leave at the end of her two months. Nola didn’t have the answer yet. “We would do nothing but fuck and fight, Bronx.”

He tilted his head back and let out a long, hard laugh that she’d never heard from him. It sounded like joy. Happiness. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She gave him a serious look that only made him laugh harder. “Okay, fine. How about if I promise we’ll only fight about you trying to do things a pregnant woman shouldn’t do?”

“How about if I let you come to all the appointments and I call you if I need anything?” A lot could be said about Nola, but never that she wasn’t willing to compromise.

“Fine, Nola. I’ll move in here.”

“No,” she shook her head adamantly. “Absolutely not. We both need our space. Me to come to grips with being a single mom and you, to entertain your women.”

His expression turned serious as he leaned in, holding her chin so she couldn’t look away. “It’s a good thing then, that you’re the only woman I’m interested in right now, isn’t it?”

It was the ‘right now’ part giving her trouble.

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